EMILYs List Statement on Native American Heritage Month

For Immediate Release
November 1, 2019

EMILYs List Statement on Native American Heritage Month 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Native American Heritage Month begins paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans in the United States. In recognition, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement:

 “The contributions that Native Americans have made to our country can’t be ignored. Their history, culture, and strength are deeply embedded in all of us as Americans. This month, and every month, it’s crucial to recognize the hard-won fights to bring Native American values and culture to the tables of power that told them they didn’t belong. Native American women in particular — who have served as leaders of more than 500 tribes in our country for centuries — are excluded from conversations of leadership and power far too often.”
 
“EMILYs List is proud to have helped elect the first two Native American women to Congress, Reps. Deb Haaland (NM-01) and Sharice Davids (KS-03), who have been exceptional leaders and true champions of their communities. Under an administration that embraces systemic racism and the oppression of Native Americans and communities of color, we must stand up and fight back. Having diverse voices in the halls of power only makes us stronger. We won’t stop fighting to recruit, train, and elect strong Native American women leaders up and down the ballot to give all Americans a fair shot.”

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILYs List raised a record-breaking $110 million and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 50,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.