2009 is a new year for Indian Country as we congratulate 23 INDN candidates elected to public office in November who are now serving and making a difference across the country.

INDN’s List candidate and winner Denise Juneau was sworn in earlier this month as Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, earning traditional honor songs, trade blankets, two eagle feathers and praise from all corners of the state. An enrolled member of both the Blackfeet and Mandan-Hidatsa Tribes, Denise is the first Native woman to win a statewide election in Montana.

In August 2007, Denise and her staff attended INDN Campaign Camp on the Morongo reservation. Denise told us the experience was vitally necessary, stating “The training we received throughout the week long boot camp gave me the skills I needed to run our winning campaign.”

INDN Campaign Camp helps INDN candidates like Denise translate their natural leadership abilities into skills critical for victory on the campaign trail. Our big focus in 2009 is to have another successful camp, and we can’t do it without the help of our members.

Our INDN Campaign Camps allow us to bring in professional consultants to teach the fundamentals of campaigning to Indians who want to run for office in 2010 and to Indians who want to work on races. At our kick-off Campaign Camp held in 2005 on the Shakopee Mdewakanton Reservation in Minnesota, and at our second Campaign Camp held in 2007 on the Morongo Indian Reservation, we gave our trainees the critical tools to run winning campaigns nationwide. We taught them how to raise money, how to create a message, and a myriad of other skills they need to run professional campaigns.

It isn’t a cheap or an easy endeavor, but it changes the outcomes of races.  Our candidates would never be able to afford this training alone, and that’s where we all come in.

INDN’s List has a huge goal for 2009 – to give scholarships to EVERY worthy applicant to our Third INDN Campaign Camp!  But, we can’t do it without you.   If you can, please donate as generously as possible today.  If you are thinking about running for office, contact us immediately about scholarship opportunities!