SUQUAMISH — Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman will participate as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention Sept. 4-6, in Charlotte, N.C.

Forsman is one of two Tribal leaders and one of eight enrolled American Indians representing Washington state at the convention. Forsman is an Obama delegate.

All told, there are 120 delegates from Washington state. The other Native delegates are David Bean, Puyallup; Teresa Taylor Oliver, Lummi; Joe McGimpsey, Makah; Elizabeth Satiacum, Quinault; Robert Satiacum, Puyallup; Matthew Tomaskin, Yakama; and Lona Wilbur, Swinomish.

C’Ann Kariores, Colville, and Chris Roberts, Choctaw, are at-large alternates. Roberts, a Shoreline City Council member, is chairman of the Washington State Democrats Native American Caucus.

According to Wilbur, this is the largest-ever Native representation for Washington state at a national convention.

Washington state is the only state to require elected delegates to have an enrollment number to claim Native American status within Democratic National Committee rules.

Washington is the only state to have an enrolled Native American — Wilbur — as an elected Democratic National Committee member. In addition, Bean, a Puyallup Tribe councilman, is on the convention’s Credentials Committee; Forsman is on the convention’s Platform Committee.