Letter to Wilbur H. Shongo from Fred H. Dalker about American Indian Voting Rights
The document is a typed letter from Fred H. Dalker, who is responding to a question about Native American voting rights, to Wilbur Shongo. The letterhead is from the Department of Indian Affairs in Chicago, IL.
Excerpts
Mr. Wilbur H. Shongo
Box No. 61
Red House, NY
My dear Mr. Shongo,
This will acknowledge your letter of December 31 with reference to Indian voting rights.
Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States are citizens of the United States and entitled to the rights of citizens. Voting rights are largely governed by state laws, and in order to vote in a state election Indians or others must conform to the state election laws of the state including qualifications of voters, requirements as to registration, educational tests, etc.
It is suggested that at your first opportunity you take the matter up personally with the Superintendent in charge of your reservation who will be in a position to discuss the matter with you and advise.
Sincerely yours,
Sgd. Fred H. Dalker
For the commissioner
Questions:
What do you think the letter that Mr. Shongo wrote to Mr. Dalker was about? Why do you think that Native Americans didn’t receive equal rights? Should the federal government or states decide who votes in elections?
Johnny Cash promoted Native American civil rights with his music and popularity (see resources for presentation). Do celebrities have a responsibility to use their influence to help others?
What is a reservation? How do we decide who votes in our current society?