Reznet

Yes, Native Republicans Exist

By Kevin Abourezk

Native Republicans? No, really. They exist.

They're not some mythical creature in the same league as a Greek two-headed monster or an underwater Scottish dinosaur.

They live, they breath and, guess what, they work to sway voters to their point of view, much like Native Democrats.

Most Native leaders peg the percentage of Natives who consider themselves Democratic at 80 percent, but on Thursday, conservative tribal members attempted to disprove the conventional wisdom that all Natives are Democrats.

They gathered in St. Paul, Minn., at the Republican National Convention for an informal Native American Caucus and Policy Issues Forum. They gathered to discuss Native voter outreach, the Republican Native American policy platform and the presidential transition.

Jacqueline Johnson Pata, National Congress of American Indians executive director, told caucus participants that it's important Native people don't align themselves with one party.

"It's important for us to bring Indian Country issues to the RNC," she said. "We have to ensure that that both parties are well informed and that candidates are vying for the Native vote."

NCAI's 2008 Native Vote initiative has identified key states where the Native voters could make a difference in this year's presidential and senatorial elections: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Representatives from Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign addressed tribal issues under a McCain administration and Indian Country's involvement in a positive and beneficial transition.

Congressman Tom Cole (R.-Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and a Chickasaw tribal member, attended the forum.

"I'm so impressed to see the number of tribal leaders and Native American delegates here today engaged in the Republican political process," he said. "The Native vote is key in a number of presidential states, as well as several senatorial and congressional races, and Senator McCain understands Native issues like no other presidential candidate in history."

Speaking to members of Congress, the forum attendees focused on legislative priorities such as stimulating Indian Country economies, effective law enforcement, Native American health disparities and opportunities in energy resources.

What they didn't discuss is the need to prove their existence. They were too busy working to improve the lives of Native people.

Kevin Abourezk's "Red Clout" columns are available for syndication. Please contact reznet to purchase republishing rights.

Kevin Abourezk, Rosebud Lakota, is a reporter and editor at the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. He writes reznet's "Red Clout" political blog and teaches reporting at the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute. Abourezk was awarded a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in 2006.

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