Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, has named Tulalip Tribes member Tracie Stevens as his policy staff senior advisor.

Stevens joined Echo Hawk's team in mid-July, after serving as Senior Policy Analyst with the Tulalip Tribes' government affairs office. In her 15-year career with the Tribes, Stevens has been involved with advocacy and networking efforts, gaming-related boards and committees, public affairs and lobbying functions, as well as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights and tribal governance issues.

The local woman began her career at the Tulalip Casino, where she developed expertise in business management and administration. Her work in human resource management, employee recruitment and training, and operations planning and analysis eventually led to a leadership position as the casino's executive director for strategic planning. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from the UW in 2006.

The recruitment of Stevens for the federal position underscores the Tulalip Tribes' increasing importance in regional and national affairs.

Stevens will work to implement national initiatives regarding Indian education and law enforcement, distributing Recovery Act funds to Indian Country, and overseeing Indian Affairs bureaus, offices and programs.

Photo caption: Recent appointees by Interior Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk are (left to right) policy advisor Wizipan Garriott, chief of staff Paul Tsosie and senior advisor Tracie Stevens.

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