Washington (AFP) – US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as the first Native American interior secretary, US media reported Thursday, in a move that could recast the department’s often troubled ties with indigenous tribes. Haaland is a first-term Democrat from New Mexico in the US Congress and a member of the Laguna Pueblo people. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the first Native American to lead a cabinet-level department. The choice fits with Biden’s much-publicized pledge to form the most diverse White House cabinet in history. The Interior D…
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Mia Hubbard, Vice President of Programs for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, said:
“This is a historic moment for Indian Country, and for all of us who work to strengthen Tribes’ sovereignty so they can ensure the health and wellness of their people. I can think of no one better than Deb Haaland to ensure that our government honors its promises and invests in indigenous communities. Her nomination is an important step towards healing our nation’s long and shameful history of injustice toward Native Americans — truly ‘repairing the world’ as Jewish tradition teaches.”