"The Secretary, in HIS discretion..."

I've had the good fortune of being in and around federal Indian law and policy, and Tribal Government for my entire life. Born to a Tribal Council representative that would go on to be Tribal Chairman, who himself was the son of a four term Tribal Chairman. Myself having the chance to serve a term as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council representative representing District 6 is still one of the great honors of my life. Every step along the way, simple life transactions that others may take for granted have occured with the caveat of approval by "The Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion". (a quote from the CRST Constitution and By-laws, emphasis added)

Federal Indian law dictates that every land purchase, every conservation practice installed, the probate of my late parents' estates, even many of the Tribal Government legislative actions I got to be party to; were held in abeyance, until some cabinet level official, or HIS designee deigned to sanction them.

The epitome of paternalistic policies took a u-turn last week when United States Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) was nominated to be the next Secretary of the Interior. This unprecedented step by President-elect Biden, finally places a Native American properly at the head of the Department that the woefully underfunded, understaffed, and outdated Bureau of Indian Affairs calls home. Every other bureau and agency within that Department, as well as the entire federal government will not have to hear about Indian Country from someone who didn't grow up there. The potential for meaningful government-wide movement towards solutions is tremendous.

On behalf of myself, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council, I would like to offer congratulations to Representative Haaland, and extend an offer to help her bring about her vision for Indian Country in the Biden-Harris Administration. Whatever she might need, in HER discretion, we will try to help. Damn, it felt good to type that.

Congratulations Rep. Deb Haaland, and well-done to the President-elect Biden team.