Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski will lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s outreach effort to the American Indian community.

The move, announced Thursday evening, is intended to help further open lines of communication between the party and American-Indian voters. The community makes up about 14 percent of the population in Alaska, where Republicans are targeting Democratic Sen. Mark Begich in 2014.

“Throughout her time serving Alaska, Lisa has worked to develop a two-way dialogue to ensure all of her constituencies — including Native Americans and Alaska Natives — are heard,” NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran said in a statement. “Lisa understands the needs and interests of her constituents and will further strengthen our ties with Native American voters in her new role as the Program Chair.”

Murkowski has a unique history with the NRSC. After losing the GOP primary in her 2010 re-election bid, the committee was in the awkward position of having to support Republican nominee Joe Miller over the incumbent senator. She ran a write-in campaign in the general election and won.

This cycle, Miller is exploring a bid against Begich — along with Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell.