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Gov.-elect Brian Schweitzer has tapped three women from Montana's reservations to help lead his transition team.

Anna Whiting-Sorrell will take on the role of deputy policy director; Nancy L. Warneke-Gaynor will become deputy office manager and coordinator of the transition tribal advisory committee; and Lena Belcourt will be deputy policy adviser.

Whiting-Sorrell and Warneke-Gaynor are citizens of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation. Belcourt is a citizen of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boys Reservation.

"We're thrilled to have these three women," said Sarah Elliott, communications director for Schweitzer. "It's great to have the perspective of our first Montanans at the table."

The women are now part of a 14-member team.

Their appointments have not been lost on tribal leaders.

"This is the first time that I can remember - and I've been working with the Chippewa-Cree Tribe for 32 years - that tribes have actually been involved in the transition teams," said Richard Sangrey, chief of staff for the Chippewa-Cree. "This here is blazing a new trail on behalf of tribal governments in working with the governor."

Fred Matt, Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council chairman, echoed similar thoughts. "We are pleased with Governor-elect Schweitzer's efforts to reach out to the American Indian communities of Montana."

In a press release, Matt said he was confident the Salish Kootenai women would be "outstanding representatives . . . for all tribes across the state. We are confident that they will clearly express the needs and concerns of the first peoples of Montana."

As deputy policy director, Whiting-Sorrell will assist in reviewing policy and initiatives. She recently returned to Montana from Washington, D.C., where she was the national director for Native American outreach for the John Kerry-John Edwards presidential campaign.

Warneke-Gaynor will manage the overall offices of the transition team, and will also coordinate the transition Tribal Advisory Committee, which is comprised of one representative from each of Montana's seven reservations, including the Little Shell Chippewa. She was director of the Tribal Business Assistance Center at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo.

Belcourt is the Chippewa-Cree Tribe's legislative analyst for the Rocky Boy Health Board. She's worked on state and national legislative agendas. All three women "play important parts in their tribal structures," said Sangrey.

Jodi Rave covers Native issues for Lee Enterprises. She can be reached at (406) 523-5299 or jodi.rave@missoulian.com

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