Debra Anne (Deb) Haaland (b. 12. 2. 1960), attorney, politician, sponsored legislations signed by the governor
Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna People, was born in Winslow, Arizona into a military family.
Her father, J.D. "Dutch" Haaland, a Norwegian-American, was a decorated 30-year career Marine. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for saving the lives of Marines in Vietnam in 1967. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Mary Toya, Deb's mother, served in the U.S. Navy.
According to a New York Times article, Haaland connected with her New Mexico voters by linking her progressive campaign to her tribal background.
During her great-grandfather's day, for instance, the mindset of the U.S. government was to acculturate Native American children into the Euro-American mainstream. So, he-like thousands of other Native Indian children-was sent hundreds of miles from his family to Pennsylvania's ill-famed Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
Founded by Army general Richard Henry Pratt, its motto was to "Kill the Indian and save the Man." Implied in this slogan was severe punishment for "infractions" such as children speaking their native languages.
Haaland's grandfather was also part of the federal government's policy to acculturate Native Americans into the American mainstream (1790-1920).
Deb's struggles, however, were of a different kind. Pregnant while still in school, she was forced to apply for food stamps to keep food on the table. She also struggled with alcohol addiction. But not one to give up, Haaland earned her B.A. Degree in English from the University of New Mexico (1994) at age 34 and would eventually become the first Native American woman in the U.S. to chair a State Party.
In 2005, as the U.S. Representative from New Mexico's first congressional district, Deb Haaland authored To Allow Members of New Mexico Indian Tribes In State Tuition at Higher Education Institutions Regardless of their Residency. Haaland would also lead the passage of SB 482 in the New Mexico Legislature.
Signed by the governor, the bill requires a health care practitioner authorized to prescribe, order, administer, or furnish a controlled substance to consult the CURES database to review a patient's controlled substance history before prescribing a Schedule II, Schedule III, or Schedule IV controlled substance to the patient.
In 2006, Haaland earned her J.D. degree in Indian Law from New Mexico School of Law. Among other accomplishments, she served as tribal administrator for San Felipe Pueblo (2013-2015).
She is the first Native American woman in the U.S. to chair a State Party, one of the first Native women to serve in the U.S. House and has also sponsored several progressive legislations signed by the governor.
Deb Haaland has balanced a deficit budget and created a stable, productive management team. She led the divestment of the Democratic Party of New Mexico from Wells Fargo for their significant investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline and for-profit immigration detention facilities.
A leader in the Tribal Business and Services communities, Haaland was the first chairperson elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors which oversees the second largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico.
And there are other interests and talents. Deb Haaland is a skilled public speaker and a marathon runner. To add to those, she is a gourmet cook who once owned her own salsa company.
Her daughter, Somah, was born while Haaland was still a student. An only child, she enjoys a close relationship with her politician mom. The two once traveled together throughout New Mexico delivering Deb's salsa to stores. Although married now, Deb Haaland gives no details about her husband.
Because of her tireless desire to be an example of what perseverance can achieve, society will, no doubt, record many future accomplishments by Debra Anne Haaland.
Sources:
Biography, Haaland, Debra
https.allstarbio.com/deb-haaland
https.debforcongress.com
LinkedIn webpage
Nominee at Deb Haaland for Congress, Sarthak, Married Celeb Website, Deb Haaland
Deb for congress, Vision Maker Media, Media by and About Native Americans
Wikipedia, Cultural Assimilation of Native Americans
KB Schaller is author of 100+ Native American Women Who Changed the World, winner of an International Book Award, Women's Issues Category. Other KB Schaller books are available through amazon.com and other booksellers. Website: http://www.kbschaller.com.
