NEW COMMISSIONER AT THE HELM OF ADMINISTRATION
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
Darcie Big Bear has demonstrated her love of the community of the Mille Lacs Band her entire young life and has grown into a positive role model and leader. She knows what it is like to struggle through some of life’s most difficult situations to overcome the hurdles in front of her. She has served the com munity in various positions working for the Mille Lacs Band for 24 years and is now ready to serve in a leadership position. Big Bear was recently confirmed and sworn into office as the Commissioner of Administration.
Big Bear moved into her office, dug in her heels, and got to work from day one. She also repainted the office to give it a more welcoming personal vibe. “I want everyone to feel comfortable coming in to talk with me,” she said. “My door is always open.”
After working in the Legislative Branch as the Parliamentarian/Clerk of the Assembly since 2015, she said moving to the Executive Branch in Administration is different. “As a Parliamentarian, my work schedule was very structured. I knew exactly what I had to do each day and get everything done. Here, while it is still structured to a point, no day is ever the same. It is a constant change and that keeps me on my toes. Everyone has been greatly supportive helping me to learn the position and that helps so much. So, I humbly ask everyone to bear with me while I am learning.”
Challenges are nothing new to Big Bear. As she stated in her confirmation hearing, her story is one of a Band member surviving her past traumas and working her way from the ground up from a teen mom to earning a Master’s degree, and now, a Commissioner of Administration. “Isn’t this the way it should be?” Big Bear said. “I can relate on a personal level to all the struggles, the journey, the needs, and the services our Band provides as I have used many of them throughout my life. I grew up in the Chiminising District almost my whole life. I was raised in a single-parent household by my strong and loving mother, Molly Judkins. My father is George Big Bear, who resides in Minneapolis. We came from humble beginnings and lived off of government supplements in the early years of my life. With 5 other siblings, you learn to just get in where you fit in. I watched my mother work very hard to get us out of poverty. That is where I get my work ethic from.”
Big Bear became a teen mother at the age of 15. “My mother didn’t want me depending on welfare. I applied for a summer internship here with the Band at the Nay Ah Shing Upper School,” and thus began her extensive career with the Mille Lacs Band.
While working to raise her two children, she worked. She said she was very young and living, “in a world that glamorizes alcohol and living within that type of lifestyle” that often left her out of balance mentally by being caught between that life style and being a mother. “I am always proud to tell my story of breaking up with alcohol,” she said. “One day I just said to myself, this is not going to be my life.”
It was not easy at first, she admits. All good things take time — one day at a time.
After her “break up with alcohol” she decided to better her life by going back to school. While continuing to work, she wove her way through her education earning an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, and finally her Master’s Degree in Tribal Administration and Governance. While those are all great accomplishments, she said she feels her sobriety is her greatest overall.
Big Bear’s ambitions as Commissioner of Administration are lofty. As she stated in her confirmation hearing she has several ideas and goals.
“I know I have a lot to learn, but I also know that I am de termined to get the job done and have the integrity to make the right choices. Some of my short-term goals are as follows: First, within the Administration Policy Board, also known as APB, I will be looking at making changes to implement policies and procedures to improve the way things flow through APB. I will take some of what we implemented in the Band Assembly setting timelines for submissions, etc., and do the same thing on the Executive side.
“Next, I will be looking at creating a policy “to regulate the performance of all employees, including the hiring and dismissal of any employee, under the provisions of Band stat ute regulating civil service employees.” Within 4 MLBS § 8(d). Within Human Resources, looking at implementing a Workday or HR Bamboo. I know this is in the works currently. The Human Resources Director Stacey Sanchez is phenomenal at her job so I will be working closely with her to see what other changes are needed or how we can best improve HR overall.
“Another goal is to implement TEAMS to help improve communication across the board in the Executive Branch.
“Finally, I would like to establish a meeting schedule with each Director to give me updates via PowerPoint to keep me updated on things happening within the Band government.
“I am one person and I will rely on everyone’s expertise in their respective areas and look forward to working with all Di rectors moving forward.
“Assistant Commissioner of Administration, Maria Costello, and I have a great working relationship and she has offered to get me up to speed on some of the issues and areas that need work, thank you for that Commissioner Costello.
“Commissioner Anderson has been a friend to me in this process and I know that I can turn to her as well when I have questions, also thank you Commissioner Anderson for your kind words and helping me see my worth.”
Her long-term goals include implementing an Administration Code, updating Title 6 (Government Employees) and Title 4 (Executive Branch), overhauling HR policies, and implementing a pay scale for all employees.
Big Bear will also be looking into the current youth programming. One of her biggest pushes will be to have the District I com munity center run similar to Meshakwad, open 24 hours. “I know from my own personal battles that the gym has helped me in more ways than I can count. I also believe that it will keep kids out of trouble as well if they have a place to be during the weekends.”
She admits when she first started working for the Band it was just a job and a way to make money to feed her children and pay our bills. Throughout time she realized how important it was to work hard and just be a good person. She feels it is important to make everyone feel seen and she strives to say hi to everyone.
“Everyone here holds an important role in making this government center run smoothly so that we can provide adequate services to our Band members and their families. I’ve learned how important it is to stay true to your morals and always have integrity,” Big Bear said. “Former Chief Executive Marge An derson always made time to stop and say hi and to ask how my siblings and I were doing. I try to remember that when I am walking these halls. I strive to see everyone for their talents and abilities. When I take a step back and remember where I came from, where I started, and all the hard work that brought me here today, it makes me feel so proud. This isn’t just a win for myself, this is a win for teen mothers, single mothers, so briety, and most importantly, my family.”