Sally Jewell and President Obama.
Obama names new Secretary of Interior
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Staff Writer WASHINGTON – President Obama has tapped Sally Jewell, 56, to lead the Department of Interior, and subsequently the President’s point guard on policy implementation in Indian Country. Criticized by some for lacking experience in the brutal political landscape in the nation’s capital, Jewell will look to her experience as a former oil engineer and commercial banker. She is currently the head of Recreational Equipment Inc. a company that sells outdoor sports equipment. President Obama praised the work of Jewell, as she steps in for departing Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. During Salazar’s watch relations with Indian Country were extremely cordial and productive as he oversaw the Cobell litigation and subsequent payouts that are still being distributed. “So even as Sally has spent the majority of her career outside of Washington where, I might add, the majority of our interior is located she is an expert on the energy and climate issues that are going to shape our future,” said Obama. “She is committed to building our nation-to-nation relationship with Indian Country. She knows the link between conservation and good jobs. She knows that there’s no contradiction between being good stewards of the land and our economic progress; that in fact, those two things need to go hand in hand,” the President added. Jewell, is an avid outdoorswoman who according to the President has climbed mountains in Antartica and scaled Washington State’s Mt. Rainier. To some she is considered to be a middle of the road pic by Obama, whose experience in the oil industry could potentially stifle any opposition to her nomination by the GOP. Recently Republican leadership has been highly critical of the President for his unwillingness to entertain the idea of opening Federal lands to oil and gas exploration. Her nomination was welcomed by many in Indian Country. In a press release the National Congress of American Indians praised President Obama for the nomination. “NCAI welcomes the news that the Obama Administration has moved quickly to nominate an innovative leader to continue the momentum of the Department of the Interior achieved under Secretary Salazar,” said NCAI “Sally Jewell’s diverse experience in energy, conservation, and stewardship efforts, presents an exciting opportunity for the country and tribal nations to make great strides and continue the transformation of the Department of the Interior under this President,” they added. The post of Secretary of the Interior is a vital and integral position for Indian Country for the Secretary is charged with the responsibility of maintaining and nurturing the trust relationship between the Federal government and tribes. The nomination marks a shift in background from previous heads of Interior for Jewell brings with her years of experience working in corporate America. She is expected to receive serious scrutiny from both sides of the aisle prior to being confirmed. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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