Bryan Mercier has been named the next director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. Mercier, a tribal citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, will be acting BIA director effective September 8, 2024, and will be formally appointed to the position when current BIA Director Darryl LaCounte retires later this year.
Mercier has served as the director of the BIA Northwest Regional Office since 2018.
“Bryan has demonstrated exceptional leadership ability, and I’m excited for what he brings to this role,” Newland said. “We held a comprehensive recruitment and selection process to identify the best candidate, and Bryan stood out for his vision of the future of BIA and skills to achieve that vision.”
Mercier has spent 20 years working in public service. His federal career started with the U.S. Forest Service, followed by a few years as a program manager at the Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Fund. Prior to the BIA, Bryan served as the Executive Manager of Fish and Wildlife for the Bonneville Power Administration’s Environment, Fish and Wildlife Program, which is the largest environmental mitigation program in the United States.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving in four federal agencies, Energy, Treasury, Agriculture and Interior, each with unique missions. None have a mission as important and fulfilling as BIA’s,” said Mercier. “I’m truly honored to be selected as the bureau’s next director and look forward to building on Darryl LaCounte’s sound leadership to support Tribal sovereignty, strengthen Indian self-determination, and continue to improve our services by making the bureau an employer of choice for Native people.”
Mercier holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Oregon, a graduate certificate in economics from the Universitaet Freiburg in Germany, and a graduate degree in human rights and international law from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain.
“Darryl taught me a lot about what it means to serve, in a way that respects those we serve,” Newland said. “I am incredibly grateful for the work we’ve done together and for the work he has accomplished for Indian people throughout his career.”
LaCounte, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians located in North Dakota, is retiring after 36 years of distinguished service to Indian Country. He was appointed as BIA director in 2019.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Brennan Center for Justice Study Shows Native Americans Vote at Lower Rates Than Non-Natives
'More Than Just Food' | Tocabe Indigenous Marketplace Offers Native Ingredients, Meal Kits for Every Table
Navajo Nation Agriculture Dept. Warns Farmers and Ranchers to Disregard Communications from CKP Insurance
Support Independent Indigenous Journalism That Holds Power to Account
With the election now decided, Native News Online is recommitting to our core mission: rigorous oversight of federal Indian policy and its impact on tribal communities.
The previous Trump administration’s record on Indian Country — from the reduction of sacred sites to aggressive energy development on tribal lands — demands heightened vigilance as we enter this new term. Our Indigenous-centered newsroom will provide unflinching coverage of policies affecting tribal sovereignty, sacred site protection, MMIR issues, water rights, Indian health, and economic sovereignty.
This critical watchdog journalism requires resources. Your support, in any amount, helps maintain our independent, Native-serving news coverage. Every contribution helps keep our news free for all of our relatives. Please donate today to ensure Native News Online can thrive and deliver impactful, independent journalism.
