Webber said the Native caucus has always faced an uphill battle.

"We've been literally and figuratively the minority's minority," Webber said. "I know it looks like we have a lot of people in the Indian caucus, a lot of people were elected, but in reality it should be more. But just us getting in there, from my perspective, is a real positive."

Native legislators often carry bills that represent other groups of society that struggle, such as the poor or disabled, Webber said. "What effects the Indians, we look at it also effecting those other groups within the larger population."

She said Republicans can get into the mentality of viewing the state's Indians as what she calls "fort Indians."

"Indians a long time ago, they were at the gate of the fort asking for food. For the food that was supposed to have come to us with our treaties but was squandered or sold off. We couldn't go out and hunt anymore, so we became fort Indians. That's what we're seeing. It's a stereotype, but we're getting better."

Last session was dominated by Medicaid expansion and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' water compact, Webber said. She hopes this year to take up issues of economic development.