"A grassroots Native organization that recruits and supports Indian candidates is closing its doors after failing to gain sponsors.

INDN’s List began in 2005 as a way to get more Indian candidates elected throughout the country. President Kalyn Free announced Monday the organization was closing shop.

“In 2009 and 2010, I personally financially supported INDN’s List and paid most of our overhead and salaries,” she said. “Regrettably, we have simply been unable to expand our donor base beyond a handful of visionary tribes, unions and individuals.

“As we say goodbye to another year, we also say goodbye to INDN’s List.”

Even those tribes who initially supported INDN’s List have failed in the last two years to keep providing support, Free said. She thanked those who volunteered to help INDN’s List and financially supported the group.

She said INDN’s List has helped Indian candidates win 63 elections and, up until this previous election, had won 70 percent of the races in which it had candidates. Free lamented the loss in November of 15 Native candidates, including seven incumbents, out of 27 endorsed by INDN’s List."

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Kevin Abourezk: Native political group calls it quits (NAPT 12/21)