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In The Hoop
JULY 10, 2001

Diva #6: Ada Deer, Former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs

Ada Deer: Clasic Diva.

No list of Indian Divas is complete without Ada Deer, President Clinton's troubled former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Of true Aretha Franklin stature, this Menominee Nation Diva gets top, and final, billing in our list.

As a true marker of her divaness, Deer has not been heard from in ages, yet her legacy is still remembered today. Just the mere mention of her name in the halls of the Department Interior or at BIA offices throughout the country brings charged emotions and opinions!

Sufficeth to say, there were no tears lost over this Diva's 1997 resignation. What a shame, considering that she recognized / acknowledged / clarified the status and existence of more tribes / Alaska Native villages than anyone in Bureau history.

And some people blame Kevin Gover!

Diva Forecast: This Aging Diva is in her late 60s and has made the transition to a career in academia. If you are thinking, hey that sounds like Clinton's Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, then you are on the right track. But stop aiming so high! You are more likely to find this diva at Gathering of Nations than at a Gathering of Policy Makers.

Diva #1 | Diva #2 | Diva #3 | Diva #4 | Diva #5 | Diva #6

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