Deb Haaland, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior and a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, addressed the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Speaking from Lenapehoking ancestral lands, she emphasized her role as the first Indigenous Cabinet Secretary in upholding government-to-government relationships with 574 sovereign Tribal Nations.
Haaland reaffirmed U.S. support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and acknowledged progress made under the current administration to promote Indigenous rights. "The United States appreciates the Annual Report of the Permanent Forum and its calls for states to promote Indigenous rights," she stated.
She highlighted efforts to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge in addressing climate and biodiversity crises, asserting that "Indigenous Knowledge IS SCIENCE." The administration has signed over 200 co-stewardship agreements with Tribes and other organizations for shared management of federal lands.
Haaland discussed financial investments through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda aimed at enhancing Tribal climate resilience, water quality, and infrastructure. She also noted initiatives like the Indigenous Youth Leadership Coalition and Indian Youth Service Corp to empower young Indigenous leaders.
Addressing social issues, Haaland mentioned collaborative efforts with Mexico and Canada through the Trilateral Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls. "Too many of us understand this crisis personally," she remarked.
Further international engagements include a new exchange program sending representatives from five Tribes to Europe and New Zealand. This initiative aims to strengthen ties with foreign institutions regarding repatriation and stewardship of Native American collections.
The U.S. Administration has also directed significant funding towards supporting global Indigenous communities. In 2023 alone, over $80 million was allocated for networks like the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities.
Concluding her speech, Haaland expressed pride in ongoing efforts but acknowledged that more work remains: "It’s hard to outline our shared accomplishments in only 3 minutes...our work is far from finished."