BIOGRAPHY
Brian “Mike” Myers
P.O. Box 741
Cass Lake, MN 56633
Tel: 218/766-6718
E-mail:[email protected]
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Brian “Mike” Myers was born and raised on the Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca
Nation in Western New York. He is a member of the Wolf Clan, and is a father to seven
children and grandfather to twelve.
Mike has been active in Indigenous affairs, issues and development efforts for more than
30 years, beginning with his participating in the occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969.
His activism and work has brought him to work with and be assistance to Indigenous
nations, communities and organizations throughout North America and internationally.
Since 1976, he has been a Grand Council appointed member of the Haudenosaunee
(Iroquois Confederacy) Land Rights Committee which has been charged with the
responsibility of addressing Confederacy land issues throughout their homelands in the
U.S. and Canada.
In 1977, Mike was hired by the Institute for the Development of Indian Law in
Washington, DC, to act as the coordinator of Indigenous delegations to the first NonGovernmental Organizations of the United Nations conference on “The Issues of
Discrimination Against the Indigenous Populations of the Americas”. This work led to
his being actively involved in the development of international rights and standards
pertaining to Indigenous nations and peoples. He was one of the original co-authors of
the recently passed “International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”.
In 2010, he received the Harvard Kennedy School Asher Center for Democratic
Governance and Innovation “Bright Ideas” Award for work in strengthening Indigenous
government.
He is a published author beginning with “A Basic Call To Consciousness”, Akwesasne
Notes (1977) “Traditional Teachings” North American Indian Traveling College (1980)
and “The Power Within People” Tribal Sovereignty Associates (1986) as well as
numerous articles and papers for publications and conferences. In addition to his nonfiction work, Mike has written several children’s stories, short stories, and recently begun
his first novel. He is currently a regular Op/Ed contributor to Indian Country Today.
As a community organizer and developer he has worked with numerous Indigenous
nations, communities and organizations throughout North America, Hawaii, Nicaragua,
and Mexico. From 1988-1990 he was the Program Director of “The Seventh Generation
Fund” an Indigenous foundation and technical assistance organization. During his tenure
the Fund developed a holistic community based training program to assist local
organizers and developers in conducting long term, culturally based planning,
implementation and development.
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Mike is a recognized traditional counselor, and has worked as a Treatment Director with
Pedahbun Lodge in Toronto, Ontario in the implementation of a culturally based
treatment programming for Indigenous people struggling with alcohol, drugs, and other
addictions. This program was recognized and honored by the Canadian federal Medical
Services Branch (MSB) in 1992, as “..an innovative and successful approach to reducing
and eliminating the affects of addictions within Native peoples.”.
Mike resides with his wife, Birdie Lyons, and their four adopted sons at the Leech Lake
Territory of the Ojibwe Nation.