{"id":10790,"date":"2021-04-27T21:26:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T01:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=10790"},"modified":"2021-05-21T17:52:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T21:52:15","slug":"secretary-haaland-leads-interior-to-a-more-tribal-friendly-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/secretary-haaland-leads-interior-to-a-more-tribal-friendly-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Secretary Haaland leads Interior to a more tribal friendly future"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"934\" data-attachment-id=\"10873\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/secretary-haaland-leads-interior-to-a-more-tribal-friendly-future\/03-31-21-soi-h-cbs-tv-interview-national-museum-of-american-indian-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/28\/debhaaland.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1400,934\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Tami A Heilemann&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7RM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;03-31-21 SOI H CBS TV Interview National Museum of  American Indian&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1617148800&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;03-31-21 SOI H CBS TV Interview National Museum of  American Indian&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usinterior\/51089638617\/&gt;U.S. Department of the Interior&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/28\/debhaaland-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/28\/debhaaland.jpg\" alt=\"deb haaland\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10873\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is the first Native person to lead the Department of the Interior and the first Native person in a presidential cabinet. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usinterior\/51089638617\/>U.S. Department of the Interior<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Secretary Haaland leads Interior to a more tribal friendly future<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, April 27, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<P><\/p>WASHINGTON, D.C &#8212;\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland\">Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland<\/a> is moving quickly to roll back negative policies as the Biden administration seeks to restore the nation-to-nation relationship with tribes and uphold the federal government&#8217;s trust and treaty obligations.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIn a series of actions on Tuesday, Haaland announced <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/interior-secretary-deb-haaland-takes-action-for-tribal-homelands\/>new steps to help tribes restore their homelands<\/a>, one of the key tools for promoting sovereignty and spurring economic development in Indian Country. Her decisions will reverse  policies  that had been imposed  during the Donald Trump administration without adequate consultation or consent.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cAt Interior, we have an obligation to work with tribes to protect their lands and ensure that each tribe has a homeland where its citizens can live together and lead safe and fulfilling lives,\u201d      Haaland, who is the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet,  said in a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/interior-secretary-deb-haaland-takes-action-for-tribal-homelands\/>news release<\/a>. \u201cOur actions today will help us meet that obligation and will help empower tribes to determine how their lands are used \u2013 from conservation to economic development projects.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAt <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Interior?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Interior<\/a>, we have an obligation to work with Tribes to protect their lands &amp; ensure that each Tribe has a homeland where its citizens can live together &amp; lead safe &amp; fulfilling lives\u201d: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecDebHaaland<\/a> is taking new steps to restore tribal homelands.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ct9kRNmng7\">https:\/\/t.co\/ct9kRNmng7<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1387075348152688642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe first major step taken by the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a> places tribes in Alaska on equal footing with their counterparts in the lower 48 states. Following a  new round of consultations over the next 90 days, tribal nations in Alaska will once again  be  able to  restore their     homelands through the fee-to-trust process at the <a href=https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/>Bureau of Indian Affairs<\/a>. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe action reverses one <a href=\"http:\/\/<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37064.pdf\">taken on January 19<\/a>, on the last full day of the Trump presidency. In going against a series of federal court decisions, the legal department at Interior   pulled the rug out on tribal nations in Alaska at the very last minute of the prior administration, hindering their ability to exercise their inherent sovereignty in a place where local and state governments are often unable to provide basic services in Native communities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe second announcement benefits tribes nationwide. The Biden administration is <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/04\/20\/brian-lightfoot-brown-the-time-is-now-to.asp>reinstating a legal opinion<\/a> that helps address the impacts of a negative <a href=https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/>U.S. Supreme Court<\/a> decision known as <a href=https:\/\/sct.narf.org\/caseindexes\/carcieri.html><em>Carcieri v. Salazar<\/em><\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe framework ensures  that the BIA can  continue approving land-into-trust applications for tribes whose nation-to-nation relationship may have been called into question as a result of the 2009 ruling in <em>Carcieri<\/em>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/06\/08\/trump-administration-lands-in-trouble-fo.asp\">Trump administration had revoked the guidance<\/a> at the onset of the <a href=\/covid19\/>COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>, without even consulting Indian Country in advance.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur homelands are essential to the exercise of Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and the foundations of our economies,\u201d United South and Eastern Tribes President Kirk Francis said in welcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecDebHaaland<\/a> tribal homelands policies. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USETINC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@USETINC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xVY122JmrY\">https:\/\/t.co\/xVY122JmrY<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1387152730846806016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nFinally, Secretary Haaland addressed bureaucratic hurdles within the  BIA that also had been imposed by Trump. Going forward, tribes will be able to gain approval for most of their fee-to-trust requests at the regional  level of the BIA, instead of having to wait on political appointees in Washington, D.C.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThe patchwork of landholdings within existing reservation boundaries can make it difficult to develop coherent law enforcement and regulatory policies on reservations, restricting the ability to sustain community and economic development,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealBNewland\">Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for  Indian Affairs Bryan Newland<\/a>, who led the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.baymills.org\/\">Bay Mills Indian Community<\/a> prior to joining the Biden administration. \u201cThese important actions are a step in the right direction to restore homelands that will strengthen tribal communities.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDuring a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning,   Interior officials noted that restoring tribal homelands was a priority of the Barack Obama administration, when President Joe Biden served as vice president. Between January 2009 and January 2017, they said the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2016\/10\/12\/obama-administration-fudges-numbers-to-r.asp\">BIA acquired more than 560,000 acres<\/a> under the fee-to-trust process, in addition to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/buybackprogram\">transferring millions of acres of fractional land interests to tribal governments<\/a> as part of a separate program that settled the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/Cobell\/>Cobell trust fund lawsuit<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/04\/25\/tribal-homelands-hit-a-wall-under-presid.asp\">situation changed dramatically<\/a> under the prior president. According to Interior officials, only 75,000 acres was placed in trust during the Trump years.\r\n<p><\/p> \r\n\u201cPlacing lands in the trust has real-world consequences on the ground in tribal communities by simplifying \r\nquestions about jurisdiction,  by putting lands into trust so that tribal members can live together in a tribal community  and by re-establishing a tribal land base within reservation boundaries, or for newly recognized tribes and tribes in Alaska establishing a land base at all, so that they can exercise governmental powers and live together as a community and provide for their tribal members,\u201d said one Interior official on the call.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nThe same official cited an example affecting one Indian nation in the Midwest. Due to bureaucratic snafus, this tribe has been unable to have its own law enforcement  facility placed in trust\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThe delays in that process have meant that this particular tribe&#8217;s   law enforcement agency can&#8217;t even exercise criminal jurisdiction within its own building,\u201d the official told reporters.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cSo if there were a criminal act that occurred within their  law enforcement facility, they would actually have to call,  a state law enforcement agency to come in and handle that  criminal activity,\u201d the official said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTypically, it takes tribes months &#8212; and sometimes even years &#8212; for their land-into-trust requests to be approved by the BIA. The process got even more arduous when the Trump administration  required all off-reservation applications to be handled by political appointees in the nation&#8217;s capital.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/SO-3400.pdf\">Secretarial Order 3400: Delegation of Authority for Non-Gaming Off-Reservation Fee-to-Trust Acquisitions<\/a> <\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/SO-3400.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">SO-3400<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWith <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/SO-3400.pdf>Secretarial Order 3400<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/regional-offices\">regional offices of the BIA<\/a> can go back to approving most applications for tribes in their respective areas. That means the BIA officials who actually work in Indian Country and better understand the needs of the communities they serve are the ones in charge.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n\u201cThe Secretarial order will make sure that the big field offices who work closely with tribes and local communities and have the expertise and the capacity to make these decisions are actually making these decisions,\u201d an Interior official said on the media call. \u201cSo they&#8217;re not bottlenecked by the limited number of staff in Washington, D.C., headquarters.\u201d\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nThe order however,  does not apply to off-reservation applications  for gaming purposes. These decisions will continue to be handled by the BIA&#8217;s central office in D.C., a practice that dates back several presidential administrations.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe announcements   come ahead of a key,  if artificial,  milestone for   Biden, who ordered all federal agencies to improve their tribal consultation policies in one of his first actions following his inauguration on January 20. On Friday, the president will have served 100 days in office, during which Haaland made history in becoming the first Native person to lead the Department of the Interior.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s actions by the Department of the Interior restore certainty to the restoration of tribal homelands in the post-<em>Carcieri<\/em> era and deliver upon one of President Biden\u2019s central promises to Indian Country,\u201d said President Kirk Francis of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetinc.org\/\">United South and Eastern Tribes<\/a>, citing the Supreme Court ruling that still poses challenges for many.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cUSET SPF applauds these efforts, along with this administration\u2019s renewed focus on empowering and rebuilding tribal nations,\u201d said Francis, who also lead USET&#8217;s Sovereignty Protection Fund. \u201cWe look forward to working together on policies that will further improve and streamline trust land acquisition, as well as achieving a fix to the disastrous decision in Carcieri once and for all.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37070.pdf\">M-37070: Withdrawal of Certain Solicitor M-Opinions, Reinstatement of Sol. Op. M-37029\r\nThe Meaning of \u2018Under Federal Jurisdiction\u2019 for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act, and Announcement Regarding Consultation on \u201cUnder Federal Jurisdiction\u201d Determinations<\/a><\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37070.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">M-37070<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov\/\">Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe<\/a>, one of USET&#8217;s members,  is among those impacted by  <em>Carcieri<\/em>, and by the prior presidents actions. In March 2020, right after the organization <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/03\/09\/united-south-and-eastern-tribes-cancel-m.asp\">canceled its meeting in the nation&#8217;s capital due to COVID-19<\/a>, Interior&#8217;s legal department withdrew the legal opinion that addressed the \u201cdisastrous decision\u201d cited by Francis.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nNot long after that, the Trump team  informed the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that its reservation in Massachusetts would be taken out of trust, marking the first time such a step had been taken since the termination era of Indian policy. A federal judge later put a halt to the effort and the Biden administration declined to appeal, ensuing the land can be used for education, cultural and other purposes under a <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37070.pdf\">framework restored by Interior<\/a> on Tuesday.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThis makes the process easier for tribal communities looking to expand their economies, increase their land base and control their own futures,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/grijalva.house.gov\/\">Rep. Ra\u00fal  Grijalva<\/a> (D-Arizona), a key member of Congress who chairs the  <a href=https:\/\/naturalresources.house.gov\/>House Committee on Natural Resources<\/a>, where Haaland served as vice chair before joining the new administration. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cIndian Country needs land-intro-trust decisions to be based on genuine consultation, which the Trump administration routinely ignored,\u201d Grijalva  added. \u201cTribal communities around the country just want the same transparency and legal equity many of us so often take for granted, and today\u2019s steps are a big part of granting those reasonable requests.\u201d\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nAnother key member of Congress also reacted positively to the news. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schatz.senate.gov\/\">Senator Brian Schatz<\/a> (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the <a href=\"https:\/\/indian.senate.gov\/\">Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>,  said   tribes \u201cneed certainty\u201d to be  to be able to exercise their inherent rights amid obstacles like <em>Carcieri<\/em>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cSecretary Haaland\u2019s actions to reduce undue burdens imposed by the prior administration and honor tribal consultation in the land into trust process is a good start,\u201d said Schatz. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cRebuilding and consolidating tribal homelands supports not only Native cultures, languages, and communities, but also tribal businesses that help make economies for both tribes and surrounding communities thrive,\u201d he added. \u201cBut tribes need certainty, so I support legislative efforts to restore tribal homelands and strengthen tribal communities.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37069.pdf\">M-37069: Withdrawal of M-37064 and Announcement of Consultation on the Department\u2019s Interpretation of the Indian Reorganization Act and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in Connection with the Secretary\u2019s Land into Trust Authority<\/a> \r\n<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37069.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">M-37069<\/a>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nNotably,  the  decisions announced on Tuesday  were made by Biden administration officials who are enrolled in their tribal nations and have strong experience in Indian Country issues. Besides the Secretarial order issued by  Haaland, who is a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.lagunapueblo-nsn.gov\/>Pueblo of Laguna<\/a>,  the legal opinions were signed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/news\/robert-anderson-nominated-solicitor-department-interior\">Bob Anderson<\/a>, a citizen of the  <a href=https:\/\/boisforte.com\/>Bois Forte Band of     Chippewa<\/a>, who is now serving as Principal Deputy Solicitor at Interior.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSince joining the Biden team, Anderson has been nominated to serve as Solicitor at the department. Should he be confirmed by the <a href=https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/>U.S. Senate<\/a>, he would be the second Native person to be in charge of Interior&#8217;s legal arm. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2009\/03\/05\/native_woman_up_for_top_legal.asp\">first was Hilary Tompkins<\/a>, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.navajo-nsn.gov\/>Navajo Nation<\/a> who served during all eight years of the Obama administration. Her legal opinions were the ones dismantled by the Trump administration. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAdditionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/23\/bay-mills-indian-community-proud-of-bryan-newlands-nomination-in-biden-administration\/\">Newland has been tapped  as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs<\/a>, a position also subject to  further  confirmation. The White House sent his nomination to the Senate on Tuesday.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWe are very proud of Bryan and his service to Indian Country,\u201d said Whitney Gravelle,  who succeeded Newland as chair of the  Bay Mills Indian Community. \u201cDuring his time as BMIC chairman, Bryan worked hard to represent and serve the interests of our community and our people. I believe he would be a valuable asset to the Department of Interior in this new role.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cA great leader is not just someone who just makes decisions, but someone who believes in the potential of others, nurtures their ability, and helps them reach their own goals. Great leaders nurture other leaders,\u201d Gravelle added. \u201cBryan nurtured all of Bay Mills, and I have no doubt now in his new role he will nurture all of Indian Country.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" data-attachment-id=\"10625\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/23\/leaders-of-navajo-nation-congratulate-assistant-secretary-nominee-bryan-newland\/jonathannezbryannewlandmyronlizer\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/23\/jonathannezbryannewlandmyronlizer-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11 Pro Max&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1619136975&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jonathan Nez, Bryan Newland, Myron Lizer\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;From left, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs nominee Bryan Newland and Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer pose in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation, on April 22, 2021. Photo: Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/23\/jonathannezbryannewlandmyronlizer-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/23\/jonathannezbryannewlandmyronlizer-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"jonathannezbryannewlandmyronlizer\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10625\" \/><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">From left, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs nominee Bryan Newland and Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer pose in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation, on April 22, 2021. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/23\/leaders-of-navajo-nation-congratulate-assistant-secretary-nominee-bryan-newland\/>Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nConfirmation hearings have not yet been announced for Anderson or Newland, who have been active <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/interior-leadership>members of Interior&#8217;s leadership team<\/a> before Haaland came on board last month.    Haaland  is the only Senate-approved nominee at Interior.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTommy  Beaudreau, who is non-Native,  will go before the <a href=https:\/\/www.energy.senate.gov\/>Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources<\/a> on Thursday for his <a href=https:\/\/www.energy.senate.gov\/hearings\/2021\/4\/hearing-to-consider-the-nomination-of-tommy-p-beaudreau-to-be-deputy-secretary-of-the-interior>  hearing to be Deputy Solicitor at Interior<\/a>.    The same committee handled Haaland&#8217;s nomination.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAnderson would also go before the same committee for his confirmation. Newland&#8217;s nomination would be handled by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn contrast to the current situation in the Biden administration, former  <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/08\/16\/tara-sweeney-quietly-takes-helm-at-burea.asp\">Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney<\/a>, who was the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/10\/17\/alaska-native-executive-tara-sweeney-nam.asp\">first Alaska Native person<\/a> in the post,  was often cut out of decision-making   during the Trump years. She confirmed repeatedly to tribal leaders that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/solicitor\">Office of the Solicitor at Interior<\/a>  was  calling the shots on Indian policy matters. She also said she was  <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/10\/24\/national-congress-of-american-indians-un-1.asp>directed to sign the decision document that led the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe&#8217;s reservation<\/a> being targeted for termination less than two months after joining the team.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Relevant Biden Administration Documents<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37069.pdf\">M-37069: Withdrawal of M-37064 and Announcement of Consultation on the Department\u2019s Interpretation of the Indian Reorganization Act and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in Connection with the Secretary\u2019s Land into Trust Authority<\/a>\r\n(April 27, 2021)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37070.pdf\">M-37070: Withdrawal of Certain Solicitor M-Opinions, Reinstatement of Sol. Op. M-37029\r\nThe Meaning of \u2018Under Federal Jurisdiction\u2019 for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act, and Announcement Regarding Consultation on \u201cUnder Federal Jurisdiction\u201d Determinations<\/a>\r\n(April 27, 2021)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/SO-3400.pdf\">Secretarial Order: Delegation of Authority for Non-Gaming Off-Reservation Fee-to-Trust Acquisitions<\/a> (April 27, 2021)\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Withdrawn Trump Administration Documents<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37054.pdf\">M-37054: Interpreting the Second Definition of &#8220;Indian&#8221; in Section 19 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934<\/a>\r\n (March 9, 2020)<\/a><BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37055.pdf\">M-37055: Withdrawal of Solicitor&#8217;s Opinion M-37029. &#8220;The Meaning of &#8216;Under Federal Jurisdiction&#8217; for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act&#8221;<\/a>\r\n (March 9, 2020)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/27\/M-37064.pdf\">M-37064: Permanent Withdrawal of Solicitor Opinion M-37043, \u201cAuthority to Acquire Land into Trust in Alaska\u201d<\/a> (January 19, 2021)\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/interior-secretary-deb-haaland-takes-action-for-tribal-homelands\/\" title=\"Interior: Secretary Deb Haaland takes action for tribal homelands\">Interior: Secretary Deb Haaland takes action for tribal homelands<\/a> (April 27, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/chair-of-senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-praises-actions-for-tribal-homelands\/\" title=\"Chair of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs praises actions for tribal homelands\">Chair of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs praises actions for tribal homelands<\/a> (April 27, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/united-south-and-eastern-tribes-welcome-biden-administration-homelands-policy\/\" title=\"United South and Eastern Tribes welcome Biden administration homelands policy\">United South and Eastern Tribes welcome Biden administration homelands policy<\/a> (April 27, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/27\/key-leader-in-congress-hails-secretary-haalands-actions-for-tribal-homelands\/\" title=\"Key leader in Congress hails Secretary Haaland\u2019s actions for tribal homelands\">Key leader in Congress hails Secretary Haaland\u2019s actions for tribal homelands<\/a> (April 27, 2021)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Secretary Deb Haaland is moving quickly to roll back negative policies as the Biden administration seeks to restore the nation-to-nation relationship with tribes and uphold the federal government\u2019s trust and treaty obligations.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10873,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,67,20,13,1,14],"tags":[869,78,79,391,117,1462,925,625,736,157,5,88,118,75,71,49,48,267,53,397,924,186,511,126,213,91,1193,220,84,131,203,755,469],"class_list":["post-10790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-indian-gaming","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-117th","tag-alaska","tag-alaska-native","tag-barack-obama","tag-bia","tag-bob-anderson","tag-brian-schatz","tag-bryan-newland","tag-carcieri","tag-consultation","tag-coronavirus","tag-deb-haaland","tag-doi","tag-donald-trump","tag-economic-development","tag-hnrc","tag-house","tag-ira","tag-joe-biden","tag-jurisdiction","tag-kirk-francis","tag-land-into-trust","tag-law-enforcement","tag-raul-grijalva","tag-scia","tag-senate","tag-sol","tag-sovereignty","tag-supreme-court","tag-tara-sweeney","tag-termination","tag-uset","tag-wampanoag","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/28\/debhaaland.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-2O2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}