Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland says she hopes her new memoir, A Voice Like Mine, inspires Native youth to see themselves as future leaders, regardless of where they come from.
Appearing on Native Bidaské with host Levi Rickert on July 24, Haaland discussed the inspiration behind her memoir, lessons learned throughout her historic career, the importance of Native representation in government and her campaign for governor of New Mexico.
During the conversation, Haaland reflected on her journey from community organizer to Cabinet secretary, sharing lessons on leadership, resilience and civic engagement while encouraging the next generation of Native leaders to recognize the strength found in their own experiences and communities.
The title of A Voice Like Mine traces back to her first congressional campaign, when a consultant reminded her that Congress had “never heard a voice like yours.”
“We had to wait 233 years to be represented there,” Haaland said of becoming, alongside Rep. Sharice Davids, one of the first Native women elected to Congress. “Congress had never heard a voice like ours, and we get there, and of course we start raising a lot of issues that hadn’t been talked about around those tables or in those hearing rooms.”
Throughout the interview, Haaland returned to a central message she hopes readers—especially young Native people—take away from the book.
“The thing I want young Native people to take away from my book is that you don’t have to come from money,” she said. “Your dad doesn’t have to be a Supreme Court justice. Your mom doesn’t have to be a high-powered lawyer… I want people to know I’m just an everyday New Mexican.”
She encouraged Native youth to recognize the value of the knowledge they inherit from their families and communities.
“I want every young Native person to recognize that their backgrounds… those are experiences that benefit your professional life. And just always remember where you came from, because that will be the best experience that will help you move your career forward, to help people in your community, to lift others.”
Writing the memoir also gave Haaland a deeper appreciation for the traditions passed down through generations.
“I felt like the book helped me to really put down on paper exactly what those experiences were, how they affected my life, how they made my life richer,” she said, reflecting on memories of learning to cook alongside her grandmother and preserving family recipes for her daughter.
Rickert also asked about Haaland’s reputation for being approachable during her tenure as head of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“I love people. I love being around people,” Haaland said. “Talking with people face to face, talking with people on the telephone… you can’t replace those things with technology. You can’t replace your voice with AI.”
That philosophy extended to her leadership at the department, where she invited staff—from political appointees to security guards—to visit the secretary’s office.
“I was really, really happy that everyone took to heart that they belonged in my office,” she said.
When asked what advice she would offer young Native people who may struggle with fear or self-doubt, Haaland acknowledged she still experiences nervousness herself.
“It’s okay to be scared,” she said. “Everybody does… Say a prayer to help that courage come out. Forge ahead even though it feels scary.”
She urged young people to remember the sacrifices made by previous generations.
“Our ancestors persevered through all of those things so that you could be here today, and we have an obligation to honor the legacy of our ancestors,” Haaland said. “Work through the fear, and courage is out on the other side.”
Rickert also revisited Standing Rock and the movement opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline. Haaland described the gathering as a turning point in the national conversation about climate change.
“It felt like that event cemented our fight against climate change,” she said. “Nobody was saying ‘climate change’ out loud… I felt like it gave me more courage to keep moving forward in the things that I believed in.”
Reflecting on her tenure as Interior Secretary, Haaland discussed the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which ultimately led President Joe Biden to issue the first formal presidential apology for the federal Indian boarding school system.
“I felt really grateful,” she said. “Our team at the Interior read hundreds of thousands of documents… Some of them were working through their own trauma.”
She noted that although an apology was among the initiative’s recommendations, the White House acted immediately upon receiving the report.
“The White House called right away and said that the president wanted to make an apology,” Haaland said. “A lot of presidents have had opportunities to make apologies, and they have declined, but he wanted to do it from the very start.”
The discussion later turned to civic engagement, with Haaland encouraging Native citizens to participate in elections and public life.
“You can sit back and not participate because you think it’s the white man’s world… but you live here. You live in this world,” she said. “We have to be a part of this country. There’s no getting away from that.”
She emphasized that Native voices belong wherever decisions are being made.
“I want people to think that their voice matters,” Haaland said. “Native people are very active here in New Mexico. They deserve to be at the decision-making table.”
Now seeking to become New Mexico’s next governor, Haaland said her experience in Congress and the Cabinet has prepared her to advocate for the state.
“I want to be the first line of defense against the worst policies coming out of the Trump administration,” she said. “I’m never going to give up. I will press ahead to make sure that New Mexicans get what they deserve.”
Throughout the interview, Haaland returned to one central message: Native people belong wherever decisions are being made and should never underestimate the value of their own voices, experiences and communities. From encouraging young Native leaders to embrace their backgrounds to urging citizens to participate in the democratic process, her reflections underscored the importance of showing up, speaking out and carrying forward the legacy of those who came before.
Watch the full episode of Native Bidaské featuring former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland below.
