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Governor Richardson Would Create Cabinet Secretary for Indian Affairs

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by Brad Jolly, Partner

February 23, 2007

In an interview with Indian Country Today, Democratic Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson, currently in his second term as governor of New Mexico, said, "If I'm elected president, I would propose to make the cabinet secretary of Indian Affairs the Secretary of Indian Affairs; I would make it cabinet level. I would try, because I believe within the Department of the Interior it does not get the attention it deserves. I would have a cabinet department for Native American affairs."  Governor Richardson went on to add that, as governor, "we have said that we recognize all tribes as equals, self-determination and government-to-government" and that, as president, "we would deal with each tribe as a sovereign entity, we would respect that." As governor, Richardson had two cabinet members who were Indian and elevated the state Indian affairs position to cabinet level.  Governor Richardson also broke with tradition and insisted on being sworn in by a Pueblo governor instead of the New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice.

For more detailed information, read the full Indian Country Today article.

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