Native people are at the door, but few have been invited into top leadership roles at the Democratic and Republican parties.
The GOP doesn't have any Natives on its national committee. Just five can claim spots on the Democratic National Committee.
Frank LaMere, a Winnebago from South Sioux City, Neb., and a longtime member of the Nebraska Democratic Party, joined the executive board two years ago - after eight years on the national committee.
He and his wife, Cynthia, who is also on the national committee, "have stood up for Native American dignity and justice," said Steve Achelpohl, chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party. "They represent a major presence for Nebraska and for the Native Americans on the Democratic National Committee."
LaMere's seat on the executive committee came about after a successful lobbying effort to the national committee.
Party officials are also recognizing the potential power of the Native vote. They saw it in South Dakota's 2002 Senate race. And they want to harness it next month.
"Their vote will be particularly important in New Mexico this year," said Alice Travis Germond, national committee secretary. "But as important as presidential politics and elections, the First American ought to be recognized as a powerful and important voice in all our discussions and in what we do."
But for Natives like Ron Allen, tribal chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe in Washington, much work needs to be done.
"I've heard over the last four years the question from the White House: 'Why is it the Indians don't like us, or don't seem to be responsive to what we're doing for them?' " said Allen, a 20-year member of the Republican Party. "We try to keep telling them (it's) because you're not reaching out to them. You're not doing anything. You're providing us rhetoric."
Tribes and party leaders could change that by tapping Native political rising stars to work for each party, he said.
"The Democratic Party has made a few of those opportunities available. The Republican Party hasn't," said Allen. "So we as tribal leaders need to challenge both parties to gear those staffs up."
Despite the GOP's lack of Native representation, it can claim inroads into Indian Country.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, the nation's only Native senator, switched to the Republican Party in 1995. And a Republican administration created one of the most influential pro-Native federal policies of the 20th century. In 1970, President Richard Nixon adopted a policy committing Washington to support tribal self-governance. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act became law five years later.
"It's been under Republican administrations that we got most of our land back," said Brian Wallace, tribal chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and vice chairman of the Washington Democratic Party.
John Gonzales of New Mexico's San Ildefonso Pueblo - a former president of the National Congress of American Indians - said Republicans have been the most supportive of Natives seeking office in his state.
"You've never had an Indian person run for a statewide office on the Democratic Party. Why is that? The Republican Party was the first to put a candidate forward; that was two years ago."
That was when Sharon Clahchischilliage, a Navajo, lost her bid to be secretary of state to the Democratic incumbent. "I had national support. I had state support. And I had local support."
She also had to challenge her cultural norms when campaigning off the reservation. "I had to ask for money. And I had to talk about myself. I had a hard time with it."
Gonzales is optimistic about the future role of Natives in the party.
"We probably don't have one on the Republican National Committee, but that doesn't mean we won't have one in the future. It's just the persistence of the individuals in the party."
If not for persistence, Natives likely would not have a seat on the DNC's executive board. "We can't be there at the whims of states who won't elect us as chairs or vice chairs," Frank LaMere said.
In 2002, Bob Ream, Montana Democratic Party chairman, sat on an ad hoc committee created by the Democratic National Committee to look at minority representation. When that group reported the Native voice wasn't being heard, the national committee changed its constitution and bylaws to officially recognize a Native working group.
LaMere, chairman of that group, now has a place on the executive committee, although his wife will be stepping down in November.
The newest member of the national committee, Patsy Whitefoot of White Swan, Wash. - the only known Native who will cast an electoral vote Nov. 2 - will keep committee Native representation at four. That means the Native American Caucus will remain an unofficial entity of the national committee; the group needs nine members to be officially recognized.
Its unofficial status didn't stop scores of politicians from speaking at its meeting at the Democratic National Convention in July.
"They are really involved in the process," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of hundreds who attended the caucus. "That's how you do it - not from the outside. They are finding a way to be on the inside."
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