David Thundereagle
MASHPEE – The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has appointed a four decade veteran of Indian affairs as their new tribal administrator.
David Thundereagle will oversee the tribe’s administrative affairs.
He is a member of the Karuk Tribe of California and previously served as tribal administrator for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi of Michigan and for the Bishop Paiute Tribe of California.
Beginning his career as a school teacher on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State, Thundereagle went on to become the tribal planner and department manager for several tribes, culminating with his becoming executive director of the American Indian Community Center in Spokane, Washington.
He has also served as assistant tribal administrator and vice president of programs for the Cook Inlet Tribal Council in Alaska. Thundereagle earned his bachelor of education degree from Eastern Washington University.
Thundereagle also facilitated the creation of a Lane Use Master Plan for two tribal governments that gave guidance for placing future housing, economic areas, cultural areas and recreation areas. He also has had experience in tribal land conservation efforts.
Thundereagle is a widower whose wife, Diana, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, died in 2012 after 32 years of marriage. He has three children, all currently residing in Michigan.
According to a statement put out by the tribe, Thundereagle looks forward to establishing his home on Cape Cod. “I love what I do for a living. It fulfills my chosen purpose to make the world a better place. And I am excited to be working with the Tribal Council, the dedicated staff and the tribal community to meet our goals and fulfill the dreams of our tribal citizens,” he said.
