- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The U.S. Department of the Interior has named a Native American attorney as a top policy adviser to Secretary Deb Haaland.
Lynn Trujillo, who directed New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department, was announced as senior counselor to Haaland on Friday. Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet Secretary in the country's history.
Trujillo, a member of Sandia Pueblo and also part Acoma and Taos Pueblos, worked for four years as a state cabinet Secretary in the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
She played an important role as a liaison between the state and Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trujillo was also actively involved in issues affecting Indian Country, including funding for schools on Native trust lands, justice for missing and murdered Indigenous people and tribal economic development. She left the Lujan administration in November 2022.
Prior to her role with the state of New Mexico, Trujillo worked with Native American Tribes and organizations across the country as a national Native American coordinator for USDA Rural Development programs.
Her past experiences include organizing in Tribal communities and practicing Indian Law in Washington D.C. and New Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Man Convicted for Selling Fake Hopi Jewelry, Defrauding Buyers of $400K
Native Bidaské with Holly Cook Macarro & Kevin H. Sharp on the Impending Release of Leonard Peltier
Native Governance Center (NGC) Recently Named Dr. Amber Annis as Its New Executive Director
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
