140-Year History of Indian Trusts Act Highlighted in Deb Haaland’s DNC 2024 Speech on Environmental Justic
According to Source, Interior Department Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, highlighted Indigenous perspectives during her address at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Haaland used the platform to advocate for environmental protections, connecting her heritage and personal history to her passion for safeguarding the planet.
Opening her speech in the Keres language, spoken by tribes in New Mexico, including her own Laguna Pueblo, Haaland greeted the convention with “Gu’wha’tzi,” a traditional phrase asking the delegation how they were doing. She then introduced herself by her Keres name, “Crushed Turquoise,” and mentioned her connection to the Turquoise Clan, tracing her lineage directly to her family in Laguna.
Haaland shared a personal story that shaped her commitment to environmental stewardship. “My ancestors built lives in the high deserts of New Mexico,” she said. “I am on this stage tonight because of them. While fishing with my dad and running through the desert, I learned that we have a responsibility to take care of our planet.”
As the first Native American Secretary of the Interior, Haaland oversees critical federal responsibilities, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Park System. The Bureau of Indian Affairs plays a crucial role in managing federal health care, education, and supporting the sovereignty of Native American tribes under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882.
Haaland was appointed by President Joe Biden four years ago, after serving as a congressional representative for New Mexico’s district covering Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Reflecting on her upbringing in the Southwest, Haaland emphasized the collective responsibility to protect the environment for future generations.
“Let me go back to a lesson I learned in the deserts of the Southwest,” she stated. “We all have a role in protecting our future generations.”
Haaland concluded by expressing confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris’s commitment to environmental issues. She declared, “Vice President Kamala Harris will fight for a future where we all have clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.”
Haaland’s speech was delivered during the 7 p.m. CST hour on the final night of the convention, leading up to Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination speech to the Democratic delegation and a nationwide audience.