The Indigenous Democratic Network (INDN) is the only grassroots political organization devoted to recruiting and electing Native American candidates and mobilizing the Indian Vote throughout America on behalf of those candidates. INDN's List was officially launched Feb 28, 2005, in Washington DC in conjunction with the National Congress of American Indians Annual Meeting. We are dedicated to making a unified Indian voice heard at the local, state and national levels by helping Indians build and run effective campaign organizations and to win elected offices across America.

Their Stated Agenda:

* Economic Justice: Prosperity should be accessible to everyone, not merely the few.

* Civil Rights: Every individual's civil rights must be protected; discrimination and harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or physical and developmental ability should be banned.

* Health Care: Every individual should have affordable, quality health care.

* Education: It is essential that we invest in quality public education for all.

* Environment: We must commit to restoring and protecting our environment.
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Well, I think 21 states is about my limit. Was considering trying to put together West Virginia and Oklahoma pages, but I think the following are all I can do before election day rolls over us. Look for your state. I cover whatever caught my attention from school board and port authority up to Governor and Senate races. It is compiled from Progressive Majority, INDN List, Daily Kos efforts and my own research. The only controversial one I endorsed was in Washington State, and you can see the contrary comment in that section (from a Republican with a chip on his shoulder, but still with a valid point). So here they are, the 2008 Culture Kitchen Twenty-One State Endorsement Roundup:

NORTH CAROLINA ENDORSEMENTS

MINNESOTA ENDORSEMENTS

ALASKA ENDORSEMENTS

MONTANA ENDORSEMENTS

OREGON ENDORSEMENTS

COLORADO ENDORSEMENTS

WYOMING ENDORSEMENTS

VIRGINIA ENDORSEMENTS

NEVADA ENDORSEMENTS

OHIO ENDORSEMENTS

IOWA ENDORSEMENTS

PENNSYLVANIA ENDORSEMENTS

WISCONSIN ENDORSEMENTS

MICHIGAN ENDORSEMENTS

WASHINGTON STATE ENDORSEMENTS

MISSOURI ENDORSEMENTS

NEW JERSEY ENDORSEMENTS

CALIFORNIA ENDORSEMENTS

ILLINOIS ENDORSEMENTS

ARIZONA ENDORSEMENTS

TEXAS ENDORSEMENTS

Please forgive me if I skipped your state or skipped candidates in your state. I am just one person!

First I want to highlight Democrat Linda McCulloch for Montana Secretary of State. Linda is trying to unseat ultra-conservative right wing extremist Brad Johnson. Johnson has been involved in an attempt by conservatives to rollback the state's Election Day Registration laws.

Linda served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives, from 1995 to 2001. As a legislator, she served on the Judiciary, Highways & Transportation, Local Government, Education and House Rules Committees, and interim Committee assignments included Juvenile Justice & Mental Health, Indian Affairs, and Education & Local Government. In 1999, she served as the Minority Caucus Leader.

Linda was elected State Superintendent in November 2000. During two terms her accomplishments include:

Employing effective use of technology to strengthen the Office of Public Instruction services and communication with schools and the public.

Passing Full-Time Kindergarten so Montana's children have the opportunity to get the best possible start to their education.

Implementing Montana Read! a statewide reading initiative, convening three statewide summits.

Championing legislation to create an Honorary High School Diploma program for WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans that left school to serve our country.
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Obama is already supported by about 2/3 of Hispanics, a larger percentage of white voters than any Democrat since Jimmy Carter, and nearly all black voters. Seems he is likely to do well among the growing Native American vote. Here is a key endorsement from Indian Country. From Indian Country Today:

Obama: a leader and a partner
By Editors report

As the United States makes final preparations in the selection of a new president, it is a turning point in American and American Indian history. The world economy is faltering on the heels of a government rescue of American financial institutions. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have depleted the once mighty U.S. military, not to mention the American public’s confidence in the executive branch. Native peoples continue to defend sacred sites and religious freedom against threats posed by eminent domain and corporate development. Indian health care remains tragically underfunded by Congress. Tribal sovereignty faces challenges in the courtroom, the workplace and on Capitol Hill.
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Environmental Law - Protection of Native Resources

Type of Event: Training
Hosted By: Falmouth Institute
Event Dates: 4/21/2008 - 4/23/2008
Event Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $755
Contact: Falmouth Institute
Email: information@falmouthinstitute.com
Contact Phone:800-992-4489
Contact Fax:703-352-2323
Website: http://www.falmouthinstitute.com

Course Description:Even though federal law and policy assures conservation and protection of natural resources, the outcome of conservation on tribal land is uncertain. Cultural and economic interests of tribes often conflict with those of states and federal government. Tribes face management challenges – increased economic development, changing environmental conditions and competing interests, to name just a few. A thorough understanding of the legal issues and rights of all parties is the best defense for protecting natural resources. Natural resources are important everywhere, but they are more critical to tribes. This insightful, three-day class will cover the basics from water and air to land and wildlife. It will examine the federal laws and regulations that govern these areas and provide a review of the latest case law. Find out where states’ rights end and the tribes’ begin. Understand why these different aspects of the environment are important and how they affect everything from everyday life to business development. Learn how to create and maintain conservation projects and discuss how other tribes’ have used the law to help conserve and protect their natural resources. This hands-on class will give you the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges and issues that impact your tribe and explore solutions. Don’t miss this important training program – register today!
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Ethics and Standards of Conduct for Tribal Officials

Type of Event: Training
Hosted By: Falmouth Institute
Event Dates: 4/21/2008 - 4/22/2008
Event Location: Albuquerque, NM
Cost: $755
Contact: Falmouth Institute
Email: information@falmouthinstitute.com
Contact Phone:800-992-4489
Contact Fax:703-352-2323
Website: http://www.falmouthinstitute.com

Course Description:Though the vast majority of tribal officials conduct their business with flawless ethical standards, many decisions that they make are fraught with ethical dilemmas, either real or perceived. The fact is, when it comes to ethics, appearance is everything. Public scrutiny of tribal government activities and an increased awareness of ethics laws and regulations mandate that all tribal officials be above reproach. Find out how to develop a code of ethics, from the code structure to purpose and objectives to rules and guidelines. This class will teach you how to distinguish between legal and ethical considerations. Real-life case studies, ethical dilemmas and conflicts will be explored to help you develop a sense of what is legal, ethical or both. Self-assessment exercises will allow you to examine your organization’s current status and future needs.

How to Register: Falmouth Institute class sizes are limited. Registrations MUST be received at least 10 business days before the class start date.
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