President-elect Joe Biden made history on Thursday when he selected Native American Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M) to be Interior Secretary.
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If confirmed she will be the first Native America to be a Cabinet secretary and it carries more meaning given that she will be in charge of a department that oversees the government’s relationships with Native American tribes as well as conserves and manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage.
Read her statement below:
“A voice like mine has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior. I’m incredibly honored to accept President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination for Secretary of the Interior. As our country faces the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice, the Interior has a role and I will be a partner in addressing these challenges by protecting our public lands and moving our country towards a clean energy future.
“It’s profound to think about the history of this country’s policies to exterminate Native Americans and the resilience of our ancestors that gave me a place here today. This historic moment will not go by without the acknowledgment of the many people who have believed in me over the years and have had the confidence in me for this position. I’m forever grateful and will do everything I can to be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve.”
