Meet the Obama alum working to protect the legacy of Native communities
Learn how Charlie Galbraith has committed his life to justice for Indigenous people across the country.
For over 20 years, lawyer and advocate Charlie Galbraith has lived those words, building a life dedicated to the preservation of Native American communities. His work addressing the needs of Native Americans would take the teachings and legacy of his Navajo roots all the way to the White House.
Raised in Phoenix, the self-described “policy nerd” learned about the importance of preserving and protecting Navajo heritage from his family and his Godfather Peterson Zah, the former president of the Navajo Nation. “He [Peterson Zah] was a foundational figure in modern tribal governance and his guidance and teachings influenced me when I was a little kid.” Leaning on the traditions of his community, Charlie focused his energy less on amplifying his own public presence and, instead on centering millions of Native Americans across the country.
“In my culture it’s not about thinking about or talking about yourself. I have a job to do and I try to do it the best I can.”
As a young man, Charlie moved to Chicago, where he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago. He subsequently completed his education at the University of Arizona, where he served as the Vice-President of the Native American Law Students Association and clerked for the Native American Rights Fund in Washington, D.C.
After completing his law degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Charlie was offered an internship in the office of then Sen. Tim Johnson, D-SD. From there, he joined Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, acting as a lead convener on the Native American Domestic Policy Committee, a group of tribal leaders and activists who would help define the Native policies of the campaign and later, the administration.
Charlie would go on to serve in the White House, where he was integral in helping guide legal actions that protected Native communities, while centering their voices in the administration. His work within the White House helped achieve policies such as the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), alongside quiet victories that improved the lives of Indigenous people, everyday.
Today, Charlie continues to be a strong member of the Obama Alumni community, supporting efforts around the Obama Presidential Center while also acting as partner and co-chair of the Native American Practice Group at Jenner & Block in Washington, D.C., We recently caught up with him to look back at his time with the administration and his continued work with Indigenous communities.
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You've dedicated your life to the advancement and protection of Native communities. What inspired you to pursue that path?
It’s never one specific thing. It was just always kind of like a natural progression from being a bit of a policy nerd in college and focusing on Native issues growing up, and being very close to my Navajo roots. It's like, ‘This was always what I was going to do.’ I had some very fortunate, great opportunities along the way: I got an internship on the Hill in Sen. Tim Johnson's, D-SD office and worked with Pete Rouse [former Senior Advisor to President Obama.] That was kind of the start of the path to working with the [Obama] campaign and then working directly for the President. I also had some wonderful mentors. One of whom was Peterson Zah, the former president of the Navajo Nation. He was the Godfather to me and a foundational figure in modern tribal governance.
Another thing: I was the first graduating class of college after 9/11. Even if you were already prone towards public service, I think 9/11 drove people even more into a public-service bend in their careers. It really solidified that I wanted to work in government, in whatever way, so I could be the most productive and helpful to the communities I care about.
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How did you end up on the 2008 campaign with President Obama?
One of my mentors, Keith Harper [former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council,] and Pete Rouse asked me to join as the Vice Chair of the Native American Domestic Policy Group [for the Obama 2008 campaign].
Keith and I ran the Native group, and I was allowed to dedicate a lot of time to developing the policy positions of the campaign, which I still say it is the most important document I’ve ever worked on. There was a four pager on the president's priorities for Indian Country. Lots of people worked on it and it laid out what the president was committing to do for Indian Country.
It was things that at the time that were absolutely groundbreaking and unheard of: settling these major disputes of the past and appointing Native people to positions of power and, I think most significantly, a commitment to examining criminal jurisdiction which ultimately resulted in the passage of the 2013 Violence Against Women Act amendments which gave tribes jurisdictional authority over non-Indian Iands for the first time.
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You went on to serve as the Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, managing the Administration’s relationship with tribal governments and Native American people. Can you walk us through a day in that role?
It was awesome because there was never ‘a typical day.’ There was one day where I was with the First Lady through Let's Move in Indian Country and hosted a lacrosse event on the South Lawn. So, I was out with a group of Native youth, running around with the Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse Team, and learning about traditional lacrosse. From there, I cleaned up, put a suit on and was in a meeting in the Situation Room discussing the Department of Justice proposal for the Violence Against Women Act amendments of 2013.
A big important part of making sure the policy piece was not just what was on paper, but it was making sure that tribal governments, tribal leaders, and Indian people felt that the White House was accessible to them and a place they could bring their concerns.
Charlie Galbraith shaking hands with President Obama in the Oval Office. -
In your time in the administration, do you have one moment that stands out to you as most meaningful?
I mean, there are the big wins and the ones that were very close and personal. There was a tribal leader that I had a good relationship with…he had a tribal citizen who was having a terrible problem getting their prescription meds reimbursed and it was becoming a life-threatening situation. The tribal citizen sent me an email about it and it took 10 minutes to review and send to the right person…and it was fixed. I got a letter from the person saying that it saved her life, later on. Those are the types of things that never get any press or headlines, but things governments should be responsive to; those little wins are always important. Some of the more amazing ones, you didn't see at the time, but saw years later: President [Obama] did a trip to Standing Rock and met with a group of Native youth. [I believe] it inspired a lot of the activism that led to the Standing Rock protests and led to many of them becoming leaders in their community.
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You are currently partner and co-chair of the Native American Practice Group at Jenner & Block in Washington, D.C., where one of the core focuses of your work is the protection of Native American tribal communities. Why is this work important?
I can talk about the treaties, the law, and the great nations, but I think more important is that the United States is a stronger, better country because of Native American contributions. That's real. That's today. That’s going forward. The contributions of Indian people to this country through the military, through the arts, through the development of government strengthen this country in every way and I think that's the contribution that needs to be protected. The country is stronger because of the lessons and contributions of Native people and tribal governments.
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You have remained a strong voice, working within the 44 Alumni community and supporting efforts around the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. What does your time with President Obama and the 44 Alumni community mean to you?
Working for the president was a transformational opportunity in my life. It’s influenced all of my work since and taught me how to approach things beyond just being a lawyer. It also helped me build a network of people that you know I love and want to continue to work with.
Also, coming from a community that struggles for visibility, it is essential that we take every opportunity available to promote each other and make sure that Native people are present in spaces that we didn't used to be in. Through my work at the White House, and my work since, I have been blessed to get to know Indian people throughout the country – from California to North Carolina, united by a shared experience and culture.
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What are you most excited about at the upcoming Obama Presidential Center?
The artists are just absolutely incredible. I've gotten some previews, so I know where I'm going first! The Center also carries a very deep-seated place in my heart. I went to the University of Chicago and I kind of grew up on the South Side, running around the neighborhood that it's in now. So it’s multiple pieces of my life tied together in one place.
Charlie standing with Chicago Native leaders as they review a small-scale replica of the Obama Presidential Center. -
What are you leaning on for hope?
I'm leaning on the resilience of Native people and tribal governments. Some of the things we see today, we've weathered much worse. And the one thing that is certain, no matter what the law or the policy is, Native people aren't going to stop being strong, powerful, and resilient. And that always gives me strength.
Just because there's not a window open at the time for a major policy accomplishment doesn't mean that there's not an opportunity to get the pieces in place. Being prepared for that accomplishment when that sliver of hope opens, is how major things get done.
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