Ernie Rasmussen

Background

About Ernie Rasmussen

Ernie Rasmussen, Citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, is currently serving as the Executive Director of Bigfoot Telecommunications of the Colville Tribes. His primary duty at Bigfoot is to lead the launch of the first Colville Tribal Internet Service Provider and Telecommunications Company dedicated to meet the affordable, reliable broadband and telecommunication needs of residents, businesses, anchor institutions and governments of the Colville Reservation. Prior to his return to the Colville Tribes, Mr. Rasmussen strayed from Indian Country with a brief foray into State Government. At the Washington State Broadband Office Mr. Rasmussen worked to serve all stakeholder in the area of achieving digital equity to best support participation in the 21st century civic, enconomic, education, and community systems. Prior to his arrival at WA Commerce, Mr. Rasmussen spent his entire 20+ year career in service to Tribes and Tribal Communities, including most recently as the Commerce Tribal Liaison, as Senior Planner of Economic Development for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, an Executive Director of a 501c3 based in Wellpinit, WA on the Spokane Indian Reservation, a College Math Instructor at a Tribal College, and a GED instructor for Spokane Tribal TANF/477. Mr. Rasmussen holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Eastern Washington University, and is a Master in Urban & Regional Planning candidate and is a committed advocate, ally, and accomplice in the creation of Tribal Communities as a Community of Choice to live, work, and thrive! His wife is a Spokane Tribal member and together they have 3 beautiful and supremely talented daughters and one 2-year old beautiful grandson offering an estrogen reprieve.