Back in March, Deb Haaland was voted in as Interior Secretary, making her the first Native American in U.S. history to serve in a president's Cabinet. Now, 6 months in, Haaland discusses the progress of her federal agency. According to Aliyah Chavez reporting for Indian Country Today, "Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, held a news briefing with 10 reporters on Thursday to discuss the progress of her federal agency. Indian Country Today was the only Indigenous publication represented in the nearly 45-minute briefing."
Haaland went on to address the recent Gabby Petito case: “Anytime a woman is assaulted, kidnapped or goes missing, my heart breaks. I want justice for all of these cases, and I believe that every single person deserves to feel safe in their communities,” Haaland said."
Chavez reports "Haaland said she feels like it's her job to raise the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in light of Petito’s case, a media frenzy that caught national attention."
"On climate change, Haaland announced that $14 million will go to tribes who are being forced to be relocated as a result of melting sea ice, degrading permafrost, coastal and river erosion, extreme precipitation, flooding, wildfires and other extreme weather events."
Read the full source article from Aliyah Chavez for Indian Country Today: A check in: Six months as Interior Secretary
