Assistant Secretary Sweeney Names Tammie Poitra as the Midwest Regional Director

WASHINGTON, DC – Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney announced the appointment of Tammie Poitra to the position of the Midwest BIA Regional Director. The appointment is effective June 23, 2019.

"It is with great pride that I name Tammie Poitra as the Midwest BIA Regional Director," said Assistant Secretary Sweeney. "I have the upmost confidence in her leadership capabilities to work with the 36 Tribes and the staff that comprises the regional office and the four BIA agencies. Congratulations, Ms. Poitra."

"Cultivating a qualified pool of executives with managerial expertise to serve in a variety of leadership roles when needed is crucial to the future of the Bureau of Indian Affairs," said BIA Director Darryl LaCounte. "Among our top priorities is to fill BIA's leadership positions with highly qualified managers who will provide continuity and expertise in trust management in accordance with the BIA mission."

"It is a great honor to become the Midwest BIA Regional Director," said Regional Director Poitra. "I have a great commitment to the Bureau's mission and I look forward to carrying out our trust responsibilities for the tribes in our region."

Until today's announcement, Poitra served as the Deputy Regional Director for Trust Services in the Midwest Region since July 2010. She has over 33 years of combined federal service. In 2018, she served as the acting Northwest Regional Director. She previously served as the Superintendent of the BIA Winnebago Agency. From 1995 to 2000, she was the Fiduciary Trust Officer and Trust Accountant for the Northwest Region with the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. Poitra worked as the Midwest Regional Budget Officer from 2000 to 2004.

Poitra is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and holds an associate's degree in computer programming from the North Dakota State School and Science, and a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting. She attended a University of Phoenix master's degree program.

The BIA Midwest Region provides funding and support to 36 federally recognized Tribes located in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa. Tribes in the Midwest Region encompass approximately 62 million acres, including treaty-ceded territories, representing millions of acres of forests, lakes, streams and wetlands.