Which Native American should be Biden's Interior Secretary?

We wish we could claim this idea originated with us, but, alas... we saw it first on Twitter.

"I want a Native American to be named Secretary of the Interior." 

It seems like a wonderful idea that's long overdue. If ever there was a time when we needed Traditional Ecological Knowledge applied to our public lands, it's now. We need to address climate breakdown and adaptation to its impacts, restoration of indigenous food systems and languages, actually honoring treaties rather than providing lip service. I can think of several Native Americans who deserve consideration as Interior Secretary. Not doubt there are others. Should we submit names to the Biden Transition Team? Is this an appropriate way to honor Native American Heritage Month this year? Do you have any thoughts to share (in the comments)?

wolf sculpture, American Indian Corridor, Minneapolis

Photo by J. Harrington

This country has the precedent of having had a Native American, Charles Curtis, as a Republican Vice President. There's lots of reasons why having a Native American Interior Secretary makes sense these days. Some background can be found here. The names suggested don't include Honor the Earth's co-founder, Winona LaDuke, who has been a nominee for Vice President of the United States as the candidate of the Green Party. It's unclear how the progressive wing of the Democrats might respond to being "out-Greened."

There's an interesting article in The American Prospect: Corporate Democrats Are Rural America’s Biggest Losers. Mainstream Democrats are becoming more and more identified with supporting corporate interests over those of the working and middle class. Wouldn't it be wonderful if one of tRUMP's legacies turns out to be the return of Democrats to farmers, laborers, and Native American patriots as well as neoliberal, global, corporatists. Something, something, something BIG TENT!

The Theft Outright

By Heid E. Erdrich

      after Frost

We were the land's before we were.

Or the land was ours before you were a land.

Or this land was our land, it was not your land.

We were the land before we were people,

loamy roamers rising, so the stories go,

or formed of clay, spit into with breath reeking soul—

What's America, but the legend of Rock 'n' Roll?

Red rocks, blood clots bearing boys, blood sands

swimming being from women's hands, we originate,

originally, spontaneous as hemorrhage.

Un-possessing of what we still are possessed by,

possessed by what we now no more possess.

We were the land before we were people,

dreamy sunbeams where sun don't shine, so the stories go,

or pulled up a hole, clawing past ants and roots—

Dineh in documentaries scoff DNA evidence off.

They landed late, but canyons spoke them home.

Nomadic Turkish horse tribes they don't know.

What's America, but the legend of Stop 'n' Go?

Could be cousins, left on the land bridge,

contrary to popular belief, that was a two-way toll.

In any case we'd claim them, give them some place to stay.

Such as we were we gave most things outright

(the deed of the theft was many deeds and leases and claim stakes

and tenure disputes and moved plat markers stolen still today . . .)

We were the land before we were a people,

earthdivers, her darling mudpuppies, so the stories go,

or emerging, fully forming from flesh of earth—

The land, not the least vaguely, realizing in all four directions,

still storied, art-filled, fully enhanced.

Such as she is, such as she wills us to become.

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.