Six Native Americans elected to Democratic Convention committees

By Indianz.com

WASHINGTON – The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unanimously elected DNC Chairman Howard Dean's nominations for the Chairs and members of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Standing Committees, including an unprecedented six Native American members. Dean's appointments include the selection of:

Laura Harris (Comanche Tribe), Executive Director of Americans for Indian Opportunity, and Montana State Senator Carol Juneau (Hidatsa and Mandan Tribes) for the Credentials Committee;

Nebraska State Representative Chuck Hoskin (Cherokee Nation) and Marc Macarro, the Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, for the Platform Committee; and

Joe Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh), President of the National Congress of American Indians, and Cinda Hughes, a descendant of the Cherokee Nation and member of the Kiowa tribe for the Rules Committee.

The Standing Committees are responsible for reviewing Convention business and formulating recommendations for consideration by Convention delegates. The Executive Committee's vote took place during the panel's recent meeting in Denver, site of the four-day Convention in August.

"The record turnout and enthusiasm we've seen for our Democratic candidates is a clear sign that Americans trust Democrats to bring much needed change to our country," said Governor Dean. "These outstanding leaders reflect the great strength, diversity and energy of the Democratic Party, and I'm confident their efforts will ensure our Convention in Denver is reflective of our shared values and our nominee's vision for America."

"The Democratic Party has always been a champion of Indian Country and this historic election is no different," added Frank LaMere, chair of the DNC's Native American Coordinating Council and member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. "Chairman Dean understands that America's strength comes from its diversity, and has worked hard to make the DNC and our 2008 Convention representative of our nation. The work of these exceptional leaders will not only ensure a successful Convention, but will help build the momentum that will take our eventual nominee to the White House."

The elections included the Chairs and 25 Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) members of the three Convention Standing Committees: Credentials, Platform and Rules. Each committee has a total of 186 members. An additional 161 members elected by each of the states' and territories' Convention delegations will join Governor Dean's appointments to the committees later this spring.

For a full list of and biographical information on the Chairs and PLEO members from each Standing Committee, visit http://www.demconvention.com/a/standingcommittees.pdf . Native American members of each Standing Committee are listed below, along with a brief description of each committee's responsibilities.

Credentials Committee

The Credentials Committee is charged with coordinating issues around the selection of delegates and alternates to the Convention and will likely meet in the summer. The committee will issue a report that is the first official item of business at the Convention.

Laura Harris is the executive director of Americans for Indian Opportunity where she leads a national Native American leadership development program and is developing an international Indigenous leaders exchange initiative. She served on the fundraising staff for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and on the staff of U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. Ms. Harris served as Gov. Dean's National Native American Policy and Outreach Senior Advisor, and served on Presidential nominee John Kerry's Native American National Steering Committee. She also served as a senior consultant to President Clinton's President's Initiative on Race. Ms. Harris has a BA from the University of New Mexico.

Carol Juneau is serving her first term, representing the 8th Senate District of Montana. Before that, she was a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1998 until her election to the State Senate last year. From 1976 to 1983, she was president of Blackfeet Community College. She serves as treasurer of the Montana Indian Democratic Council, as vice chair of the Montana Democratic Party and on the State Executive Board of the Montana Democratic Party. She is a member of the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education and is president of the Montana Indian Education Association.

Platform Committee

The Platform Committee is responsible for drafting and recommending a proposed National Platform for approval at the Convention. After conducting hearings and forums to collect testimony on issues and policies to potentially include in the platform, the committee is likely to meet sometime in July.

Chuck Hoskin represents Oklahoma's Sixth District in the Oklahoma House of Representatives where he serves as chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He formerly represented Craig and Nowata counties on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. Representative Hoskin was an American history and government teacher in the Vinita Public School System and worked as an administrator for Locust Grove Public Schools. He received his AA degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and his BA and MEd degrees from Northeastern State University.

Mark Macarro serves as the Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. He was first elected to the council in 1992 and is serving his fifth term as chairman. Mr. Macarro also represents the Pechanga tribe in the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Through his work, Mr. Macarro has worked to improve the economic self-sufficiency and political self-determination of his tribe. In addition, Mr. Macarro works to preserve the Pechanga tribal culture, language, and traditional life through traditional singing and speaking the tribe's native language. Mr. Macarro is a product of the California Public Schools and holds a degree in political science from the University of California.

Rules Committee

The Rules Committee is responsible for proposing the Permanent Rules for the Convention, adopting the proposed Convention agenda and making recommendations for permanent Convention officers - all addressed as the second official item of business at the Convention. The committee will meet sometime in August, prior to the Convention.
Joe Garcia is president of the National Congress of American Indians, the country's oldest and largest Native advocacy organization. He is a former governor of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and, at the end of his third term as governor, was elected chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council. An electrical engineer by profession, Mr. Garcia retired in 2003 from Los Alamos National Laboratory after 25 years service. He has also taught numerous courses in computers, electronics, lasers and math at the Northern New Mexico Community College since 1979.

Cinda Hughes, a descendant of the Cherokee Nation and member of the Kiowa tribe, was raised in the small rural community of Anadarko, Oklahoma. Ms. Hughes went on to be appointed by then Governor David Boren to serve on the Bureau of Indian Affair's Advisory Committee on Exceptional Children. Ms. Hughes served on the Board of Directors for ACLU-Oklahoma, as well as on the Advisory Board for the Oklahoma Office of Handicapped Concerns.

In 2000 and 2004, she served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Ms. Hughes is currently employed as a Legislative Associate at the National Congress of American Indians There, she advocates on behalf of tribes with federal agencies and Congress. Ms. Hughes has traveled throughout the country to talk about disability issues and was Ms. Wheelchair America 2004.

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