Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary (Gateway Biographies)

In 2021, Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history. As Secretary of the Interior, Haaland championed environmental protections and helped restore several national monuments to their former size. She also created the Missing and Murdered Unit and Federal Boarding School Initiative to investigate crimes against Indigenous peoples.

Raised in a military family with Pueblo roots, Haaland absorbed the values of hard work and persistence. She studied English at the University of New Mexico and opened her own business to support her daughter before earning a law degree and volunteering in politics. She ran for Congress and won, becoming one of the first Native American women representatives alongside Sharice Davids. There, Haaland fought hard for the rights of women and served on the National Resources committee. Learn how she honors her heritage as a cabinet secretary.

Jill Doerfler is a professor and department head of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her primary area of scholarly interest is American Indian identity with a focus on Anishinaabe citizenship.

Matthew J. Martinez received his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota (2008). He previously served as First Lieutenant Governor at Ohkay Owingeh and has researched and published in the areas of Pueblo Indian Studies and New Mexico History.