How Christelle Arnett Established SOVEREIGN, a Space for Indigenous and Tribal Employees

A new Business Resource Group for Washington State employees centered around Native American and Indigenous staff members kicks off their first meeting this November. SOVEREIGN—which stands for?Supporting Our Voices Empowering Rights Indigenous Governance—would not have been possible without the hard work of Christelle Arnett, the first full time state-level Tribal Relations Administrator for the Washington State DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). We are so glad Christelle agreed to interview with us. She shared about her career in Tribal Relations, her experiences as an Indigenous woman, how SOVEREIGN got off the ground, and her hopes for the future of state government.

About Christelle:

Christelle Arnett is the first full time state-level Tribal Relations Administrator for the Washington State DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). She has served in this role since October 2022. Prior to DVR, Christelle served as a Child Support Program Administrator for the Tribal Relations Team at the DSHS Division of Child Support.

She is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Idaho and has over 20 years of experience working with and for Tribal nations across the U.S. She is considered an accomplished Tribal Relations professional and advises leaders on critical issues that affect the legal and political status of Tribes and their citizens. Christelle earned her bachelor’s degree in American Studies with an emphasis in Native American Business Administration at Idaho State University.?

Christelle has spent most of her personal and professional life in Indian Country focused on serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people and as an advocate to help build individual and community capacity while preserving traditional values and knowledge. She believes in a working approach that focuses on collaboration to bring resources to Tribes and AI/AN individuals and to honor Tribal Self-determination by leaving decision-making with the people.??????

Along with her robust professional experience, Christelle weaves a cultural perspective into her work. She draws on her lived experiences in both worlds to balance interests and communicate across cultures when she is acting in a role that makes connections with Tribal leaders and communities.

Christelle enjoys sharing her knowledge and collective lived experience so people she works with understand the nuances and challenges of Tribal life in America and are better informed about the unique relationship between Tribes and the federal government. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and enjoys spending time with her grown children and spoiling her grandchildren.

Question: How do you identify within the Indigenous community?

Christelle: I am an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on my maternal side. To be a tribal member means that I am a citizen of my tribe and have certain legal rights with the federal government as a sixth-generation ancestral beneficiary of the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868. My mother’s parents were born in Idaho on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation but were not citizens of the United States until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act. This makes my mom a first-generation born American citizen and I am a second-generation American citizen. I find this fact to be very interesting because many people don’t know this part of history.

Question: What does community mean to you? How does it show up?

Christelle: Community means “belonging” to me. A sense of belonging is important in any community, whether small or large, to feel safe and share commonality with others in the community. I am a member of many communities, but I am most connected with my small community of BRG folks, with a larger tribal community in Washington, and with my own tribal community back home in Fort Hall, Idaho.

Question: Why did you move to create SOVEREIGN? What can you tell us about the people invited to create SOVEREIGN with you?

Christelle:?Very early on during my state employment, I felt like an outsider because I was new to the state system and felt like I didn’t fit into the agency’s organizational culture. At that time, I inquired about a Native American BRG with a few Native colleagues who had been state employees for a number of years to find out why a BRG did not exist. I was told that forming a Native BRG was being tossed around but no movement happened. When I transferred to another state office, I felt a stronger need to connect with other state employees who were Native American as well as with colleagues who had a similar role as me. An affinity group was formed by then EDAI Administrator, Amber Coleman, for DVR employees who are Indigenous/Native American. It was such a relief to have a safe space to share ideas, stories, and challenges. I was grateful to Amber for being proactive in her work to create a space, even if it was only for a few employees. Over time, opportunities came up and I began to reach out to a broader community of Native American state employees, who are unapologetically proactive, such as Michelle Gladstone-Wade and Al Andy from the Office of Tribal Affairs at the Department of Commerce. When I first met iisaaksiichaa braine, the Governor’s Office of Equity Tribal Liaison, I felt that we shared similar perspectives about advocacy and approaches to our work.

I credit timing and the Creator for SOVEREIGN. I was placed in the right path with the right people at a time when we were able to come together to form the BRG. As Tribal and Indigenous colleagues, our collaborations are intrinsic and filled with humor and grace. We understand the importance of the work we are doing in forming the BRG and are also enjoying our time together.

Question:?What are your hopes for the SOVEREIGN Business Resource Group?

Christelle:?My dream for SOVEREIGN is to be a safe space for Indigenous and Tribal employees seeking support from their people and allies, especially for our young employees and our people who are new to state employment. I also look forward to the day when SOVEREIGN has a voice in key policy changes that break down oppressive systemic barriers for all marginalized state employees.

Question: As we celebrate Washington taking this significant step forward in creating a space for Indigenous and Native American employees, we also must grapple with the brutal past actions of our government, such as the forced assimilation in boarding schools. What does it mean to you to create a space dedicated to supporting Indigenous employees working within state government, given the violent and tragic history?

Christelle:?This is a great question. As Native Americans, it might seem counter-intuitive to want to work for state government. There is a long history of actions taken by federal and state government agents to oppress tribal peoples that led to mistrust and trauma of the government system, which is still being experienced today. Personally, I feel that I can best serve my people by working for systems that have, historically, made policies that negatively impact tribal people. My goal is to offer guidance and my life experiences as a Tribal Relations professional to advocate for change within the state system. I have been doing tribal relations work for 20 years and I am ready to transfer my knowledge and prepare for my next journey. As the “Big Auntie” of the BRG, I’m excited to have a space where I can share my life experiences with the younger generation. This is my role in the BRG community.

Question:?For those wanting to support and show allyship with Indigenous folks, what is a good place to start? What do you want state workers to know about supporting Indigenous communities in Washington?

Christelle:?I always appreciate it when people lean into their curiosity and ask questions or just actively listen. Being dependable and honest also goes a long way because tribal people have historical mistrust of the state. Tribal people are experts in their communities so seeking guidance instead of offering help is a way to show respect. Tribes aren’t always looking for help so situational awareness is key. Unfortunately, some people don’t seek guidance and learn hard lessons. I’m a Native and I have goofed many times because I didn’t take the time to do enough research or ask enough questions. I’m willing to admit when I make a mistake, but some folks have a difficult time showing their vulnerabilities.