BROADCASTS.com

Brian Gunn is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. He is a Principal at Powers Pyle Sutter & Verville PC in Washington DC.

Brian is someone I\u2019ve admired for a long time. In addition to being a lawyer that has taken on several large cases and initiatives as part of his work in Indian Country, he is low key and always maintains his sense of humor. Brian discusses how his general low key demeanor has positively impacted his clients\u2019 cases. It reminded me of the saying \u201cyou can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin it once.\u201d

Brian grew up in Omak, Washington. He attended Washington State University. He served on the school\u2019s newspaper and as part of his work, he decided to reach out to Bill Kunstler for an interview. To his surprise, the well known civil rights attorney agreed to speak with Brian for 45 minutes or so. He was surprised at the interest and access Kunstler gave him, and it sparked his interest in the law. I think this is one of the best nuggets of information from this conversation. Brian\u2019s story demonstrates that it\u2019s usually worth making the reach to email someone, approach them at a conference or connect via social media. Nine times out of ten you may hear nothing back, but occasionally you will connect and the encounter can change your path or theirs, and that\u2019s worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL7Ct_urpUY

After attending the University of Washington School of Law, Brian knew he wanted to end up in DC. So he moved and has been there working on behalf of Indian Country ever since.

Brian and I discuss the challenges and effort of being a tribal leader, and his interest in the work of Hunter Thompson. We recorded the conversation on 9/11 and we discussed how individuals \xa0email communications at his law former law firm (located in one of the towers) were published several years ago. They are a surreal read.

Brian encourages people to engage tribal leaders and get to know them, and the work they do. He shares how much he has learned through working with tribal leaders, and that when he is looking for advice, they are often to whom he reaches out. I think that\u2019s good advice, and extends beyond tribal leaders, too. To take the conversation full circle, nine times out of ten it may be unfruitful, but you never know what you can accomplish if you do.