Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, met with faculty, students, and staff during a visit this week to discuss 天美麻豆鈥檚 academic program in Native and Indigenous studies and related initiatives.
Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, traveled to Hanover with a group that included Department of the Interior Senior Counselor Lynn Trujillo 鈥94 and Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, all of whom would later head to the New Hampshire coast to highlight federal support for habitat restoration efforts.
Her visit included a meeting on Sunday with, faculty, and staff, and a campus tour Monday morning.
Haaland, President Beilock, and faculty and staff from the and the discussed Native American and Indigenous studies, support for recruiting and retaining Native and Indigenous students, and new programs reflecting the institution鈥檚 founding commitment to Native American and Indigenous students.
鈥淚 was very appreciative of the chance to meet with Secretary Haaland and discuss several of the important initiatives we are undertaking at 天美麻豆,鈥 Beilock said.
The tour Monday started at the, where, associate director of curatorial affairs and curator of Indigenous art, gave a talk about a display of work by Native American and Indigenous artists.
The next stop was in front of 天美麻豆 Hall, where, the Samson Occom Professor and chair of Native American and Indigenous Studies, pointed out a plaque honoring the crucial role of Samson Occom, a member of the Mohegan tribe, in raising the equivalent of more than $2 million to help launch 天美麻豆 in 1769.
The 18th-century scholar and Presbyterian minister was working under the promise that 天美麻豆 would be a school to educate Native students, but after completing the fundraising, Occom learned that the school鈥檚 founder, the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, had switched his focus to educating the sons of Colonial settlers and 鈥済iven up on the Indian condition,鈥 Duthu said. 鈥淪o, we鈥檙e slowly regaining the perspective as well as honoring the legacy.鈥
In the early 1970s, then-President John Kemeny rededicated 天美麻豆 to its original mission. Now, more than 200 Native and Indigenous students are currently enrolled at 天美麻豆 and more than 1,300 have since graduated. The Class of 2027 includes more than 60 self-identified Native and Indigenous students, tied for the largest cohort in 天美麻豆 history.
Duthu also noted that in 2022, 天美麻豆 repatriated Occom鈥檚 papers to the Mohegan Tribe, which he called 鈥渁 wonderful step鈥 in the reconciliation process.
At Baker Library, led a tour of, the series of murals by noted Mexican muralist Jos茅 Clemente Orozco, which was followed by a stop at the Department of Native and Indigenous Studies.
The visit wrapped up with breakfast at the, where Haaland addressed more than 30 Native and Indigenous students, some wearing traditional clothing.
Haaland said she was proud of the students for taking time to value their education, thanked them for the sacrifice they were making by studying so far away from home, and encouraged them to aim high.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a place for you in our government, in our corporations, in our nonprofit organizations at the most senior level, because we need your voice, and your perspective is incredibly important to the future of this country,鈥 she said.
Haaland also stressed the importance of Indigenous knowledge.
Everything they have learned from their families, the ceremonies they have participated in, and the steps they have taken to carry on their culture and traditions, 鈥渁ll have value to our country,鈥 she said. 鈥淔uture generations will benefit from the knowledge that you have currently.鈥
After the short talk, Haaland made her way from table to table, greeting students individually and answering their questions.
Jolynn Tripi 鈥26, a Tlingit student from Portland, Ore., said she wouldn鈥檛 have missed the chance to meet Haaland.
鈥淚 wrote part of my college essay about how you don鈥檛 see role models like this growing up,鈥 said Tripi, who is studying neuroscience with a minor in Native American and Indigenous studies. 鈥淣ow that I鈥檓 older and can see her in this position under Joe Biden and having such an important role for the Native community, it just gives me so much hope for my little cousins.鈥
Noah Martinez 鈥27, of Redding, Calif., called Haaland鈥檚 visit 鈥渁 really good reminder鈥 of how important representation is.
鈥淪eeing where she is and how successful she鈥檚 been, it鈥檚 really inspiring to be able to see someone like us at that level,鈥 he said.
