Interior Secretary Deb Haaland meets New Mexico Native American leaders ahead of Utah visit
(Susan Montoya Bryan | AP) U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland listens to tribal leaders during a round-table discussion at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. The visit marked Haaland's first to her home state after being confirmed as head of the federal agency, making her the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position.
By Susan Montoya Bryan | The Associated Press
| April 7, 2021, 4:14 p.m.
Albuquerque, N.M. • Native American leaders told U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland they see her as a “formidable guardian” and steward of their interests Tuesday during the pueblo woman’s first official trip to her home state, an emotional visit that focused on pandemic relief and underscored the significance of her confirmation.