The president-elect of the Oglala Sioux Tribe says he wants to heal rifts that have developed between tribal members and organizations over the years so that they can move together to address the major problems facing the tribe.

65-year old Bryan Brewer says solving those problems will require the tribe and its neighbors working together…which can’t happen until tribal members move past old hurts.

He says many of the rifts within the Oglala Sioux Tribe have come about gradually and are more the result of no or poor communications by both individuals and organizations than true hostility.

Brewer has earned a reputation for healing rifts and preserving Lakota culture while opening it to non-Indians through his 36-years as director of the Lakota National Invitational.

A native of Pine Ridge who spent over a quarter-century working at Pine Ridge High School before his retirement, Brewer is known for his professionalism as a coach, teacher, and principal.

He wants to bring that professionalism to tribal government, but says the Tribal Council needs to give him help by approving the creation of a presidential cabinet of advisors.

Brewer says OST presidents have traditionally been limited to just 2 paid advisors, but with so many different types of problems facing the tribe, he wants a full cabinet of around 9 individuals…each with a specific area of focus.

With or without a cabinet, Brewer has already picked the two assistants traditionally allowed the Oglala Sioux president…and has turned to the younger generation of college-educated tribal members to fill those posts.

He says he feels very fortunate to have Angela Sam and Veronica Waters, both enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, helping him for the next two years.

Brewer spoke Tuesday at Chadron State College.   He will be sworn in as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Friday, December 7th,  at the Pine Ridge High School gym. The inauguration will be at 1:00 pm, followed by a supper at 4:30 and a pow wow at 6:00.