Politics ‘Lonely Place’ For Activist Northwest Indian Hopes He Can Get 50,000 Registered

As he traverses the urban canyons of Chicago in a rented 30-foot motor home, Pacific Northwest Indian activist Russell LaFountaine says American politics “is a lonely place” for an American Indian.

But it’s getting less so, thanks to the 20,000 Indians on reservations LaFountaine says he has registered to vote in just eight weeks.

He’s hoping to have 50,000 signed up by the time he returns to Seattle on Sept. 10.

LaFountaine, campaign director for Native Vote ‘96, is in the Windy City this week to attend the Democratic National Convention as a delegate. He’s passed out thousands of leaflets at the convention trumpeting his cause, and did the same at the Republican convention in San Diego.

However, the 28-year-old activist’s main focus has been traveling to more than 30 reservations to encourage more voting by a people who traditionally have remained aloof from state and federal elections.

He’s put 9,300 miles on the motor home, which is festooned with posters advertising Native Vote ‘96.

LaFountaine, who has three other Indian activists traveling with him, says the effort has gotten a positive response both on and off the reservation.

One of his favorite moments was when leaders of the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s reservation in northern California invited LaFountaine and his colleagues to drive their motor home in the reservation’s annual parade.

“I was sitting on top of the motor home, throwing candy, bumper stickers and buttons to the people below,” says LaFountaine, who grew up on the Puyallup reservation near Tacoma.

There have been a few moments he would rather forget.

“In New Mexico, a white guy in a van tried to run us off the road. And we’ve had some people drive up, honk their horn and flip us off.”

The effort is costing about $65,000, with the money being donated by various tribes around the country.

Antone Minthorn, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Pendleton, Ore., is a Democratic delegate from Oregon as well as a donor to LaFountaine’s cause.

The Umatilla Tribe has chipped in $5,000 toward LaFountaine’s trip, Minthorn said.

“It’s a hell of a good idea. The tribes are supporting him all the way,” Minthorn said.

It’s particularly important for Indians to get involved in politics because congressional Republicans are trying to cut funding for health clinics and other social programs on Indian reservations, Minthorn said.

LaFountaine says that even though most Indians who do vote generally cast ballots for Democrats, his effort is a bipartisan one.

“To try to sell a Democratic agenda or a Republican agenda would defeat the purpose. We want our voice to be heard, but we don’t want to ever be taken for granted by either party,” he said.