Petition text:

Dear Presidential Transition Team,

I join more than 120 elected tribal leaders and thousands of American citizens in strongly urging you to appoint Rep. Deb Haaland as the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Like no year prior, 2020 has shown us what happens when we fail to see the importance of putting proper leaders in position to safeguard society. We must quickly and progressively move to correct the egregious errors of the outgoing administration.

Because the Department of the Interior oversees the federal government’s relationships with tribal nations via the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), it should be led by a uniquely qualified individual with firsthand knowledge of its history and responsibilities. You have the unprecedented opportunity to appoint just such a person in Rep. Haaland.

As a 35th-generation New Mexican, her sense of responsibility to the land and its original peoples can’t be questioned. As one of the first two Native women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, she has served with distinction, effectively chairing the House Natural Resources subcommittee overseeing the Interior Department.

Under the Trump administration, the BIA colluded with red state governors like South Dakota’s Kristi Noem to threaten Lakota tribes over their COVID-19 safety checkpoints; under a Haaland Interior, the BIA could be relied upon to protect public safety on tribal nations. Rep. Haaland also has a sparkling record on environmental issues and has publicly stated her support of President-elect Biden’s progressive climate agenda.

The Biden-Harris administration has already shattered several glass ceilings by seating a Vice President-elect who will be the first Asian-American, the first Black person, and the first woman to serve in her position. Don’t stop there. Please make history again by appointing Rep. Haaland to be the first Native American cabinet member in U.S. history.

Respectfully,

Your Name