Native-POLL-Ooza

Arizona Native Americans to celebrate Get-Out-The-Vote efforts

PHOENIX -- Several thousand people are expected to attend Native-POLL-Ooza!, a first-of-a-kind Arizona Native American voting celebration concert, to be held Tuesday, November 2, from noon to 9 PM at the Phoenix Indian School Park at Central Avenue and Indian School Road. “The free election day concert is open to the public and is designed to foster a climate of voter awareness within the Native American community and highlight the vital role that Native Americans play in Arizona’s political landscape,” said Jonodev Chaudhuri, co-chair of the concert planning committee. “It is our hope that many Native Americans and other Arizona residents will vote and come to the concert for great music, good friends, and a celebration of their citizenship.” The concert serves as a capstone to many ongoing Native American voting efforts. The concert's website is located at www.Native-POLL-ooza.com.

This event will feature Freddy Fender, a Grammy and Country Music Award winning favorite of the Native American community, and several major Native American musical acts, including:

· Clandestine, which is reuniting for the event.

· Keith Secola.

· Ethnic Degeneration (the Edge).

· Casper.

· DJ Able.

· Red Feather.

· A traditional drum group.

All attendees are encouraged to bring their “I Voted Today” stickers or any other items that celebrate their citizenship and participation in the voting process. The concert is being organized by volunteer members of various Native American organizations and is spearheaded by the NACOP, a non-profit, non-partisan, Native organization that works on improving the political representation, educational opportunities and health services for Native Americans in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The concert has received significant support from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and MTV’s “Rock The Vote” Intertribal Street Team campaign. Other supporters include the ASU Native American Law Students Association, the National Congress of American Indians’ voting campaign, National Voice, and various Native promotion companies.

“The concert is well timed,” said Debra Yellowjohn, Lead Organizer of NACOP. “2004 marks the eightieth year that Native Americans across the nation have enjoyed United States citizenship. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, as well as the 1948 lawsuit that secured the right of Arizona Indians to vote, were made possible through the leadership of Arizona Native Americans.”

For further information, contact Jonodev Chaudhuri at (602) 382-6336, or (480) 216-9483 (cell). The concert will provide excellent opportunities for interviews with local and national Native American voting activists, along with visual media opportunities. Thank you in advance for your interest.

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Alyssa Burhans
Organizing Director: Native American Voters

NV Contact: AK, OR, WA, MT, WY, AZ, NM, OR, SD, MO, UT
IATP Action/National Voice
2105 1st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Direct Line: (612) 879-7510

Cell: (612) 860-3300
Fax: (612) 870-4846
alyssa@nationalvoice.org
www.nationalvoice.org