WASHINGTON D.C. – Pueblo of Laguna member Debra Haaland took the Oath of Office as Secretary of the Department of the Interior on March 18. Vice President Kamala Harris conducted the ceremony. Haaland wore a traditional ribbon skirt and moccasins.
A video of Haaland putting on her moccasins for the event began to circulate online prior to the ceremony and millions of people commented that for the first time they feel included in the conversation. Inspiration was the word of the day for a million of indigenous Americans who woke up for the first time to equal representation in Congress and the White House.
In a powerful nod to her heritage, Secretary Haaland wore a ribbon skirt that was designed by ReeCreeations, a brand that strives to empower and lift up indigenous voices through their work and clothing. The ribbon dress sported a rainbow of colors, with two large purple butterflies and three four-point stars flanking a growing corn stalk.
Confirmation hearing
In what one Democratic senator called a “proxy fight over the future of fossil fuels,” Secretary Haaland was elevated to the post after a contentious Senate hearing, 51-40. The battle for confirmation included getting around attempts to delay the vote, taking a battering during the confirmation hearings from the Republican Party, and working to persuade Republicans to her side.
Haaland swayed Republican Senators Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (100 percent of the delegation from Alaska to the Senate), and Susan Collins (Maine). Haaland also picked up votes from both Independent senators, Angus King (Maine) and Bernie Sanders (Vermont). Nine members of the senate chose to not vote on Haaland’s nomination; the vote was a mix of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.
After her bipartisan nomination, Haaland prepared for her swearing in ceremony. Conducted by Vice President Harris, with family and the world looking on to see yet another glass ceiling shattered, Haaland took her Oath of Office and was officially sworn in as the first Native American Cabinet Secretary in history.
The ribbon skirt
The creator of the dress, Agnes Woodward, is Plains Cree from Kawacatoose First Nation, located in Canada.
“The ribbon skirt reminds us of the matriarchal power we carry as indigenous women. They carry the stories of survival, resilience, adaptation, and sacredness. As survivors of genocide, we wear our ribbon skirts to stay grounded with the Earth and our ancestors.” Woodward explained, “Wearing [the skirt] in this day and age is an act of self-empowerment that gives us the opportunity to proudly make bold statements in front of others who sometimes refuse to see us. It allows us to be our authentic selves unapologetically.”
As for Haaland, Woodward said, “It is such an honor to see an Indigenous woman be sworn in as the first Native American cabinet head. Deb Haaland is such a gracious, humble, and compassionate leader who exemplifies all the teachings that are pretty universal for Indigenous Peoples. The teachings of love, kindness, humility, honesty, truthfulness and courage can be felt every time someone meets Deb, or each time we see her speak.”
Woodward continued, “This is extremely important to me because when I was a little girl, the hate and racism that I experienced as a First Nations person left me feeling shame. As the daughter of a residential school survivor and a sixties scoop survivor, sewing ribbon skirts has brought so much healing to my life. Expressing myself in a culture and creative way that allows me to feel the strength of my ancestors has given me the space I needed to shed that shame I carried.”