U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland delivered a message on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention — one that may sway Indigenous voters in the swing state of Arizona.
The first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary leaned into her Southwest roots during her brief speech on the Chicago stage.
“I learned that we have a responsibility to take care of our planet,” Haaland said on Thursday. “Donald Trump never learned that lesson.”
Haaland, from the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, claimed that the former president made it easier for big companies to poison the earth’s air and water and she reminded delegates that Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax.”
“An American president must lead the world in tackling climate change,” said Haaland. “We need a president who understands that assignment. That’s Kamala Harris.”
Arizona has 85 delegates.
Four of them among this year’s Democratic Party delegation are tribal leaders, including Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores and Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community.
Haaland came to Arizona to campaign on behalf of President Joe Biden in June — before he stepped aside and Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee. Meanwhile, Trump returned to the battleground state this week for appearances in Cochise County and Glendale.
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Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren will face off against a slew of candidates in the race for the tribe’s presidency in November — 15 challengers to be exact. Nygren took the tribe by storm when he beat out incumbent Jonathan Nez four years ago. But since, he has faced mounting scrutiny over allegations of ethics violations and misuse of public funds.
