Indians in Obama's inaugural

11 Indian nations, including Crow, to join inaugural paradeAs the inaugural parade nears, tribal representatives in five states--North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska and Idaho--are preparing for the coming presidential inauguration. Of the 560 federally recognized tribes in the country, 11 Indian nations have been invited to participate in the parade for President-elect Obama.

Friday, the tribes had a deadline of submitting all names of parade participants. About half the American Indian parade marchers will include veterans. The Oneida will send five veterans. And North Dakota tribes plan to send 16 veterans, including representatives from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, as well as the Spirit Lake, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Standing Rock and Turtle Mountain tribes.

Other tribes include the Crow nation of Montana, the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai in Idaho and an Alaskan Native dance group. At final count, 1,382 groups and organizations filled out an application to march in the parade. So far, some 90 groups have been selected.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The 2008 Presidential Campaign.