.png)
Debra Haaland
Debra Haaland, born in Arizona, is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. Ms. Haaland was raised in a military family with a mother in the U.S. Navy and a father in the U.S. Marine Corps, she moved frequently before settling in New Mexico, where she graduated high school.
She attended the University of New Mexico, where she studied under future U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. After graduation, Debra became a single mother and launched her own salsa company to support her family. She later earned her law degree in 2006.
In 2018, Haaland made history by being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. At her swearing-in ceremony, she wore traditional Laguna Pueblo attire, symbolizing her heritage.
In 2020, she was appointed by President Biden as Secretary of the Interior, becoming the first Native American cabinet secretary in U.S. history. She again wore her tribe’s traditional clothing for her swearing-in, continuing to represent her community on a national stage.
Renay
xo
