Chances are that you have heard the name Alan Parker. Alan was a cornerstone of creating the Tribal Governance program in MPA. Stories of Alan live on and memories of his friendship, leadership and activism will not be forgotten. 

Alan was a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe at the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana. His education includes a B.A. in Classical Philosophy from St. Thomas Seminary and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. Parker served in the U.S. Army earning a Bronze Star for Combat Leadership in Vietnam.  

Parker served as Chief Counsel and Staff Executive Director for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs in 1977-81. He came to The Evergreen State College in 1997 to teach and co-founded what is known today as the Tribal Governance program. The program was the first of its kind in the nation. He was deeply committed to his students in advancing their knowledge of Indian affairs.  

Parker became the director of the Northwest Indian Applied Research Institute (NIARI) at Evergreen in 1999-2012 and co-founded its Climate Change and Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations Project in 2006. He retired from Evergreen in 2012.  Alan will be honored at the 20th Anniversary of Tribal Governance celebration on January 29th, 2023. Please contact nihoap@evergreen.edu for more details.