This is the current Executive Council of the Bay Mills Indian Community. From the left: Rachel Burtt, Beverly Carrick, Brenda Bjork and Gail Glezen. (Submitted photo)

From Bay Mills

Indian Community

BAY MILLS — Bay Mills Indian Community continues to make history.

When Bay Mills Tribal Chairman Bryan Newland resigned last month, the action put BMIC in a historic position.

BMIC is now being led by an all-female council, for the first time in the tribe’s history.

And while Michigan’s population is 50.8% female, it has taken years for the state’s women to be represented, according to the release. For example, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is only the second female governor to lead the state; Jocelyn Benson is only the fourth female secretary of state; and Dana Nessel is only the second female attorney general.

In the Michigan Senate, just 11 of the 38 senators are women, with only four of them being women of color. Out of the Michigan State Representatives, 42 out of 110 are women, only 12 are women of color.

Women represent 45% of the S&P 500 workforce, yet only 4% of them are CEOs.

But for the women of Bay Mills, the glass ceiling was broken many years ago.

In 1974, the tribe first placed their trust in Candy Tierney as tribal attorney. But when she arrived in BMIC, Tierney said women were in many posts in the tribe.

“Bay Mills has always ignored gender in employment and in politics,” said Tierney. “The first elected Tribal Judge was Darla Schofield, and women have held that position about half the time. Lynda Parrish Pesola, Corrine Cameron, and Whitney Gravelle were all elected before Leah Parish, the current judge. Similarly, most Executive Councils have included at least one woman.”

Today, Bay Mills has its own “squad,” making history during Women’s History Month.

Brenda Bjork, born and raised in Bay Mills, moved from vice-chair to chairperson with Newland’s resignation. She was elected to her position 3.5 years ago, but she started working for Bay Mills in 1993 as a bookkeeper for Kings Club Casino. Her “regular” job is hospitality director for Bay Mills Resort & Casino. She has held numerous positions within the tribe, including bookkeeper, assistant to finance director, shift manager, and data analyst.

Gail Glezen, treasurer, has served in many positions in her career. She’s been a licensed realtor, EMT, and worked in numerous finance positions. She began her work with Bay Mills Housing Authority in 1999, becoming director in 2018. She has also served on the Michigan Women’s Commission and as Sugar Island Township clerk.

Beverly Carrick, secretary, began working at age 14 while growing up in Bay Mills. She took advantage Bay Mills Community College’s programs, earning her one-year certificate in office management in 1985 and in 1993 she received her associate of applied science-office technology. Today, she is currently assistant executive director of the Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority.

Tribal Manager and Executive Councilperson Rachel Burtt hopes BMIC is just a glimpse as to what the future holds for women. Burtt began working at Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in 2007 as a cocktail server. In 2019 she was elected as councilperson for BMIC, and in October 2020, she moved into her most recent role as tribal manager. She currently holds a MPA from Northern Michigan University and is working toward obtaining her education specialist degree.

“I was able to return to working for the Tribe in 2018 after being hired as the tribal grants coordinator,” said Burtt. “I am very proud of the work I did within the grants department. I have helped to secure millions of new funds for the betterment of our community.”

Some of those grants include $900,000 for a new Boys & Girls Club, $1,823,713 in funds to build eight new homes for our elders, $461,941 in funds for BMPD, $240,000 to create a strategic plan for economic development, in addition to numerous other grant awards to help BMIC in achieving their various goals.

Bay Mills legal system is also dominated by educated and experienced women.

In 2018, Tierney began to share the workload with BMIC tribal member and former judge Whitney Gravelle, who was hired as in-house counsel. Gravelle was elected chief judge in 2017, coming back home to BMIC after work with Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resource Division — Indian Resource Section, Native American Rights Fund, Michigan Supreme Court (Justice McCormack’s Chambers), Michigan Attorney General’s Office in the Indian Child Welfare Section, and Udall Congressional Washington DC Internship.

The laws of BMIC are upheld by Chief Judge Leah Parish, Appellate Judges Tara Parrish and Tami Munz, Court Administrator Phyllis Kinney, and Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Obreiter.

Parish, is the Healing to Wellness coordinator for tribal court (HTWC Coordinator of the Year award in 2019) and was elected chief judge in 2019. In her years at Bay Mills, she has worked in several positions, from security guard at Kings Club Casino, to commodities food coordinator, all while raising three children.

Parish works directly with Prosecuting Attorney Obreiter, who handles child welfare, juvenile court and child victim cases. She started in the court system last fall and has a background in education as well as the law.

And if you take a walk through tribal administration these days, you’ll find several other leaders who continue to set the standard, who are also supported by female staff in their roles.

Diane Teeple began working as an accountant in 1998. In 2005 she transitioned to grants manager and now manages tens of millions of dollars grant funding for the tribe on an annual basis.

Tribal Grants Coordinator Tara Parrish (also appellate judge), began working for BMIC in 2001 at Sacy’s Restaurant, moving into catering and hosting through the years. She began her position in the governmental division in November 2020, putting her education in sociology and writing to work.

Down the hall from Parrish you will find Shannon Belk, daughter of former BMIC Tribal Chairman L. John Lufkins and BMCC s former vice president, the late Roni VanSloten. Belk graduated from Central Michigan University in 1997, and followed a path of service, just like her parents. Today, she is the higher education director for BMIC.

For Belk, growing up under a strong woman had a direct impact on her path and where she is today.

“My mom taught me how to be independent, how to set goals for myself, and to become a strong, independent woman. Through her guidance and watching her succeed growing up as a female vice president of BMCC, I looked up to her as well as our entire community. She carried herself with dignity and people respected her,” said Belk.

Belk isn’t the only one impacting and shaping youth futures within the community.

Boys & Girls Club Director Sandra Walden came into her role in 2010 after five years of working as program coordinator and then unit director. A 2001 graduate of Central Michigan University, in her tenure she has expanded the club to three sites, received the 2018 National Tribal Youth Conference Community Leader of Distinction award, and was named Boys & Girls Club Staff Member of the Year in 2006. Today, she is working on plans for the new clubhouse, a grant-funded project in the planning stages.

“I am a proud mentee of many strong female role models including my mother, older sisters, and female leaders,” said Walden.

And just across the street from the BGC, you will find Audrey Breakie, director of Bay Mills Health Center. She has been everything from a construction worker to a substance abuse counselor and blackjack dealer. But her heart has always been in health care. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in human services, she went on to earn her master’s degree with guidance counselor speciality. Today, she is also overseeing the construction of a new Bay Mills Health Center, as BMIC has become a leader in health care over the last decade.

“For young women in Bay Mills, there are no shortage of role models,” concluded Burtt. “And we hope Bay Mills continues to be a change-maker and that more of Indian Country will embrace the strong Native women in their community.”