Wayne Howard Chattin passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Tucson, Arizona. He was 81 years of age. A Graveside Service will be held on July 24, 2015 at the Willow Creek Cemetery in Browning, Montana, which will be his final resting place next to his mother and father, Iola Gilham Chattin and William Acel Chattin who preceded him in death.

Wayne was an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation. He graduated from Browning High School, earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, and served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

He dedicated his life and career to improve the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Indian country. He was able to accomplish this working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),l and the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several different capacities and on many reservations, ending his career in the Senior Executive Service for Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. After retiring from the federal government, he later worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for over two censuses in Indian Country. His in depth experience working with tribal leaders helped ensure improved accuracy of Census information gathered in Indian Country.

His dedication throughout his career and working life made a tremendous difference in Indian country by improving the understanding between the tribal governments and the federal government's Indian programs. Wayne was the first Director of the newly established BIA office within the Office of Indian Services to implement and oversee the federal government's efforts and responsibilities for, the then recently passed, Public Law 93-638, "Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act". His guidance and oversight was pivotal in providing the needed direction in helping Indian Education move forward.

He had many other accomplishments in his lifetime: he received a Certificate of Special Achievement from the BIA for his work on Indian Issues: in 1973 the Old West Trail Foundation named him “Outstanding Man Of The Year”: spearheading the federal government's activities to include responsible representations of American Indians the United States' Bicentennial Celebration of 1976, both domestically and internationally.

After retiring from the federal government he dedicated his time to serving on many corporate boards including, as one of the founders, on the Board of Directors of the National Indian Business Association (NIBA) and on the Board of Directors of the Western National Park Association to name a couple.

His two loves outside of his work in Indian Country were his family and his golf game.

He is survived by his life partner Ann Peterson of Tucson, Arizona; his three children, Sydnee Chattin, Daniel Chattin, and Marybeth Chattin; his grandchildren, Kyle Morris, Logan Siegle, Anthony Morris, Scott Siegle, Hunter Chattin; and his sister Carol Chattin Kramer.

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