Native American Heritage Month Member Spotlight |Robert Burnes

Written Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Robert BurnesCaptain Robert Burnes (Cherokee Warrior-Cherokee Nation) works, alongside his family, to further Native American rights, to enforce treaties, and to dispel misinformation about Indigenous American appearance, customs, and history that is often misrepresented in the entertainment industry. He is most passionate about combating the endemic kidnapping and murder of Native American women from in and around Indigenous American lands. After retiring from the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services, Attorney Burnes created The Grey Winds Project to train and assist local and tribal police in missing persons/missing persons at-risk investigations to include how to implement special use vehicles and techniques such as man-tracking, drone use, ATV, and motorcycles. The Grey Winds Project originally concentrated its efforts in the American Midwest where relevant kidnappings/murders were at their greatest, but the program has refocused those efforts in New England as more data has become available.

Attorney Burnes earned a B.S. in aerospace maintenance theories from the Community College of the Air Force as well as a master’s degree in legal studies and a J.D. from the Monterey College of Law. He has served in legal positions, both within and outside of the military, for more than 27 years. Attorney Burnes served as a Special Operations Airman in the United States Air Force (Active Duty 2002-2008) and in the California Air National Guard as a Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Crew Chief (2008-2016). He has won dozens of awards and medals for his service, including valor, bravery under fire, and lifesaving actions. Robert also won several awards during his time in law school including the Heisler-Moot and was a finalist in a first-of-its-kind multi law school moot court competition.

Attorney Burnes enjoys writing science fiction, true-crime fiction which features Indigenous characters and themes. He is also a noted and awarded Native American pencil artist. He enjoys taking photographs and videography with drones and riding motorcycles. He recently moved to Connecticut from North Dakota with his wife, Siphannay Burnes and their two sons.