Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 28, 2005 19:46:00 GMT -5
American Indians seeking to bolster clout in politics
Diana Marrero
Gannett News Service
Nov. 25, 2005 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - After losing her race for a seat in Congress last year, Kalyn Free decided it was time to raise the political clout of American Indians nationwide, so she founded Indigenous Democratic Network's List.
Modeled after Emily's List, a political action committee that backs women who support abortion rights candidates, Indigenous Democratic Network's List plans to groom Democratic Indian leaders for political office, beginning with state offices.
Free, a Choctaw from Oklahoma, said the list is emblematic of American Indians' growing interest in local and national politics. advertisement
"We've already been the determining factor in so many elections," she said. "It's time for us to be on the ballot."
Reservation campaigns
Free's efforts follow aggressive voter registration drives by Democrats on Indian reservations during last year's presidential election. The economic boom fueled by Indian gaming in recent years also has increased the political profile of some tribes, which now have the means to hire lobbyists to influence the political process at the national and local level.
Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to capitalize on a political scandal involving an influential Republican lobbyist accused of defrauding clients, including a number of tribes.
"Indian country has pumped millions of dollars on both sides of the aisle, and what do we get?" Free said during a gathering of Indian leaders in Tulsa this month.
"We get Jack Abramoff and scandal."
Indigenous Democratic Network's List has raised about $200,000 since it was established earlier this year, and Free hopes to raise $1 million for political races in 2006.
Last month, the group hosted its first campaign camp at Prior Lake, Minn., drawing more than 100 Indians to the four-day intensive training session.
"It makes much more sense to put our money in our own talent pool to avoid being taken advantage of in the future," she said.
Mary Ann Andreas, vice chairwoman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Southern California, said she could have had a better shot at winning a seat in the California State Assembly last year had the list been around to help her.
"I was very green," said Andreas, whose tribe was the top tribal contributor nationally to last year's political races, giving about $500,000 to candidates and political groups.
Andreas' newly acquired political skills could help other American Indians who are thinking of running for office, she said. One major lesson she learned: You may not win the first time around.
"You get your name out," she said. "I didn't win, but I got almost 50,000 people to vote for me as opposed to the 200 when I ran for Tribal Council."
Advice from group
When Irene Folstrom of the Leech Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota decided to run for a state Senate seat, currently held by a Republican, she knew she could count on the support of Indigenous Democratic Network's List. The group has given her political advice, helped her put together a fundraising plan and network with folks in the Democratic Party.
If she wins, she will be the first American Indian in the state Legislature in about a decade, she said. The position would allow her to advocate for the state's Indian population.
"I saw that tribal issues were not being adequately addressed at the state level in Minnesota," she said. "The obvious reason to me is that we didn't have any representation at the state level."
Democratic leanings?
But critics say the group does American Indians a disservice by focusing solely on boosting Democratic candidates.
"Not all Indians are Democrats," said Gary Jones, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. "Kalyn tends to be ultraliberal on the issues, and it's not in line with what a large number of Native Americans in Oklahoma believe."
Free dismisses that type of criticism, saying the Republican Party has not done a good job representing American Indians.
Gus Frank, chairman of the Potawatomi Tribe in Wisconsin, agrees. His tribe recently gave the group $25,000.
"As a Native American, the party that has shown us more respect is probably the Democratic Party," he said. "If we're going to promote our interests, we need to support those who support our interests."
Diana Marrero
Gannett News Service
Nov. 25, 2005 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - After losing her race for a seat in Congress last year, Kalyn Free decided it was time to raise the political clout of American Indians nationwide, so she founded Indigenous Democratic Network's List.
Modeled after Emily's List, a political action committee that backs women who support abortion rights candidates, Indigenous Democratic Network's List plans to groom Democratic Indian leaders for political office, beginning with state offices.
Free, a Choctaw from Oklahoma, said the list is emblematic of American Indians' growing interest in local and national politics. advertisement
"We've already been the determining factor in so many elections," she said. "It's time for us to be on the ballot."
Reservation campaigns
Free's efforts follow aggressive voter registration drives by Democrats on Indian reservations during last year's presidential election. The economic boom fueled by Indian gaming in recent years also has increased the political profile of some tribes, which now have the means to hire lobbyists to influence the political process at the national and local level.
Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to capitalize on a political scandal involving an influential Republican lobbyist accused of defrauding clients, including a number of tribes.
"Indian country has pumped millions of dollars on both sides of the aisle, and what do we get?" Free said during a gathering of Indian leaders in Tulsa this month.
"We get Jack Abramoff and scandal."
Indigenous Democratic Network's List has raised about $200,000 since it was established earlier this year, and Free hopes to raise $1 million for political races in 2006.
Last month, the group hosted its first campaign camp at Prior Lake, Minn., drawing more than 100 Indians to the four-day intensive training session.
"It makes much more sense to put our money in our own talent pool to avoid being taken advantage of in the future," she said.
Mary Ann Andreas, vice chairwoman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Southern California, said she could have had a better shot at winning a seat in the California State Assembly last year had the list been around to help her.
"I was very green," said Andreas, whose tribe was the top tribal contributor nationally to last year's political races, giving about $500,000 to candidates and political groups.
Andreas' newly acquired political skills could help other American Indians who are thinking of running for office, she said. One major lesson she learned: You may not win the first time around.
"You get your name out," she said. "I didn't win, but I got almost 50,000 people to vote for me as opposed to the 200 when I ran for Tribal Council."
Advice from group
When Irene Folstrom of the Leech Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota decided to run for a state Senate seat, currently held by a Republican, she knew she could count on the support of Indigenous Democratic Network's List. The group has given her political advice, helped her put together a fundraising plan and network with folks in the Democratic Party.
If she wins, she will be the first American Indian in the state Legislature in about a decade, she said. The position would allow her to advocate for the state's Indian population.
"I saw that tribal issues were not being adequately addressed at the state level in Minnesota," she said. "The obvious reason to me is that we didn't have any representation at the state level."
Democratic leanings?
But critics say the group does American Indians a disservice by focusing solely on boosting Democratic candidates.
"Not all Indians are Democrats," said Gary Jones, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. "Kalyn tends to be ultraliberal on the issues, and it's not in line with what a large number of Native Americans in Oklahoma believe."
Free dismisses that type of criticism, saying the Republican Party has not done a good job representing American Indians.
Gus Frank, chairman of the Potawatomi Tribe in Wisconsin, agrees. His tribe recently gave the group $25,000.
"As a Native American, the party that has shown us more respect is probably the Democratic Party," he said. "If we're going to promote our interests, we need to support those who support our interests."