Ada Deer, prominent Native American leader in Wisconsin, dies at 88

Ada Deer, a prominent Native American leader in Wisconsin and nationwide, died Tuesday night at age 88.

Deer was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, living a life filled with firsts and paving the way for other Native leaders.

"Ada was one-of-a-kind," Gov. Tony Evers said on social media. "We will remember her as a trailblazer, a changemaker, and a champion for Indigenous communities. But above all, (my wife) Kathy and I will always remember Ada for her kindness and compassion."

Deer was the first woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the first woman to serve as chairperson of the Menominee Nation and the first Native American woman to run for Congress in Wisconsin.

Deer was instrumental in restoring federal recognition for her tribe, and also fought for the sovereignty of all Indigenous nations.

“I speak up. I speak out,” she said in 2018. “It’s not like I plotted and planned. I just had this general goal. I want to do and I want to be and I want to help. And I’ve been able to do it. People think you’re born this way, but you create your way as you go along. No. Your life evolves.”

Deer's early life, education

Born in Keshena, Wisconsin, in 1935, Deer grew up on a Menominee Indian Reservation. She lived in a log cabin near the Wolf River where there was no running water or electricity.

In 1957, she became the first Menominee citizen to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work.

She went on to become the first Native American to earn a master’s degree from Columbia University.

How Deer was instrumental in restoring federal recognition for her tribe

When federal recognition ended for the Menominee tribe in 1961, the reservation became the poorest county in the state, lacking the tax base to support basic services, and its accounts from businesses, such as lumbering operations, were quickly drained.

In response, Deer helped to organize the Determination of Right and Unity for Menominee Shareholders, which had led the movement to return federal sovereignty to the Menominee people.

They worked to eventually create the new Menominee Nation after President Richard Nixon signed the law restoring federal recognition to the tribe in 1973.

Deer was the first woman to serve as chairperson of the Menominee Nation, from 1974 to 1976.

“Against all odds, we invented a new policy — restoration,” she told a Senate committee during her confirmation hearing to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“This legislation is a vivid reminder of how great a government can be when it is large enough to admit and rectify its mistakes. It is also indicative of my tribe’s spirit, tenacity and ability to hold other sovereign entities accountable.”

A look at Deer's lifetime of accomplishments

Deer was the first Native American woman to run for Congress in Wisconsin, in 1978 and 1992. She became the first woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs after being appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, helping to set policy for more than 550 federally recognized tribes.

Education was a key priority for Deer. She co-founded the Indian Community School in Milwaukee. She had directed the American Indian Studies Program at UW-Madison and was the inaugural participant of the Culture Keepers/Elders in Residence Program, a UW-Madison initiative to improve the experience of American Indian and Alaskan Native students by hosting Native elders on campus for extended visits and educational exchanges.

Deer was chairwoman of the Native American Rights Fund, organizing leadership workshops for Native American women. And, she helped kick-start Native American participation in the Peace Corps.

Deer had served as a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Deer's accolades for her 'groundbreaking' work include a day in her honor

In 2019, Deer was inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame. In 2020, she was one of two recipients of the City-County Humanitarian Award from Dane County and the city of Madison.

In 2021, she was highlighted on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs website in honor of Women’s History Month.

In celebration of her 88th birthday and to honor her "groundbreaking work," Evers recently proclaimed Aug. 7 as Ada Deer Day in Wisconsin.

The proclamation stated that the state of Wisconsin "honors the strength, wisdom and passion Ada has embodied throughout her lifetime as a champion for Native American rights, an advocate for social justice and for her unwavering commitment to serving the people of Wisconsin."

Condolences offered from around Wisconsin, nation

Officials locally and from around the country are expressing their condolences.

"I’m saddened to hear about the passing of Wisconsin icon, Ada Deer," said Sen. Tammy Baldwin. "Ada was a true trailblazer and an inspiration to countless Wisconsinites, including me. She spent her life fighting for justice and a brighter future for Wisconsin, and our state is a better place because of Ada."

Deb Haaland, the first Native American to head the U.S. Department of the Interior, also posted on social media.

"I’m so sad to hear of Ada Deer's passing, a public servant who spent her life uplifting Indigenous communities," Haaland said. "She blazed a trail for women at @Interior and I am proud to stand on her shoulders. I send my deep condolences to her Menominee relatives and all who called her friend."

But her loss is having the most impact at home on the Menominee reservation.

"The MTE (Menominee Tribal Enterprises) family of employees and logging contractors are saddened at the passing of a Menominee icon Ada Deer," said Michael Skenadore, president of MTE, which runs the tribe's renowned logging operations.

"She was a remarkable advocate for Menominee restoration and sovereignty. Her love for Menominee was evident in all things and her belief in our people was unwavering. While we mourn her passing from this world to the next, we will pause to celebrate her remarkable life."

The Menominee Tribe posted on its official Facebook page that Deer's legacy will continue to live on through the Menominee community.

"We extend our deepest condolences to Ada's family and friends during this difficult time," the post read. "Ada's contributions to the Menominee community and her dedication to improving the lives of Native Americans will never be forgotten. As we mourn her loss, let us also celebrate her remarkable life and the profound impact she had on all of us."

Menominee Tribal Legislator Joey Awonohopay said Deer is a role model for many Native American women in the country and will forever live on in Menominee stories about tribal history.

He recalled a Native American storytelling event he attended with her at UW-Madison some years ago:

"When the event ended, Ada came up, thanked all of us for sharing our traditional stories in our languages. She gave me a hug and whispered (to me), 'Your Grandfather Johnson and the elders from Zoar are so proud of the work you do and the knowledge you carry for our future generations. Don’t let that critical piece of who we are die.'

"Up to that moment, I had no idea Ada knew my grandparents and the elders from my settlement. We talked and visited for what seemed like an hour and I asked Ada what made her decide to do the work she found fulfillment in. Ada said, 'I felt I always had something to say and contribute in a positive manner and, by God, I was going to say it. I was going to speak up and nobody was going to stop me.'"

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ada Deer, Native American leader in Wisconsin, dies at 88