Why no Native Americans in prominent positions?

[KT2000]

16. as far as politics -

tribes are sovereign and hold a certain amount of power apart from the US and state governments. I don't think all tribes exercise that power but the ones that have coveted natural resources, historical hunting, fishing, and sacred lands do - but as the tribe.
They have their own political structure.

We did once have a Makah tribal member serve as the ombudsman of the EPA. He was great! After 9/11 he came out in support of protecting the people of NY from the pollution in spite of Christine Whitman's proclamation that everything was safe. They tried to get rid of him and seize his files. He slept in his office to protect the files. They were eventually successful in getting him out - he stood on principle as few would have.