I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet and all our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve. Deb Haaland #nativeamerican #debhaaland #USA #history #CABINET #Indigenous #serve #activities #department #interior #STATEDEPARTMENT #women #agencies #female #a #substantial #impact #WashingtonD

   NATIVE AMERICAN DEB HAALAND MAKES HISTORY

               Now she is ready to serve.

As the policies and activities of the Department of the Interior and many of its agencies have a substantial impact in the Western United States, the Secretary of the Interior has typically come from a western state; only one secretary since 1949, Rogers Morton was not a resident or native of a state lying west of the Mississippi River. 

Deb Haaland, former U.S. representative, chose a ribbon skirt and moccasins for her swearing in as Secretary of the Interior. She made history on Thursday March 18, 2021 when “she began her job as Secretary of the Interior, becoming the first Native American member of the cabinet.”

Deb Haaland now serves as the 54th US Secretary of the Interior. Along with Sharice Davids she is one of the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress. Deb Haaland was educated at the University of New Mexico School of Law.

In a very enlightening article in the New York Times March 19, 2021 titled: “Deb Haaland Makes History and Dresses for It” Vanessa Friedman shone the spotlight on Deb Haaland’s choice of traditional Indigenous dress for the ceremony.

Ms. Haaland, she wrote, “wore a dark jacket over a sky blue, rainbow trimmed ribbon skirt embroidered with imagery of butterflies, stars and corn; moccasin boots; a turquoise and silver belt and necklace; and dragonfly earrings.”

Her clothes telegraphed “a statement of celebration and of self at a ceremonial moment that will be preserved for the record. It was symbolic in more ways than one.”

What did the ribbon skirt mean? It “is a reminder of matriarchal power. Wearing it in this day and age is an act of self-empowerment and reclamation of who we are and that gives us the opportunity to proudly make bold statements in front of others who sometimes refuse to see us. It allows us to be our authentic selves unapologetically.” 

The journalist suggests Ms. Haaland’s dress is a break from “the prevailing wisdom regarding female dress in the corridors of power.  The point being to look like the (male) majority that ruled: to be a company woman and play the part of the institution. Not anymore.”

Crystal Echo Hawk of the IllumiNatives advocacy group said Deb Haaland is “deeply rooted in community, is centered in native values and was recognized as a leader long before she was an elected representative in Congress.” 

“She can fundamentally reset and transform the relationship the US government has with the tribes.”

An article on the BBC news website tells of another outstanding native American Rosalie Fish, 20 years old, who is a member of the Cowlitz tribe and student athlete (a runner) at the Iowa Central Community College. She says it feels empowering to see Deb Haaland win a seat at the table because native women have been neglected for too long. 

Rosalie made international headlines when she painted a red handprint over her mouth, the fingers extending across her cheeks to honor the lives of missing and murdered indigenous women. 

Native American women are up to 10 times more likely to be murdered or sexually assaulted in some regions of the USA.

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Deb Haaland wears moccasins to historic swearing in ceremony as US interior secretary”, Elise Sole wrote for Yahoo News. “Deb Haaland, one of the first native American women selected to Congress wore moccasins (in appreciation for her Pueblo of Laguna tribe) to be sworn in as Secretary of the Depar5tment of the Interior.”

Elise Sole showed a video of Haaland wearing a colorful ribbon skirt and wrapping her legs before the Washington DC based ceremony.

In December 2020, Haaland acknowledged her historical role. “A voice like mine,” she said,” has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior. Growing up in my mother’s Pueblo household made me fierce. I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet and all our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve.” 

According to her official bio, Deb Haaland was a single mother who once had to rely on food stamps. She enrolled at the University of New Mexico where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English. Her child graduated from the same school and both are still paying off their student loans.

Global News headlined the event of Deb Haaland’s appointment as “becoming the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency and securing a central role in President Joe Biden’s plans to fight climate change.”

#nativeamerican #debhaaland #USA #history #CABINET #Indigenous #serve #activities #department #interior #STATEDEPARTMENT #women #agencies #female #a #substantial #impact #WashingtonDC