BIA boss confident despite hurdles

By Becky Shay

The national director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs knows his agency is facing challenges, especially in its justice divisions, but he said he's confident that front-line staffers are doing their best to keep order in Indian Country.

BIA Director W. Patrick Ragsdale is in charge of an agency that oversees programs for 561 federally recognized tribal governments, including law enforcement and corrections.

Staff and budget shortages nationwide could make work in Indian Country more difficult than ever, Ragsdale said.

Fortunately, the BIA has a dedicated staff that is meeting the difficulties, he said.

"We have a lot of challenges but a lot of good people," Ragsdale said. "They are doing the very best they can to hold that very thin line out here in their communities."

Ragsdale was in Billings last week for a BIA corrections conference. He oversees all BIA programs, including more than 200 law enforcement and detention programs across the nation.