Hi John,
I'm April Fournier, Diné and member of the Navajo Nation, Run for Something alum, mother, artist, National Program Manager for Advance Native Political Leadership, and first ever Native City Councilor of Portland, Maine's at-large district.
One of the most powerful parts of serving in elected office is creating space for stories.
Stories shape who we are, create perspective, build connections, and bring meaning to the world around us.
But as Indigenous people, our stories and our voices continue to be left out of the dominant narrative.
We see this in suppressive voting measures that target and disenfranchise Native voters, through stark disparities in health outcomes, through erasure of our histories in school textbooks and collective memory, and in continued and pervasive economic disparities. These are just a few of the many ways our communities continue to be traumatized and marginalized today.
As Indigenous people, our existence has become resistance, and it's important that we make our voices heard.
I am asking any and all Native people to continue the resistance by learning more about running for elected office to get our voices and stories in the halls of power.
If you're not Native, encourage the Native and Indigenous people in your life to run. It can be hard to be the first — knowing your friends will support you makes it easier!
Native and Indigenous people make up at least 3.4% of the population of this country, but we're only .03% of elected leaders.
The tides are moving. In 2020, we saw continued resistance through a record number of Indigenous people elected to Congress. We see continued resistance through historic mobilization efforts from Native organizers, through demonstrations and protests, and through the reclaiming of our cultural practices and language.
While there are Native members in every community, by design, we were not intended to thrive and survive in spaces because of attempts at assimilation by those in power. And yet here we are… building, growing, and claiming space for future generations.
So many of my accomplishments as city councilor have been because of my experience as a Native woman, because I stand on the shoulders of my relatives who came before me, and because of the community I carry with me. As a child, my mother was taken from her people and, as a result, lost their knowledge and traditions. In 2021, as a city councilor in Maine, I sponsored a proclamation that recognized a National Day of Remembrance for the U.S. Indian Boarding Schools for the first time in our city.
We all thrive when the talents, experiences, and voices of Indigenous people are at the forefront. That's why I'm calling on ALL Native and tribal-affiliated people to tell your story, raise your voice, and Run for Something.
Thanks for your support,
April Fournier
Portland City Councilor At-large
Run for Something Alum
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