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Press Room >
2004 :
Deputy Director hired for
Office of Tribal Government Relations
RELEASE DATE:
Friday, October 29, 2004
For More
Information Contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-3301
Pierre, SD – Hedi
Bodga-Cleveland has been hired as the Deputy Director for the
Office of Tribal Government Relations, Gov. Mike Rounds
announced today, Oct. 29.
“Hedi comes to us with a tremendous amount
of experience,” Gov. Rounds said. “Her understanding of key
issues and her ability to effectively communicate those issues
make her a real asset to our team,” he said.
Bogda-Cleveland is a native of Minnesota. She is a
graduate of Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN and earned her law
degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Before
joining the staff at the Office of Tribal Government Relations, she
was an Associate Regional Counsel for the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, an assistant attorney for the
United States Attorney’s Office, the Chief Prosecutor for the
Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Domestic Violence Prosecutor for the
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe/Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.
A key area Bogda-Cleveland will focus on is the
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), as well as assisting in all other
state/tribal initiatives. “One of the biggest benefits of this
office is that it allows the Native American people to have a voice
in state government by ensuring the lines of communication are
open,” Bogda-Cleveland said.
“An important part of our 2010 Initiative is to
increase our emphasis on Tribal Government Relations. In the last
year, some of our accomplishments include signing five TERO (Tribal
Employment Rights Office) agreements and four tax collection
agreements, establishing an Indian Education Advisory Council and
working closely with all state agencies to find ways to improve the
lives of our Native American citizens,” Gov. Rounds said. “With
Hedi’s help, we are optimistic that we’ll be able to accomplish even
more in the future,” he said.
The Office of Tribal Government Relations is a
part of the state’s Department of Tourism and State Development.
Broadcaster Note: Hedi is pronounced Head-e
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