Debra Anne Haaland

A Life of hardship

Haaland's mother was in the Navy and her father was an officer in the Marine Corps, both of the United States. As a result, she had to move 13 times during her childhood to accommodate her parents' postings. One can hardly imagine the emotional toll it takes to move this number of times through childhood. She finally settled in Albuquerque, where she graduated her high school from.

Yet, not all is happy from here. She worked in a bakery, earning little and saving, until she enrolled in the University of New Mexico, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, in 1994 aged 34. 3 days later, she gave birth to her first daughter, and so started a Salsa company in order to support herself and her daughter. It is of notable importance to mention that she was a single mother.

Unfortunately the Salsa business did not succeed as she had imagined, and so Haaland had to rely on friends for shelter, and was on the food stamps program to ensure food security for herself and her daughter. This is when Haaland took out loans, went back to the University of New Mexico and graduated with a Law Degree from the School of Law in 2006. Haaland had to go through the rigorous program whilst raising her daughter alone.

Haaland had accumulated thousands of dollars in debt, and by the time she launched her campaign for Congress in 2018, she had not completed paying them back.

a politicAL SUPERSTAR

"I got into politics because I really wanted more Native Americans to get out and Vote"

Haaland's political career started humbly. She would look at candidates that were of interest to her, and campaign on behalf of them by calling and reaching out to the Native American voters - fully volunteering her time and resources. From there, she got more involved and started showing up at events hosted by the Navajo Nation, and the Laguna Pueblo, setting up voter booths and guiding those through voter registration processes in a time when access to internet was scarce on reservations.

From thereon, she began to aspire higher, and got a job with the Obama campaign in New Mexico from 2011 to 2012. This was her first paid political job, before she had volunteered her time and resources. She served as the Vote Director for Native Americans, given her experience with the demographic in the state. The state was called for Obama in the election.

In 2014, she ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, on a ticket with the then Attorney General and Democratic nominee for Governor Gary King, but lost to the Republicans as Trumpism began to spread across the country. Although she lost the position, she did not lose her spirit

"I became the State Chair of our party in 2015 and we won across the country"

In April of 2015, Haaland was elected as Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. For the party, this meant nothing but good news. Under her leadership, the party regained control of the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2016, which had been lost to the Republicans in 2014. She managed to secure a Democrat to the Secretary of State of New Mexico.

Yet, perhaps the most impressive of her achievements, Haaland was able to fundraise so much for the New Mexico Democratic Party, that she paid off 7 years worth of debt incurred by the previous holders of the position.

In 2018, she ran for the House of Representatives, competing for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District encompassing Albuquerque and surrounding suburbs. She won in a landslide victory.

Champion for indigenous americans

"For more than 200 years, decisions about federal policy have been made without Native Americans sitting at the table to advocate for our own interests"

Since being elected to Congress, Haaland has been vocal on issues faced by North Americans. She made history by being the first Native American to preside over the House of Representatives, and is so prominent there is pressure building on President-Elect Joe Biden to consider her as Secretary of Interior from House Democrats and Tribal Leaders across the country.

Sources

Jenkins, C. (2020, November 12). Deb Haaland says “of course” she would serve as Interior secretary under Biden | TheHill. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from TheHill website: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/525434-deb-haaland-says-of-course-she-would-serve-as-interior-secretary-under-biden

Reilly, K. (2018, June 7). She Could Be the First Native American Woman in Congress. But This Single Mother Says She’s “Not Exceptional.” Retrieved December 10, 2020, from Time website: https://time.com/5304507/deb-haaland-first-native-american-congresswoman/

McKosato, H. (2014, September 17). Debra Haaland Could Make History as Lt. Gov. of NM. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from IndianCountryToday.com website: https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/debra-haaland-could-make-history-as-lt-gov-of-nm-u0hzoqZzxEOQLyolDIuIfQ

TerrellThe, S. (2015, April 26). State Democrats elect first American Indian to lead party. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from Santa Fe New Mexican website: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/state-democrats-elect-first-american-indian-to-lead-party/article_b2827808-b4e3-5e0f-a62f-f832134a8ddd.html

Rep. Deb Haaland Bio: In Her Own Words – History, Policies, Record. (2019, September 4). Retrieved December 10, 2020, from Representative Debra Haaland website: https://haaland.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-deb-haaland-bio-her-own-words-history-policies-record

A Conversation with New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland. (2020). Retrieved December 10, 2020, from News website: https://www.bowdoin.edu/news/2020/11/a-conversation-with-new-mexico-congresswoman-deb-haaland.html