Ada Deer
Encyclopedia
Ada Deer is a Native American
advocate and scholar who served as head of the United States
' Bureau of Indian Affairs
from 1993 to 1997.
tribe, Deer was born in Keshena, Wisconsin
. She obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and a Master of Social Work
from the New York School of Social Work
(later Columbia University School of Social Work
).
, settling in Minneapolis. She found few local services in place for Native Americans living in urban settings and dedicated herself to advocating on their behalf with federal authorities
.
Since the "Termination Era" of the 1950s and 1960s (resulting in reduced federal oversight of Native American affairs), the Menominee tribe had been governed by a corporate body called Menominee Enterprise, Inc.. Menominee Enterprises, Inc. was controlled by a voting trust and Menominee tribal members had no shares in the corporation. Four of the voting trust members were Menominee, however, it took five votes in order for action to be taken. In the 1960s and 1970s there was renewed Congressional
involvement in rebuilding tribal infrastructure, both socially and economically. During that time, Deer became involved in a group called DRUMS (Determination of Right and Unity for Menominee Shareholders) in opposition to Menominee Enterprise's proposed sale of former Menominee lands. At first, Deer encountered difficulty with Wayne Aspinall, an Interior Committee chairman and supporter of termination. She took frequent trips to Washington, and Deer was denied even speaking with Aspinall. However, Aspinall was voted out of the office, and Deer raised publicity as well as support for the Menominee cause.
Her efforts, along with many other Menominees, played a part in bringing the Termination Era to a close, as December 1972 saw President Richard Nixon
sign the Menominee Restoration Act
. This legislation restored official federal recognition to the Menominee tribe. From 1974 to 1976, Deer served as chair of the Menominee Restoration Committee.
In 1993, Deer was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior by President Bill Clinton
. She served as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
from 1993 to 1997. During this period, she was a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee
. From January to May 1997, she served as Chair
of the National Indian Gaming Commission
.
Before and after her term in the BIA, Deer served on the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund
. She has served as chair of the NSC and chair of the NARF board of directors.
/Geraldine Ferraro
presidential campaign in 1984. In 1992, she ran for a seat in the United States Congress
in Wisconsin's Second District. She won the Democratic primary without "soft money" funding from political action committees. Following her primary win, a local newspaper ran a photo of Deer proudly holding a sign reading "Me Nominee" in a note to her tribal heritage.
since 1977, currently holding the title of Distinguished Lecturer. She is also currently the director of the American Indian Studies Department at UW–Madison. During her tenure, she co-founded Milwaukee's Indian Community School and created the first program to provide social work training on Native American reservations. After taking four years off from 1993 to 1997 to serve as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Deer returned to campus, where she was appointed director of the Department of American Indian Studies in 1999. In addition, she is a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
advocate and scholar who served as head of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
from 1993 to 1997.
Background
A member of the MenomineeMenominee
Some placenames use other spellings, see also Menomonee and Menomonie.The Menominee are a nation of Native Americans living in Wisconsin. The Menominee, along with the Ho-Chunk, are the only tribes that are indigenous to what is now Wisconsin...
tribe, Deer was born in Keshena, Wisconsin
Keshena, Wisconsin
Keshena is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Menominee County, Wisconsin, United States. Located on the Menominee Indian Reservation, the population was 1,262 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. She obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and a Master of Social Work
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...
from the New York School of Social Work
New York School of Philanthropy
The New York School of Philanthropy was established in 1904. The School had its origins in 1898 with the first Summer School in Philanthropic Work offered in New York City. It was the first higher education program in the United States to train people in the field of social work. It began as a...
(later Columbia University School of Social Work
Columbia University School of Social Work
The Columbia University School of Social Work is a professional program within Columbia University. With an enrollment of over 900, it is one of the largest social work programs in the United States. It is also the nation’s oldest, with roots extending back to 1898, when the New York Charity...
).
Native American advocacy
Following completion of her graduate work, Deer returned to the Midwest to be closer to the Menominee NationMenominee Indian Reservation
The Menominee Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation located in northeastern Wisconsin for the Menominee.For the most part it is conterminous with Menominee County and the town of Menominee. However, there are many small pockets of territory within the county that are not considered to be...
, settling in Minneapolis. She found few local services in place for Native Americans living in urban settings and dedicated herself to advocating on their behalf with federal authorities
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
.
Since the "Termination Era" of the 1950s and 1960s (resulting in reduced federal oversight of Native American affairs), the Menominee tribe had been governed by a corporate body called Menominee Enterprise, Inc.. Menominee Enterprises, Inc. was controlled by a voting trust and Menominee tribal members had no shares in the corporation. Four of the voting trust members were Menominee, however, it took five votes in order for action to be taken. In the 1960s and 1970s there was renewed Congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
involvement in rebuilding tribal infrastructure, both socially and economically. During that time, Deer became involved in a group called DRUMS (Determination of Right and Unity for Menominee Shareholders) in opposition to Menominee Enterprise's proposed sale of former Menominee lands. At first, Deer encountered difficulty with Wayne Aspinall, an Interior Committee chairman and supporter of termination. She took frequent trips to Washington, and Deer was denied even speaking with Aspinall. However, Aspinall was voted out of the office, and Deer raised publicity as well as support for the Menominee cause.
Her efforts, along with many other Menominees, played a part in bringing the Termination Era to a close, as December 1972 saw President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
sign the Menominee Restoration Act
Menominee Restoration Act
The Menominee Restoration Act, signed by President of the United States Richard Nixon on December 22, 1973, returned federally recognized sovereignty to the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. It also restored tribal supervision over property and members, as well as federal services granted to...
. This legislation restored official federal recognition to the Menominee tribe. From 1974 to 1976, Deer served as chair of the Menominee Restoration Committee.
In 1993, Deer was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. She served as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
from 1993 to 1997. During this period, she was a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee
Human Rights Committee
The United Nations Human Rights Committee is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets three times a year for four-week sessions to consider the five-yearly reports submitted by 162 UN member states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,...
. From January to May 1997, she served as Chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the National Indian Gaming Commission
National Indian Gaming Commission
The National Indian Gaming Commission is an independent federal regulatory agency within the Department of the Interior. Congress established this agency through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. The agency has the duty to "promulgate such regulations and guidelines as it deems...
.
Before and after her term in the BIA, Deer served on the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund, also known as NARF, is a non-profit organization that uses existing laws and treaties to ensure that state governments and the national government live up to their legal obligations...
. She has served as chair of the NSC and chair of the NARF board of directors.
Political efforts
Deer ran for Wisconsin's secretary of state in both 1978 and 1982. She served as vice-chair of the Walter MondaleWalter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
/Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
presidential campaign in 1984. In 1992, she ran for a seat in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in Wisconsin's Second District. She won the Democratic primary without "soft money" funding from political action committees. Following her primary win, a local newspaper ran a photo of Deer proudly holding a sign reading "Me Nominee" in a note to her tribal heritage.
Educational career
Deer has taught in the School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
since 1977, currently holding the title of Distinguished Lecturer. She is also currently the director of the American Indian Studies Department at UW–Madison. During her tenure, she co-founded Milwaukee's Indian Community School and created the first program to provide social work training on Native American reservations. After taking four years off from 1993 to 1997 to serve as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Deer returned to campus, where she was appointed director of the Department of American Indian Studies in 1999. In addition, she is a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics was created to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and inspire Harvard students into careers in politics and public service, much as President Kennedy was inspired during his days as a student at Harvard. The IOP also brings together the academic...
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
.
Notable achievements
- First member of the Menominee Tribe to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1957)
- First member of the Menominee Tribe to receive a master's degree (1961)
- First woman to serve as chair of the Menominee Restoration Committee (1974)
- Pollitzer Award, Ethical Cultural Society, N.Y. (1975)
- First Native American woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs (1993)
- Included as one of 51 "accomplished practitioners and educators" in the book Celebrating Social Work: Faces and Voices of the Formative Years (Council on Social Work Education, 2003)
Past national board service
- American Indian Policy Review Commission
- Americans for Indian Opportunity
- Council on Foundations
- National Association of Social Workers
- Native American Rights Fund