By Dennis Archambault
The voice of the indigenous people in the Great Lakes has a place in federal government. Bryan Newland, former chairman of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe) on Lake Superior, has been appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of Interior. He previously served as counselor and senior advisory to the Interior’s Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in the Obama Administration.
Newland’s Twitter account identifies him as “a father… also a miserable & insufferable Detroit Lions fan.” Another feed gives us another perspective. This text accompanies a photo of a windswept, snowy lake view: “Woke up to this scene today. Watched an otter snag a very big fish for breakfast. Then, I watched a very large bald eagle swoop in to steal that fish and fly through my yard with it.”
An attorney specializing in Indian affairs and faculty member of the Michigan State University College of Law, Newland has written in Indian Country Today about the breakdown in communication between the federal government and tribes. “Policies that fail to improve the lives of Indian people, and an adversarial relationship between tribes and the federal trustee. I also know that federal officials have a lot to learn from their tribal counterparts about effective governance.”
Many of us who are not close to the relationship between Native Americans and the federal government lose sight of the fact that we are different nations in the same territory. President Clinton established the requirement of federal government to consult with tribes in 2000 — the first time the federal government admitted a responsibility to communicate. President Obama enforced that, and President Biden has taken the step to allow a Native American lead government consultation with indigenous people.
Law and politics was part of family conversations when Newland grew up. “I always wanted to join in those conversations, and I always had an opinion about the subject of the day,” he told LawNews.com. “As I got older, I became more interested in matters of fairness, and public policy. The law seemed to be a natural fit for my interests.”
Newland was the first student admitted to the MSU Indigenous Law program. Law and civic duties is a value he has passed on to his family. He has also written a column, “On My Fishbox,” for the Bay Mills News. He received an award for Best Column Writing from the Native American Journalists Association.
It’s significant that in his background statement on Twitter he lists himself as “Father.”
“My hope for my children is that they find fulfillment, and that they give to their communities. I want them to always be connected to our home in Bay Mills, no matter where they live,” he says. “As for our tribe, I want our children to stand on the shoulders of their ancestors and make our community a place where people can make a living, live a life, and continue to share with one another.”
Trusting consultation with the federal government is critical to tribal leaders; certainly that hasn’t been the case throughout history. “It is the cornerstone to sound action, decisions and policies that will advance our relationship with tribal communities,” Newland writes. “Honoring our nation-to-nation relationship with tribes and upholding the trust and treaty responsibilities to them is paramount to fulfilling Interior’s mission.
“Meaningful consultations ensure we center tribal voices as we address the health, economic, racial justice and climate crises — all of which disproportionately impact American Indians and Alaska Natives.
“I am – and we are – listening and learning.”
Post written by Dennis Archambault
Photo of Bryan Newland taken from his Twitter account
