CRANDON – On Saturday, Oct. 3, Indigenous communities from across the state will gather at the Forest County Potawatomi Community Center to practice culture, heal in community, and generate excitement for voting on Nov. 3.

The event, Pow Wow the Vote, is hosted by Wisconsin Native Vote (WNV), a program of Wisconsin Conservation Voices, and will celebrate Native voices and encourage Indigenous people to use their vote in the upcoming election. There will be opportunities for participants to register to vote, find their polling locations, and talk to WNV staff about the importance of voting. Partner organizations and vendors will also have tables set up.

Wisconsin is home to over 70,000 Native people of voting age and voter turnout in Native communities has been on the rise in recent years. This event seeks to bring these communities together, show the power individuals can have when they cast their ballot, and honor the ancestors who fought for the Native right to vote. 

Hay Creek, Lac Courte Oreilles, is the host drum, the RedNationBoyz from Milwaukee are the co-host drum, and Fire Nation of Forest County Potawatomi is the hometown drum. Nate Ante of Bad River and RJ Smith of Lac Courte Oreilles will emcee. The arena director is Shane Webster, Oneida Nation. The head dancers are Joseph Rainey, Lac Du Flambeau, and Sarah Gouge, Forest County Potawatomi. The head veteran is Charles Connors, Bad River.

Wisconsin Native Vote works to combat historic voter disenfranchisement and contemporary barriers to voting by educating voters, registering people to vote, and working to improve policies that impact Native communities’ access to the polls. Most importantly, Native Vote is making sure Native voices are heard at the ballot box. 

Native Vote is a non-partisan program of Wisconsin Conservation Voices and does not support or oppose candidates.

What: Indigenous pow wow to generate excitement for voting in the Nov. 3 election

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 6 p.m. 

Where: Forest County Potawatomi Community Center, 5471 The Place Where Everyone Comes To Play Rd, Crandon, WI 54520