INDN’s List President Kalyn Free looked on with pride last week as three of our candidates were sworn into the Washington State Legislature. “Seeing all that hard work finally bear fruit first hand was truly a blessing,” she remarked.
Three INDN’s List candidates, victorious in their November 2006 races, took their seats in the Washington State Legislature on Monday. Rep. John McCoy (Tulalip) was reelected to his house seat, while Dr. Don Barlow (Ottawa) became the first Democrat to pick up his Spokane district since the New Deal. Representative Jeff Morris (Tsimshian) was also reelected but had no opposition in either the primary or general. Though he did not need an endorsement from INDN’s List, we are proud to have him on the INDN’s List team. After being sworn in, Claudia Kauffman, a member of the Nez Perce tribe, became the first Indian woman ever elected to the state senate.

“My heart burst with pride as I watched Representatives Barlow and McCoy take their oaths and Senator Kauffman cast her first vote on the Senate floor. To see our candidates sworn into legislatures across the country is a tremendous honor,” Kalyn reflected. “Not long ago the presence of an Indian face in a state capitol would have been looked on with suspicion. The very fact of their elections is a testament to the enormous progress we have made.”

To see our new elected officials at the swearing in ceremony at the Washington State Capitol, click here. To cap off the day, several Indian Nations in Washington hosted an honoring ceremony for the INDN legislators after they took their oaths of office. With traditional songs, food, prayers, blankets and other gifts being presented and offered up to the INDN legislators, this was truly a special day for Indian Country. Click here to see pictures of the traditional ceremonies.

November 7 was an historic day for Democrats, and nowhere was that more apparent than in the races across the country that INDN’s List supported. Besides the gains our candidates made in Washington, twenty Indians from 19 tribes won races in 12 states across the nation.

The tremendous strides we’ve made in electing Indians to public office at all levels across the nation would never have been possible without your commitment. Thanks for being there for us and our candidates through so many never-ending days. Your support sent these candidates to INDN Campaign Camp where they learned the skills they needed to run winning campaigns! Our coffers are empty – please help us prepare for the next election cycle, we already have 12 candidates across the country who need our immediate help. Please help us help them, by contributing click here now.