Leadership Profile:Ms. Michelle Watchman – Native Services

Biography

Michelle Watchman serves as the Deputy Regional Director for Native Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Regional Office. In this position, Ms. Watchman oversees the agency programs and resources that exist to support the safety, financial security, and social health of Alaska Native Tribes and tribal communities. These programs include, among others, Transportation, Human Services, Self-Determination, and Tribal Government Services.

Ms. Watchman began her federal career in 2015 as the BIA Alaska Native Allotment Coordinator. Prior to entering her current role, Ms. Watchman served an Attorney-Advisor in the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, and as an Attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and with other civil litigation firms.

Ms. Watchman is both Tlingit and Navajo. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Seattle University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and coaching youth ice hockey.