Watch SOIL STORIES recordings on the NM Healthy Soil YouTube Channel:
Online conversations on soil health
Our guest starts with a short presentation, followed by conversation with participants.
Congresswoman Haaland is a 35th generation New Mexican who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, and also has Jemez Pueblo heritage. She grew up in a military family, had to rely on food stamps at times as a single parent, and struggled to put herself through college. Through hard work and determination, she earned degrees from the University of New Mexico and UNM Law School.
For several years, she ran her own small business producing and canning Pueblo Salsa and later became the first Chairwoman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, where she successfully advocated for policies and commitments to earth-friendly business practices.
After running for New Mexico Lieutenant Governor in 2014, Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a State Party. She used her experience reaching out to communities who are often forgotten during the electoral process during the two Obama presidential campaigns. During her time as State Party Chair, she traveled to Standing Rock to stand side-by-side with the community to protect tribal sovereignty and advocate vital natural resources.
After a lifetime of organizing communities to stand up for New Mexico families, Congresswoman Deb Haaland was elected as one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress in fall 2018.