Top official for Indian Affairs and BIA named

FARMINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Interior announced last week the selection of two individuals to lead offices that further the government-to-government relations with tribes.

Tara MacLean Sweeney was nominated on Tuesday by President Donald Trump to serve as assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, according to an Oct. 17 news release from the Interior Department.

“I am honored to be nominated to serve Indian Country in this capacity. My goal is to develop strong relationships with tribes, Alaska Native corporations and Native Hawaiian organizations to work on innovative solutions for lifting up our communities,” Sweeney said in the release.

Sweeney is a member of the Native Village of Barrow and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope.

She is the executive vice president of external affairs for the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., a private, for-profit corporation headquartered in Barrow, Alaska.

The U.S. Senate still needs to confirm her nomination before she can assume the role.

If confirmed, Sweeney would be the first Alaska Native and second woman to serve as assistant secretary.

On Monday, the department announced Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke had named Bryan Rice director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Rice, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, started his term on Monday, according to a release.

Zinke said in the release Rice is well versed in the mission of the BIA and has “extensive knowledge” about the agency.

“Bryan will be a strong leader for the bureau and closely follow the secretary’s plans for reforming the BIA into a top-notch service delivery agency for tribes and tribal leaders,” Zinke said.

Prior to Rice’s selection, he was director for the Office of Wildland Fire under the Interior Department.

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