fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
Donate Get Newsletter
Donate Get Newsletter
 

Interior Secretary-designee Deb Haaland Pledges to Tribal Leaders, If Confirmed, Meaningful Consultation

Details
WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary-designee Deb Haaland hosted on Monday morning a virtual roundtable with tribal leaders from Indian Country. During the meeting, the Secretary-designee reiterated President-elect Joe Biden’s promise to tribal nations and Indigenous communities to fully honor America’s sacred trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations. 
 
During the virtual meeting, she pledged, if confirmed, she would ensure that the Interior Department engages in early, frequent, and meaningful consultation with tribal leaders on all decisions that affect indigenous communities.
 
Haaland was nominted by President-elect Biden on Dec. 17, 2020 to be the secretary of U.S. Dept. of the Interior. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Haaland will become the first American Indian ever to serve in a presidential cabinet.  
 
Haaland also discussed how the incoming Biden-Harris Administration will work in coordination with tribal communities who bear disproportionate harm from long-running environmental injustices and are being adversely affected by the impacts of climate change on their homelands.
 

Secretary-designee Haaland reiterated that she shares the president-elect’s commitment to advancing environmental justice and empowering communities who have shouldered the burdens of environmental negligence. She will help implement the president-elect’s vision to turn the climate crisis into an unprecedented opportunity to create millions of good-paying union jobs across the country, power our economy with clean energy, conserve and restore our nation’s lands and waters, position the United States as an exporter of 21st century products, and make our economy stronger, more resilient, and inclusive. 

Haaland was joined by incoming Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, Cedric Richmond and incoming Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Julie Rodriguez.

 

More Stories Like This

Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. Briefs
US Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (December 14, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Wounded Knee Massacre Site Protection Bill Passes Congress
Two Murdered on Colville Indian Reservation 

Help us defend tribal sovereignty. 

At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.

Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.

That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.

Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.

Stand with Warrior Journalism today.

Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher

 
About The Author
Native News Online Staff
Author: Native News Online StaffEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at [email protected].