Tribal communities may find renewed hope in their pandemic response efforts, as Deb Haaland's nomination is pointed towards addressing indigenous issues in a potential cabinet role.
A new chapter in U.S. history is unfolding as Deb Haaland, a Native American leader, stands on the brink of becoming the first Indigenous person and the first woman to sit on a president's Cabinet as the Secretary of the Interior. This appointment could have significant implications for the COVID-19 response and tribal sovereignty in Indian Country.
Haaland's deep cultural understanding and commitment to Indigenous issues make her uniquely qualified to oversee the Department of the Interior, which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal relations. Her leadership has prioritized tribal interests in federal policies and programs, advocating for tribal sovereignty in an area historically marked by tension and federal control.
One of Haaland's most notable achievements has been a $72 million investment announced in 2024 to improve tribal electrification infrastructure. This initiative aims to connect more than 16,000 unelectrified Tribal homes to clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act funding. Such efforts promote tribal self-sufficiency and economic development.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haaland's cultural background and understanding of Indigenous communities likely facilitated better communication and collaboration between tribes and federal agencies. Although specific programs tied solely to COVID-19 under her tenure are not detailed, the broader emphasis on tribal sovereignty and addressing health and infrastructure gaps indirectly supports pandemic response efforts by strengthening tribal infrastructure and resources.
Other federal officials, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have expressed commitment to improving Indigenous health through culturally relevant approaches such as promoting access to traditional foods. This broader federal recognition of Indigenous specific needs during and beyond the pandemic is a promising sign.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Indigenous communities in the U.S. at 3.5 times the rate of non-Hispanic white people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The pandemic has also highlighted the poor infrastructure in many Indigenous communities, such as lack of running water and internet access, which has hindered their ability to respond effectively.
Haaland's confirmation as Interior Secretary could help address these issues by emphasizing the restoration of tribal sovereignty and improving infrastructure and health outcomes in tribes. This, in turn, could strengthen the federal response capacity to crises like COVID-19 in Indian Country by fostering greater trust and inclusion of Indigenous perspectives within the Interior Department’s policies.
The momentum of the LANDBACK movement, which aims to give land back and put it into Indigenous peoples' hands, and the momentum of the Nez Perce Tribe reclaiming an ancestry village site stolen from them in breaking an 1855 treaty, indicate a broader movement towards recognizing and restoring tribal sovereignty.
As Haaland prepares to testify before the Senate for her confirmation on Tuesday, the possibilities are endless should she become the next secretary of the Interior, according to Indigenous advocates. Tribal nations are celebrating the prospect of a future Secretary Haaland as it signals a newfound recognition for tribal sovereignty in the federal government.
[1] Native Governance Center. (n.d.). The Impact of COVID-19 on Tribal Nations. Retrieved from https://www.nativegov.org/covid-19
[2] Kennedy, R. F., Jr. (2021, March 10). The Power of Traditional Foods to Heal Native American Communities. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/opinion/native-american-food-healing.html
[3] Kowalczyk, S. (2021, March 8). Deb Haaland, Native American nominee for Interior secretary, faces tough confirmation fight. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/08/deb-haaland-native-american-nominee-interior-secretary-faces-tough-confirmation-fight/
[4] National Congress of American Indians. (n.d.). COVID-19 and Tribal Nations. Retrieved from https://www.ncai.org/covid19
[5] U.S. Department of the Interior. (2021, April 1). Secretary Deb Haaland Announces $72 Million for Tribal Electrification Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-deb-haaland-announces-72-million-tribal-electrification-infrastructure
- As the potential first Indigenous person and woman in a president's Cabinet as the Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland's appointment could foster policy-and-legislation that prioritizes the community and health-and-wellness of Indigenous populations.
- Should Haaland be confirmed, her leadership could contribute to the environmental-science and climate-change agendas, aligning with the priorities of those who advocate for a focus on the environment and climate change.
- Haaland's policies could also pave the way for improving climate-change research and addressing the effects of climate-change within Indigenous communities, who are often disproportionately affected.
- The impact of climate-change on Indigenous communities are not limited to physical health, but mental-health as well, and Haaland's tribal background positions her to address both the health-and-wellness and environmental needs simultaneously.
- Policies promoting art and cultural preservation could be a focus under Haaland's leadership, with an intent to honor the rich heritage of Indigenous peoples and foster a sense of community pride.
- Newsletters and magazines may feature articles on Haaland's groundbreaking appointment and the impact it could have on various issues like war-and-conflicts, migration, and federal policies relating to these topics.
- The Nez Perce Tribe's reclamation of an ancestral village site is an example of the restoration of tribal sovereignty, a trend that may continue with Haaland as Secretary of the Interior.
- The confirmation of Deb Haaland as the Secretary of the Interior exemplifies progress towards a more inclusive and representative federal government, one that recognizes the importance of tribal sovereignty and actively works towards policy changes that benefit all Indigenous communities.
