Heather Dawn Thompson Appointed Director of USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC, January 25, 2021/ The Biden Administration today announced the appointment of Heather Dawn Thompson as the new Director of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Tribal Relations (OTR). Ms. Thompson, a nationally recognized Native American lawyer, leader, and Indian Country economic development expert, is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Heather is widely recognized for her work while serving as the Director of Government Affairs for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the nation’s oldest and largest inter-tribal organization. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Ms. Thompson served as the Founder and Lead Manager of Native American Capital’s Tribal Opportunity Zones Venture Group and as an attorney with the national law firm, Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
OTR leads the intergovernmental role for USDA with tribes, covering all aspects of rural tribal economic development and tribal agriculture. Efforts through consultation, coordination and collaboration support the preservation of the government-togovernment relationship and enhance access to USDA’s various programs and services to tribes, tribal organizations, and citizens.
“Heather Dawn is a powerhouse in tribal economic development. She will be a significant asset to USDA and to tribal nations,” said Joe Falkson, Senior Managing Director, Native American Capital.
Native American Capital is a majority Native American-owned strategy, economic development, and project financing firm, located in the Washington, DC region, exclusively serving Indian Country.
Contact:
Dr. Joseph L. Falkson
Senior Managing Director
Native American Capital
jfalkson@nativeamericancapital.com
www.nativeamericancapital.com
(703)587-8908
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