High-ranking tribal official resigns from state health department, cites ‘recent events’ as reason in an email

The state health department’s highest-ranking official focused on American Indian health is resigning from her position, according to an email obtained by Montana Free Press.

Stephanie Iron Shooter has served as the director of the Office of American Indian Health within the state health department since February 2022, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was the third person to hold the position since it was established in 2015 to address health disparities among Native Americans.

In a Sept. 2 email to tribal leaders, Iron Shooter wrote that she’d been “contemplating for two weeks over recent events that have led me to resign my position.” 

“I did my best for our people,” her email continues. “I really thought I could make a difference.”

“Please know that this is not me giving up, it is me finding another space to support you all in health and wellness for all of our people,” the email reads. “I will continue to be available to you all and would like to come and visit in October so that I can share my story.”

Charlie Brereton, director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said Heidi DeRoche, the Office of American Indian Health programs officer, will serve as the acting director. He said in an email that the department “remains committed to working with all Montana tribes to meet the health needs of our tribal communities.” 

Though Iron Shooter’s email referenced her last day as Oct. 2, MTFP confirmed her last day as American Indian Health Director was Sept. 2.

Iron Shooter also did not immediately reply to a request from MTFP.

Iron Shooter’s tenure at the state health department was mired in controversy, as she repeatedly fielded criticisms from tribal leaders about how the state health department was handling programs and staffing positions that affect tribal communities. 

When the health department in 2023 quietly eliminated the tribal relations manager position, another high-ranking position, tribal leaders expressed outrage, saying they were not consulted in the decision. Iron Shooter and other health department leaders in response argued that the tribal relations manager position was duplicative and that Iron Shooter could perform both roles. 

After members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus urged the health department to reinstate the tribal relations position, lawmakers approved an amendment indicating support for reestablishing the role. And at a State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee meeting on Aug. 25, Iron Shooter told state lawmakers that the state health department director “is committed to hiring a tribal relations manager position and moving forward with this position.”

Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, was an outspoken critic of the health department during the legislative session. Webber said Thursday she was surprised to hear of Iron Shooter’s departure. 

“It was just kind of out of the blue,” Webber told MTFP. “She was supporting [DPHHS] Director Brereton. She was building that department. It was just kind of a shock.”