10/12/2026
Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the history, cultures, resilience, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples and communities across the country and here in Central Ohio.
Did you know? Native Americans were not universally recognized as U.S. citizens until 1924, when Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act.
Even then, citizenship did not guarantee access to the ballot box. Native Americans continued to face discriminatory state laws, literacy tests, and other barriers to voting. In 1948, landmark legal victories helped secure voting rights for Native Americans in Arizona and New Mexico, but the struggle for equal voting access continued well beyond that.
Here in Central Ohio, Indigenous communities have a long and important history. This region is part of the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples, including the Shawnee, Delaware (Lenape), and Miami, whose histories and connections to Ohio continue today.
In 1975, Selma Sully-Walker, a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota woman, began organizing services and resources for Native Americans in Columbus, helping lay the foundation for what would become the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO).
Today, NAICCO continues its important work supporting Indigenous communities, preserving culture, and strengthening connections throughout Central Ohio.
We encourage our community to learn more about and support this Indigenous-led organization: www.naicco.com
The history of Native American voting rights reminds us that access to the ballot has not always been equal. As we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we also reaffirm the importance of protecting voting rights, recognizing tribal sovereignty, and ensuring every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in our democracy.
Indigenous history is American history, and Indigenous communities are an important part of our present and future.
