Thanks to INDN's List's (Indigenous Democratic Network) support at the local, state and national level, "23 American Indian candidates from 11 states and 16 tribes won state and local elections" in 2008.
As Kalyn Free, INDN's List founder stated:
This is not just an historic year for America, but for Indian country as we elected more tribal members to state and local office than ever before. In 2006, we elected 20 American Indians, and in 2008 we elected 23. Because of our efforts at INDN’s List, tribal members are engaged at all levels of government in an unprecedented manner. To shape history, you have to be willing to make it.
INDN's List is a grassroots political organization that was created in 2005 to recruit, train and support the election of American Indian candidates and mobilize voters. There is a Campaign Camp to "train potential candidates and campaign staffers in everything from fundraising to opposition research, direct mail, speech writing, finance and field plans, media training, and more."
Your donation will help INDN's List continue and perhaps surpass its own excellent success rate: 45 of its 65 endorsed candidates have been elected since 2006 or around 70% win rate.
This year, there are 50 candidates. Free credits President Obama for helping to "spark more political interest within Indian communities" when he "campaigned heavily for the Indian vote and visited several Indian reservations" in 2008.
Here is a list of 2010 endorsed candidates.
How do you get to cuddle kossacks?
Enter a drawing to win one of Sara R's quilts to help fund INDN's List and get a chance to cuddle up with Meteor Blades and 200 other sweeties, including Land of Enchantment, Eddie C, Darcy Burner, Kos, Devilstower, Timroff, VAN JONES, jlms qkw, mem from Somerville, Navajo, mcjoan, kath25, Jerome a Paris, BIPM and Common Sense Mainer .... who have signed patches of this quilt called All My Relations.
Here are navajo's closeups of some of the signed patches:
Sara R has produced many beautiful quilts but her finest work to date is now being donated to benefit INDN’s List.
Please enter the drawing as many times as you like to increase your chances of winning!
Sara R explains how you can submit your name to get the chance to maybe WIN this beautiful quilt while also helping INDN's List:
The Community Quilt Project Supports INDN’s List
"All My Relations"
It is with great pleasure that I announce a drawing for a quilt. The above pictured star quilt, "All My Relations", was made from 200 diamond shaped patches signed at the 2008 Netroots Nation in Austin, TX. An additional four signatures of prominent bloggers were appliqued in the four corners: Meteor Blades, Speaks Lightning (known as Ojibwa on Daily Kos), Winter Rabbit, and Dengre. A full list of signatories may be found here. My own design, I machined pieced and hand quilted this piece.
I made the quilt in a promise to navajo to make something to support Native American people. She chose the beneficiary – INDN’s List, an organization supporting the election of Native Americans to public office. Please visit the INDN’s List website and learn more about them!
Every contribution of $10 or more per day on this Act Blue page between now and August 15, 2010 will represent one chance in a drawing for the quilt on the last day of August.
The quilt measures 65" x 67", is made of cotton fabrics, cotton batting, and is decorated with Austrian crystals, Czech beads, and a piece of rutilated quartz at the center. The quilt is sleeved for hanging.
The quilt could be yours.
If you cannot donate, you may also enter by writing an essay of 50 words or less on this subject: "INDN's List's Mission -- Why it Benefits Everybody". Put the title in the subject line and email your essay on or before August 15, 2010 to communityquilts (at) yahoo (dot) com. If we find your essay to be topical, we will enter you for one chance in the drawing – one essay per person per day.
Thank you in advance for your support of INDN’s List.
All My Relations.
Namaste,
Sara R