Interior Secretary
NCAI on the Nomination of Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary
NCAI Statement on the Nomination of Sally Jewell
to Serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Washington, DC – Today President Obama announced his selection for the next Secretary of the Department of the Interior, nominating Sally Jewell, CEO of the outdoor company REI. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s swift action to nominate a successor for Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar:
“NCAI welcomes the news that the Obama Administration has moved quickly to nominate an innovative leader to continue the momentum of the Department of the Interior achieved under Secretary Salazar. Sally Jewell’s diverse experience in energy, conservation, and stewardship efforts, presents an exciting opportunity for the country and tribal nations to make great strides and continue the transformation of the Department of the Interior under this President.
As a key partner in advancing the trust relationship between the United States and tribal nations, the Secretary of the Interior is a critical component in carrying forward this trust and fulfilling the promise of a new era in U.S. – tribal relations. Over the last four years, this trust relationship has a new focus from all corners of government.
Ms. Jewell’s career indicates that, like other leaders in the Northwest, her efforts have often intersected with and supported the timeless wisdom of tribal nations in relation to natural resource issues. Her career has also included service on boards of organizations that have partnered with tribes to expand educational opportunities for Native people, develop renewable and responsible energy solutions with the private sector and government agencies, and emphasize the importance of Native cultures and languages.
We look forward to working with President Obama and the next Interior Secretary to ensure that tribal nations remain central stakeholders and governments in conserving and managing the natural resources, lands, and communities of North America.
NCAI urges the Senate to take swift action to consider this nomination so that Interior can carry on its work that is vital not only to the first Americans, but all Americans.”
Obama to Nominate CEO of REI to be Interior Secretary
From WaPo.
Interior Secretary Press Release on ASIA Kevin Washburn Confirmation
WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today applauded the Senate’s confirmation of Kevin K. Washburn, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. The Senate confirmed Washburn’s nomination, which President Obama announced in early August, by unanimous consent last night.
“As we continue to strengthen the integrity of the nation’s government-to-government relationship with federally-recognized Indian tribes and empower Native American and Alaska Native communities, Kevin Washburn will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and a vital asset for President Obama’s initiatives in Indian Country,” Salazar said. “Kevin’s professional and academic achievements and his thorough knowledge of the critical issues facing the Nation’s First Americans will help us to fulfill the President’s commitment to empower tribal governments and advance their economic and social goals.”
Washburn is Dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law, a position he has held since June 2009. Prior to that, he served as the Rosenstiel Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law from 2008 to 2009 and as an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2002 to 2008. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Washburn was the Oneida Indian Nation Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. Previously, he served as General Counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission from 2000 to 2002, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Washburn was a trial attorney in the Indian Resources Section of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Washburn is a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. He earned a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Washburn will lead a team that includes Lawrence S. “Larry” Roberts as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. An enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Roberts, who joined Interior on September 5, is an accomplished federal attorney with extensive experience in federal Indian law and programs. He had been serving as General Counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission since July 2010.
Donald “Del” Laverdure, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, has been serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary. During his tenure, Laverdure has worked to resolve long-standing water rights issues, improve public safety and education in tribal communities, accelerate the restoration of tribal homelands, and help Indian nations pursue the future of their choosing.
Turtle Talk 