Tribal communities find hope in Deb Haaland's confirmation for leading pandemic response efforts
Deb Haaland's confirmation as Interior Secretary last Tuesday marked a significant milestone in the history of Indigenous representation in the U.S. government. If confirmed, she would become the first-ever Native American to sit on a president's Cabinet, and the first to lead the Department of the Interior, a federal agency responsible for managing Indian affairs, tribal lands, and natural resources.
Haaland's leadership has the potential to significantly improve the federal government's recognition of tribal sovereignty and the responsiveness to Indian Country’s needs, including in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Under her tenure, there was a $72 million investment announced in March 2024 to boost the Tribal Electrification Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to improve electricity infrastructure and access to clean energy on tribal lands—critical infrastructure improvements that support health and well-being, including pandemic resilience.
Historically, the Department of the Interior, created in 1849 with responsibility over Native American affairs, was governed without tribal input, often leading to policies that ignored tribal sovereignty or harmed Indigenous communities. Haaland's presence as a Native leader represents a shift toward governance that respects tribal self-determination and cultural values.
While the search results do not detail specific COVID-19 programs, Haaland’s appointment likely enhanced federal responsiveness to tribal nations during the pandemic by incorporating Indigenous voices in decision-making and supporting infrastructure investments that improve health and safety. Furthermore, her tenure helped reshape federal-tribal relations by strengthening the recognition of sovereignty and self-governance at the highest levels of government.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Indigenous communities in the U.S., with the Navajo Nation reporting at least 1,144 deaths at the time of publishing. In South Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe implemented highway checkpoints to keep non-residents from entering their community and spreading the virus, as well as for contact tracing purposes.
The loss of each tribal elder to COVID-19 represents the loss of another piece of essential information that could help protect the planet. Many Indigenous leaders have voiced concerns about the loss of essential traditional knowledge with the loss of elders to COVID-19. The scientific community now recognizes that traditional ecological knowledge is key to addressing the climate crisis.
The LANDBACK movement, organized by NDN Collective, advocates for returning land to its rightful caretakers: the Indigenous. The failure of the U.S. government to uphold its legal trust and treaty obligations to Indian Country has contributed to the poor infrastructure and lack of resources in Indigenous communities, making them more vulnerable to the pandemic.
The Nez Perce Tribe in eastern Oregon has reclaimed an ancestry village site that the U.S. government stole from them in breaking an 1855 treaty. The return of stolen lands to tribal nations has gained momentum, with Jade Begay, the climate justice campaign director for NDN Collective, believing that Haaland's potential nomination spurs hope for this movement.
Some of Rep. Deb Haaland's most-staunch opponents in the Senate include Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. John Barrasso. If confirmed, Haaland would also be the first woman to hold the position of secretary of the Interior Department. The possibilities are endless should Haaland become the next secretary of the Interior, according to Indigenous advocates.
Wayne Ducheneaux, the executive director of the Native Governance Center, believes that Haaland's confirmation as secretary of the Interior could help change the nature of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota tried to stop the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's highway checkpoints, arguing they were hindering essential services from reaching their necessary destinations.
In summary, Deb Haaland's confirmation as Interior Secretary advanced the federal government's acknowledgment of tribal sovereignty and helped direct federal resources to Native communities, contributing indirectly to their improved COVID-19 response capacity through infrastructure and policy support. The LANDBACK movement and the return of stolen lands to tribal nations continue to gain momentum, offering hope for a more equitable future for Indigenous communities in the U.S.
- Deb Haaland, if confirmed as Senator, would make history as the first Native American to sit on a president's Cabinet and the first to lead the Department of the Interior.
- Haaland's leadership could potentially improve the federal government's recognition of tribal sovereignty and responsiveness to the needs of Indigenous communities, including in the COVID-19 pandemic response.
- In March 2024, a $72 million investment was announced under Haaland's tenure to boost the Tribal Electrification Program, aimed at improving electricity infrastructure and access to clean energy on tribal lands.
- Historically, the Department of the Interior, responsible for managing Indian affairs and tribal lands, was governed without tribal input, often leading to policies that ignored tribal sovereignty or harmed Indigenous communities.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, and the loss of each tribal elder to COVID-19 represents the loss of another piece of essential information regarding traditional ecological knowledge, which is now recognized as key to addressing the climate crisis.
- The LANDBACK movement, advocating for the return of land to its rightful caretakers, the Indigenous, has gained momentum, with Haaland's potential nomination offering hope for this movement.
