U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

30–924 PDF WASHINGTON : 2018

S. HRG. 115–291 

NOMINATION OF TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY 

OF ALASKA TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 

INDIAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE 

INTERIOR 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

MAY 9, 2018 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Indian Affairs 

( 

(II) 

COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS 

JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota, Chairman 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico, Vice Chairman 

JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming 

JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona 

LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska 

JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma 

STEVE DAINES, Montana 

MIKE CRAPO, Idaho 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

JON TESTER, Montana, 

BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota 

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada 

TINA SMITH, Minnesota 

T. MICHAEL ANDREWS, Majority Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

JENNIFER ROMERO, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Hearing held on May 9, 2018 ................................................................................. 1 

Statement of Senator Cantwell .............................................................................. 38 

Statement of Senator Cortez Masto ....................................................................... 45 

Statement of Senator Daines .................................................................................. 40 

Statement of Senator Heitkamp ............................................................................. 5 

Statement of Senator Hoeven ................................................................................. 1 

Statement of Senator Murkowski ........................................................................... 3 

Statement of Senator Smith ................................................................................... 36 

Statement of Senator Sullivan ............................................................................... 6 

Statement of Senator Tester ................................................................................... 4 

Statement of Senator Udall .................................................................................... 2 

WITNESSES

Sweeney, Tara Mac Lean, Nominee to be Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, 

U.S. Department of the Interior ......................................................................... 8 

Biographical information ................................................................................. 13 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 11 

APPENDIX

Response to written questions submitted to Tara Mac Lean Sweeney by: 

Hon. Richard Blumenthal ................................................................................ 79 

Hon. Maria Cantwell ........................................................................................ 79 

Hon. Catherine Cortez Masto .......................................................................... 87 

Hon. John Hoeven ............................................................................................ 77 

Hon. Tom Udall ................................................................................................ 82 

Letters submitted for the record ............................................................................. 49–77 

(1) 

NOMINATION OF TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY 

OF ALASKA TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 

INDIAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE 

INTERIOR 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018 

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 4:10 p.m. in room 

628, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. John Hoeven, 

Chairman of the Committee, presiding. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN HOEVEN, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA 

The CHAIRMAN. Good afternoon. I call this nomination hearing to 

order. 

Today, the Committee will hear from Ms. Tara Mac Lean 

Sweeney of Alaska, who has been nominated to be the Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. 

Welcome. Thank you for being here today. We appreciate it so 

much. 

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs leads Interior’s initiatives across Indian Country. On October 17, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Ms. Sweeney to the position. 

Ms. Sweeney grew up in rural Alaska and is a member of the 

Native Village of Barrow. I have been there along with Senator 

Murkowski, a great trip. She is also a member of the In ̃upiat Community of the Arctic Slope. If confirmed, she would be the first 

Alaska Native and second woman to hold the position. 

Actively engaged in State and national policy development, Ms. 

Sweeney has been involved in responsible Indian energy policy initiatives, rural broadband connectivity, Arctic growth, and Native 

American self-determination. 

She has served her Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and its 

subsidiaries in a variety of capacities for nearly two decades. The 

$2.6 billion corporation is the largest locally-owned and operated 

business in Alaska, with about 13,000 In 6upiat Eskimo members 

and 12,000 employees worldwide. 

It is diversified in six major business sectors, including energy 

support services, industrial services, construction, petroleum refining and marketing, government services, and resource development. 

2 

In her current role as the Executive Vice President of External 

Affairs, Ms. Sweeney is the official company spokesperson, responsible for all facets of government affairs and corporate communications. Her primary responsibilities include strategic policy and position development, implementation, and execution. 

She also manages Federal and State engagement to improve policies affecting Indian energy, taxation, resource development, government contracting, broadband development and access to capital. 

Ms. Sweeney has served in leadership positions on numerous 

business and nonprofit boards at both the local and national level. 

She has served as chair of the Arctic Economic Council, co-chair of 

the Alaska Federation of Natives, a member of the Coast Guard 

Foundation Board of Trustees, and a member of the Cherokee Nation New Market Tax Credit Advisory Board. 

There have been several letters of support for Ms. Sweeney’s 

nomination and I have made them all part of the record. 

I understand her tribal leaders are not able to join us today as 

they are busy in their whaling season, but they also send their support for Ms. Sweeney’s nomination. 

With that, I will turn to Vice Chairman Udall for his opening 

statement. 

STATEMENT OF HON. TOM UDALL, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO 

Senator UDALL. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman Hoeven. We 

really appreciate your holding this nomination hearing today. 

Congratulations to Ms. Sweeney on being nominated to serve as 

the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of Interior. I understand you brought your family with you and probably 

the majority of Barrow, Alaska. 

I also see you are accompanied by Catherine Stevens whose husband was a colleague of ours here in Washington for many, many 

years. 

Thank you for the meeting in my office. You met with me and 

my Indian Affairs staff and I very much enjoyed that meeting. 

This is an important nomination. The Department’s Indian Affairs hallway has been empty for quite some time, lacking the top 

political leadership your nomination reflects and that Indian Country deserves. 

I am encouraged that the President chose you, Ms. Sweeney, a 

Native American nominee with business experience and deep connection to your tribal community. I welcome the opportunity today 

to learn about your priorities as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed. 

From my vantage point, the primary purpose of this hearing is 

to hear how you plan to carry out the department’s mission to 

make sure the Secretary fulfills the United States trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages 

and maintains the Federal-tribal government-to-government relationship. 

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs has many critical responsibilities. In my own role as Vice Chairman of this Committee 

and as the elected representative of 23 tribes in my home State of 

New Mexico, I have used three guiding principles. 

3 

They are: respect tribal sovereignty, promote tribal self-determination and ensure that meaningful government-to-government 

consultation happens. I strongly believe that in word and deed, 

anyone confirmed to the position of Assistant Secretary must be 

guided by these same principles. 

The Assistant Secretary must also have a strong partnership 

with this Committee and be an effective advocate and ambassador 

to all of Congress for Indian Country’s priorities. In my questions 

today, I will seek to confirm that you are up to the challenge of 

meeting these responsibilities. 

I also hope to get added assurances regarding your ethics agreement and your willingness to take on the issues that require balancing Indian Country’s best interests with those of the Administration. 

Thank you, Ms. Sweeney, for answering the call to serve. I look 

forward to your testimony today. I hope to work with my colleagues 

to move your nomination along in a timely manner. 

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Vice Chairman Udall. 

I will turn to Senator Murkowski. 

STATEMENT OF HON. LISA MURKOWSKI, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Vice Chairman Udall, for scheduling this hearing. I know there was a bit of 

a timing issue but I certainly appreciate it. I know the many, many 

Alaskans who have traveled to be here to be with Tara today appreciate that we were able to schedule for this afternoon. 

I want to extend my congratulations and of course my full support to Tara Sweeney for the position for which she has been nominated as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department 

of Interior. 

I have to tell you, sitting here, seeing you at the table with Senator Sullivan, seeing Catherine in the audience, seeing your family, 

and so many friends, I am bursting with pride. I feel this is graduation day, a birthday or a holiday. 

You, Tara, hold so much hope and promise, not only for the people in your region, Alaska Natives around our State, but for Indian 

Country as a whole, a strong, strong female, Native leader ready 

to take charge. Believe me, we need someone to take charge within 

the BIA. You know that. 

This position, as noted, is so important to advocate and ensure 

that Interior fulfills its Federal trust responsibility to the American 

Indian and the Native Alaska people and our Native Hawaiians. 

This requires a deep understanding of tribal sovereignty and selfdetermination, the significance of the trust relationship and meaningful consultation, as well as the Federal Government’s fiduciary 

responsibility to tribes. 

You do understand all of these. You do because you have lived 

it but you have also led in this previously as the co-chair of the 

Alaska Federation of Natives. To my colleagues on the Committee, 

this is the largest State-wide Native organization in Alaska, representing over 300 Alaska Native tribes, corporations and tribal 

4 

consortia. It is basically one-fourth of all the federally-recognized 

tribes when you keep in mind what AFN is. 

You were able, as co-chair, to knit together all the very diverse 

interests, the collaboration with tribes and local, State and Federal 

leaders to make meaningful and measurable impact on Native communities. In your efforts, I think you worked to be inclusive and 

transparent in bringing together the many differing opinions. 

You have a sense of purpose, determination and an ability to 

work collaboratively to improve the common goal of bettering the 

lives of our Native people. 

You demonstrated that at an even higher level with your role on 

the Arctic Economic Council. Again, that was a leadership position 

that Alaskans looked with awe at how you had assumed command 

in an international forum and venues with other nations to bring 

economic development and prosperity in regions that are challenged. 

You bring a very unique skill set to this position, drawing from 

your background and your upbringing. I have seen you personally 

advocate for Alaska Native rights, cultural values and sustainable 

rural communities. 

I say all that and it looks like part of a resume but I think we 

know the mark of an individual is often seen in their family and 

how they share their leadership as transmitted through the families surrounding them, those that support you and those you support. 

You have demonstrated a love and care you see transmitted 

through your children in a beautiful way that we also celebrate. As 

much as your professional accomplishments, how you have brought 

beautiful young people into the world who are leaders in their own 

right, is greatly appreciated. What you and Kevin have built is a 

model and we share that. 

Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to be able to be here to not only 

recognize the accomplishments of Tara Sweeney but to stand with 

her throughout this process. This is an important step by the Administration. 

I look forward to working with my colleagues to make history by 

confirming the first Alaska Native person to this position. I am so 

pleased you are here. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Murkowski. 

Senator Tester. 

STATEMENT OF HON. JON TESTER, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA 

Senator TESTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Udall, for having this hearing. 

Tara, welcome. We appreciate you putting yourself through this 

process. I understand, by Senator Sullivan’s description, you have 

been at it a while already. 

This is a very important position for our Native American people. 

It is a situation where we have suicide rates that are over the top, 

spousal abuse that is totally unacceptable, and poverty conditions 

that are third world status. 

5 

You are going to be overseeing a lot of this stuff, whether it is 

education, health care, land into trust, or making sure water compacts are pushed through. You are going to have an influence on 

that. 

I did ask Senator Sullivan today about you, if you were tough. 

He said you were. We are going to need somebody who is tough. 

I am going to tell you why. 

There have been a lot of good people who served in this position. 

They have come before this Committee and we have asked them for 

things in their budget, it if was adequate, and they always say yes. 

However, I can tell you I have a couple tribal members from 

Montana in the crowd who talked to me this morning. Do you know 

what they talked to me about? They talked about law enforcement. 

They do not have anyone on the ground and BIA has not been able 

to help them. 

I want you to fight for a budget that works for Indian Country 

so that when you come before this Committee or the Appropriations Committee, either one, you can say, this is what we need. If 

you want to carry out our trust obligation to Indian Country, this 

is what we need. If you do that, you are going to do a great job. 

Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Heitkamp. 

STATEMENT OF HON. HEIDI HEITKAMP, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA 

Senator HEITKAMP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I have another commitment so I will not be able to be here. We 

had a lovely conversation. 

I want to back up what Jon just said. You know we have trouble 

and you know we have not felt there was enough attention at BIA 

to these issues and not enough collaboration with law enforcement, 

HUD, or HHS. These are challenges. We are going to look to you 

to solve these problems or to at least give us a leg forward. 

I think your background is excellent. I think there are some challenges people feel in terms of Alaska Natives but I think we are 

all in the same boat together. We want to make sure that you appreciate that there are a lot of folks in the Great Plains who have 

a different legal arrangement and different tribal and treaty arrangement. 

I know you are up to the task of understanding and appreciating 

these differences but we are going to hold you accountable in a way 

that I do not think we have done in the past. We are here to help 

you. We are here to be an extension of that advocacy. We are here 

to help you be successful but we cannot help you be successful if 

you do not reach out. 

I want you to know how grateful I am that you are using your 

enormous talents to tackle one of the biggest challenges there is in 

the Federal Government. That is providing services to some of the 

most forgotten people in America. 

Thank you and thanks to the great State of Alaska for advancing 

a very capable and qualified candidate. 

The CHAIRMAN. Ms. Sweeney, did you bring a Marine guard or 

is he here for the purpose of an introduction? I will now turn to 

6 

Senator Dan Sullivan also from Alaska for the purpose of introducing the nominee. 

STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA 

Senator SULLIVAN. It is both but I am here to introduce her. 

Mr. Chairman and Vice Chairman Udall, thank you very much 

for the opportunity to say a few words on behalf of this very wellqualified nominee before you and dear friend of mine, Tara 

Sweeney, who as Senator Murkowski mentioned, is making history 

in many ways as the first Alaska Native to be nominated for this 

very important position. 

I know that Tara’s In ̃upiat culture often values the collective success of their vast community over individual success, something I 

think all of us could learn from, nevertheless, I would like to spend 

a few minutes talking about Tara’s individual characteristics that 

are so important for someone nominated to a position of public 

trust like this. 

These are characteristics of integrity, intelligence, humility, and 

yes, to Senator Tester’s question to me this morning on the Floor, 

certainly toughness, discipline and an absolute determination to 

work for her people, her State and her Country. 

I have had the privilege of knowing Tara for a long time. 

Through her and my wife, Julie, I have also had the privilege of 

learning and knowing more and more about Tara’s culture, her 

people, the great history of Alaska’s Native people who make up almost one-fifth of the population of our great State. 

Tara is a proud In ̃upiat whose family is from Utqiagvik where 

right now, as you mentioned, Mr. Chairman, in her home village 

and villages across northwest Alaska, the citizens are in the throes 

of spring whaling season, an ancient tradition that feeds the body 

and soul of Native communities throughout the area. 

Amazingly, today’s Alaska Native whaling captains and crews 

still hunt using hand-held harpoons and going to the icy waters in 

hand-skin boats as their ancestors did for thousands of years. It is 

this kind of fidelity to Native culture that I think really defines 

Tara. It is in her heart and her soul. 

It is also the ability to marry traditional cultures with the modern world, sometimes against long odds that is an enormously important part of Tara and a very important part of the wonderful 

and powerful narrative of her people. 

Mr. Chairman, I would like to say a few words about the Alaska 

Federation of Natives, the largest Alaska Native organization in a 

State encompassing 229 federally-recognized tribes as well as 150 

village corporations, 12 regional corporations and 12 regional nonprofit and tribal consortia. It is certainly one of the most well respected organizations in all of Alaska. 

The history of AFN, as we call it, formed half a century ago, is 

one of the great stories in a State full of great stories of Brave men 

and women from all across the State who fought for their land and 

self-determination and won. 

This was not easy. They were demanding that the Federal Government recognize their rights to nearly 150 million acres of land 

at a time when Alaska Native villages were severely impoverished 

7 

and disease ran rampant. They enacted the largest land claims settlement Act in history, and continue to fight for their people, their 

culture and for all of us in Alaska and indeed, across the Country. 

Tara grew up in this history and story. Her relatives were involved. Her village leaders played a decisive role. This is a crucial 

part of her legacy. When she became old enough and experienced 

enough, she ran for and was elected to be co-chair of AFN, a remarkable achievement that, in my view alone, qualifies her for this 

very important position. 

During her time leading AFN, she spearheaded reforms to empower tribes, focused on issues like access to capital, self-determination, technology deployment and very critically, economic 

growth and good jobs in rural Alaska Native communities, some of 

the poorest communities in our Nation. 

These are some of the critical issues she also focused on in her 

many other leadership positions in organizations such as Arctic 

Slope Regional Corporation, the In ̃uit Circumpolar Conference, the 

National Conference of American Indians and as chair of the Arctic 

Economic Council. 

This is the experience and focus she will bring to all indigenous 

people throughout our Country. I am absolutely certain there is no 

one who will work harder for the rights, for the economic empowerment and for the culture of America’s first people than Tara 

Sweeney. 

Finally, in conclusion, as we all know we are coming up on Mother’s Day this Sunday. Tara’s late mother, Eileen Mac Lean, was a 

legend. Like her mother before her, Tara’s Akamai, she was a 

strong Alaska Native Leader who was respected throughout our 

State. 

She was a teacher, the president of the In ̃uit Circumpolar Council and a well respected Alaska State legislator from District 40. Eileen’s legacy lives on throughout our State. If confirmed, that legacy will live throughout our Nation through her very well-qualified 

daughter, Tara. 

Tara, Alaska is very proud of you. We are all thrilled by your 

nomination. Quiana for being willing to serve our Country. I am 

confident that my Senate colleagues will respect and honor your 

achievement, experience, integrity and deep cultural commitments 

that make you an ideal nominee for this very important position. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Sullivan. 

We will now swear in the witness. 

Ms. Sweeney, please rise and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly affirm that the testimony you shall give today shall be the 

truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under the penalty 

of perjury? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I do. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you. Please be seated. 

I want to remind you that your full written testimony will be 

made a part of the official record. I would say take five minutes 

or so but you can give or take. This is your chance to present as 

you wish. 

I know you have family and friends here if you want to introduce 

some of them, feel free to do that. 

8 

Welcome. 

STATEMENT OF TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY, NOMINEE TO BE 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY, INDIAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF THE INTERIOR 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you, Chairman Hoeven, Vice Chairman 

Udall and distinguished members of the Committee. 

[Greeting in Native language.] 

Ms. SWEENEY. My name is Tara Mac Lean Sweeney. I am from 

Utqiagvik and I am honored to be here today as you consider my 

nomination to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the Department of Interior. 

I do have a number of family members here that would take up 

almost the entire hearing time if I introduced everyone. I would 

like to recognize a few of those members here today. 

You have a room full of In ̃upiaq Eskimos, so I appreciate the 

staff keeping this room nice and cool because it is very warm for 

the rest of us. I can tell you this Eskimo is melting. 

Left to right, I would like to acknowledge Oliver Leavitt, my 

mentor. I explained earlier when I was 12 years old attending elementary school, shortly after the land claims had passed and was 

enacted and Alaskans were familiarizing themselves with the land 

claims and what a corporate structure would look like in our region, Oliver came into our classroom to talk to us about the opportunities ANCSA could bring and the potential for students like myself to realize by going to work for my Alaska Native corporation. 

As he left the building, I looked over to my friends, including his 

son, and said I want to work there. I want to work for him. I want 

to do what he is doing for our people. From that time, I worked 

very hard under his tutelage to get to where I am today. 

I would be remiss without acknowledging his importance in my 

life and to our region and community. Oliver Leavitt is sitting here 

at the edge of the row. 

Next to him is my cousin, Richard Glenn. We have worked this 

journey on a professional level together. Richard Glenn, many of 

you may know for his involvement in the work with Arctic Slope 

Regional Corporation. 

We have spent so much time together working on issues important to Alaska and our region. I could not be sitting here in front 

of you without him walking with me and me walking with him in 

our professional journey. 

Next to Richard is my stepfather, George Weckerle. I say he is 

from Barrow. He currently lives in upstate New York but I am certainly glad that he was able to make the drive to be with us today. 

Next to George is my son, Ahmaogak Sweeney, who is 18 and a 

senior at South Anchorage High School. Thank you for holding the 

hearing this early in May because next week is graduation and he 

will be graduating, so I am excited. He is also a pilot and will be 

pursuing aviation as a career. 

Next to Ahmaogak is my daughter Caitlin, a junior at Cornell in 

the business school there. She recently returned to the United 

States from overseas abroad for the semester in Rome. She arrived 

yesterday. I am extremely excited she has been able to join us. 

9 

Finally is my husband, Kevin, my life partner, the love of my life 

and one of my biggest supporters. We have been married for over 

20 years. I am very thankful for the support my family has given 

to me throughout this process. 

If you know Native families, you know that aunties play a major 

role in your lives so I would be remiss if I did not say hello online 

to my aunt, Kannik Glenn and Marilyn Gamboa. 

[Greeting in Native language.] 

Thank you. 

I am an In ̃upiaq Eskimo from Alaska’s North Slope, raised in the 

era following congressional enactment of the Alaska Native Claims 

Settlement Act of 1971. As this Committee is aware, ANCSA was 

essentially an experiment by our Federal Government on how best 

to address the needs of Alaska Native people that pre-existed the 

United States Constitution. 

ANCSA eliminated the seven reservations in Alaska at the time, 

one of which was located in my hometown of Utqiagvik, and replaced them with a historic land claims settlement that deeded 12 

percent of Alaska’s lands in fee simple title to be held by Native 

corporations. 

As you know, the more than 200 Alaska Native Corporations created by Congress exist side by side but are autonomous from the 

more than 200 federally-recognized tribal governments in Alaska. 

I was raised in rural Alaska, educated at Cornell University, 

mentored and employed during this post-ANCSA era. I have witnessed our village leadership focus their efforts on the corporate 

structures Congress created, while trying to balance the sovereignty and the role of our tribal organizations for the well-being 

of the In ̃upiaq people. 

As Alaska Natives, like our American Indian counterparts, we 

are reaching for the same future, with very similar tools, tribal 

governments to govern our respective social needs and traditional 

and cultural ways, and tribal corporations, to engage in the economic opportunities of our great Country. 

This reality has meant, and still means, that the Department of 

the Interior is very much a part of our past, our lives today, and 

will be in the future of the generations yet unborn. The DOI is a 

reality with which every Native American lives. I am honored to 

leave my homeland for a short time to engage in public service, but 

perhaps most important, to support tribal nations, tribal corporations and our tribal people across the Country. 

The mission of Indian Affairs at DOI is ‘‘to engage in a robust 

government-to-government relationship with federally-recognized 

Indian Nations and to collaborate with Indian organizations and 

corporations to support socially, culturally and economically selfsufficient Indian peoples.’’ 

Members of the Committee, this mission statement is one that 

both Secretary Zinke and I believe in. With the Administration’s 

support, I would like to bring the vast talent of Native leaders 

around the Country to help move our collective tribal and corporate 

interests forward. 

I am both a product and a witness to the work of Native leaders 

to address the challenges that each of our communities face, including social services to protect our most vulnerable, the perpetuation 

10 

of our languages and cultural practices, investments in education, 

housing and other infrastructure, and capacity building to develop 

economic opportunities at home and across the Country. 

My life experiences throughout rural Alaska positioned me to 

watch our community leaders overhaul the Bureau of Indian Affairs school in my village. Previously, this school had only served 

my mother’s generation through the 8th grade. 

Native leadership led the conversion of the school to a pre-K 

through 12th grade school system with a local school board. This 

act of courage and partnership with the DOI changed the trajectory 

of every generation that followed. Students no longer had to leave 

home 10 months of every year to achieve a high school diploma. I 

am a product of this change. 

Today, we have a locally-governed school district, and we also 

successfully operate the only accredited tribal college in Alaska, 

providing degrees in higher education and vocational skills to our 

young adults. 

The Arctic is the most remote region in the United States. No 

roads connect our communities, the cost of living is extremely high, 

our people face significant social challenges and our region is 

plagued with insufficient sanitation facilities. Unfortunately, this is 

akin to the realities faced throughout the rest of Indian Country. 

To address these needs, our people have been proactive in accessing the resources of bond markets, local taxing authority, and business investments. The work is far from done. We continue to push 

forward. 

I will utilize that same solutions-oriented perspective to serve all 

of Indian Country. I understand that the collective knowledge of 

our tribal leaders must be my top priority to serve the mission of 

Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. 

With that in mind, if confirmed, I plan to spend my first 180 

days listening to tribal leaders and the congressional committees of 

jurisdiction to hear the top priorities and establish a clear and comprehensive action plan. 

As a Native impacted by DOI, I understand that one appointment, my appointment, is not a universal remedy. However, for improved and effective service delivery, Indian Country needs a clear 

framework from the department, grounded in tribal consultation. 

This engagement will give my tenure as Assistant Secretary the 

clear vision that is needed to advance the priorities of Interior and 

our tribal nations. I expect these consultations will produce a myriad of priorities. 

Across this great Country, from the southwest to the northeast, 

one cannot paint Indian Country with a single stroke. Indian Country is not a homogenous community. There are some stark and subtle differences that make each tribe unique. 

I have great familiarity with energy development, education, 

housing, telecommunications, and business development issues, 

particularly within the context of rural and geographical isolation. 

However, others will be new to me. As I have been taught by my 

elders when taking on new ventures, in order to achieve success I 

must be guided by the principles focused on humility to hear, to be 

taught, to contemplate and to act. 

11 

In closing, during any tenure this body may grant me, I fully intend to make decisions in consultation, and to act on the best ideas 

that move Indian Affairs and the decision making of tribes forward, 

not backwards. 

Should I be confirmed, your guidance and expertise will be both 

expected and appreciated. Quyanaqpak. Thank you for the opportunity to come before this Committee today. I am happy to answer 

any questions you may have. 

[The prepared statement and biographical information of Ms. 

Sweeney follow:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY, NOMINEE TO BE ASSISTANT

SECRETARY, INDIAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Chairman Hoeven, Vice Chairman Udall, and distinguished members of the Committee. My name is Tara Sweeney, and I am honored to be here today as you consider my nomination to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the Department 

of the Interior. 

I am an In ̃upiaq Eskimo from Alaska’s North Slope, raised in the era following 

congressional enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 

(ANCSA). As this Committee is aware, ANCSA was essentially an experiment by 

our Federal Government, to address the age old question of how best to address the 

needs of America’s Native people that pre-existed the United States Constitution. 

ANCSA eliminated the 7 reservations in Alaska at the time, one of which was located in my hometown of Utqiagvik, and replaced them with a historic land claims 

settlement that deeded 12 percent of Alaska’s lands in fee simple title to be held 

by Native corporations. As you know, the more than 200 Alaska Native Corporations created by Congress exist side by side but are autonomous from the more than 

200 federally recognized tribal governments in Alaska. 

I was raised in rural Alaska, educated at Cornell University, mentored and employed during this post-ANCSA era. I have witnessed our village leadership, including my own mother and others, focus their efforts on the corporate structures Congress created, while trying to balance the sovereignty and the role of our tribal organizations for the well-being of the In ̃upiaq people. 

As Alaska Natives, like our American Indian counterparts, we are reaching for 

the same future, with very similar tools—tribal governments to govern our respective social needs and traditional and cultural ways, and tribal corporations, to engage in the economic opportunities of our great country. 

This reality has meant, and still means, that the Department of the Interior is 

very much a part of our past, our lives today, and will be in the future of the generations yet born. The DOI is a reality with which every Native American lives. I 

am honored to leave my homeland for a short time to engage in public service, but 

perhaps most important, to support tribal nations, tribal corporations, and our tribal 

people all across the country. 

The mission of Indian Affairs at DOI is ‘‘to engage in a robust government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Indian Nations and to collaborate 

with Indian organizations and corporations to support socially, culturally and economically self-sufficient Indian peoples’’. 

Members of the Committee, this mission statement is one that both Secretary 

Zinke and I believe in. With the administration’s support, I would like to bring the 

vast talent of Native leaders around the country to help move our collective tribal 

and corporate interests forward. 

I am both a product and a witness to the work of Native leaders to address the 

challenges that each of our communities face—including social services to protect 

our most vulnerable, the perpetuation of our languages and cultural practices, investments in education, housing and other infrastructure, and capacity building to 

develop economic opportunities at home and across the country. 

My life experiences throughout rural Alaska positioned me to watch our community leaders overhaul the Bureau of Indian Affairs school in my village. Previously, 

this school had only served my mother’s generation through the 8th grade. Native 

leadership led the conversion of the school to a pre-K through 12th grade school system with a local school board. This act of courage and partnership with the DOI 

changed the trajectory of every generation that followed. Students no longer had to 

leave home 10 months of every year to achieve a high school diploma. Today, we 

have a locally governed school district, and we also successfully operate the only acVerDate Mar 15 2010 09:56 Aug 02, 2018 Jkt 030924 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 S:\DOCS\30924.TXT JACK
12 

credited tribal college in Alaska, providing degrees in higher education and vocational skills to our young adults. 

The Arctic is the most remote region in the United States. No roads connect our 

communities, the cost of living is extremely high, our people face significant social 

challenges and our region is plagued with insufficient sanitation facilities. Unfortunately, this is akin to the realities faced throughout the rest of Indian Country. To 

address these needs, we accessed the resources of bond markets, local taxing authority, and business investments to build a city water and sewer system, a system that 

most Americans take for granted. The work is far from done but we continue to 

push solutions forward. I will utilize that same solutions-oriented perspective to 

serve all of Indian Country. 

My expertise is in business, government relations, and policy development that 

facilitates good business practices. However, business is but one facet of the wellbeing of Native peoples. It is one tool that is intricately connected to our social and 

cultural well-being. I know that the collective knowledge of our tribal leaders must 

be my top priority to serve the mission of Indian Affairs and Tribal Nations. 

With that in mind, if confirmed, I plan to spend my first 180 days listening to 

tribal leaders and the Congressional Committees of jurisdiction to hear the top priorities and establish a clear and comprehensive Action Plan. 

As a Native impacted by DOI, I understand that one appointment, my appointment, is not a universal remedy. However, for improved and effective service delivery, Indian Country needs a clear framework from the Department, grounded in 

tribal consultation. This engagement will give my tenure as Assistant Secretary the 

clear vision that is needed to advance the priorities of Interior and our tribal nations. 

I expect these consultations will produce a myriad of priorities. Across this great 

country, from the southwest to the northeast, one cannot paint Indian country with 

a single stroke. Indian country is not a homogenous community. There are some 

stark and subtle differences that make each tribe unique. I have great familiarity 

with energy development, education, housing, telecommunications, and business development issues, particularly within the context of rural and geographical isolation; 

however, others will be new to me. As I have been taught by my elders when taking 

on new ventures, in order to achieve success I must be guided by the principles focused on a humility to hear, to be taught, to contemplate and to act. 

In closing, during any tenure this body may grant me, I fully intend to make decisions in consultation, and to act on the best ideas that moves Indian Affairs and 

the decision making of tribes forward, not backwards. Should I be confirmed, your 

guidance and expertise will be both expected and appreciated. 

Quyanaqpak. Thank you for the opportunity to come before this Committee. I am 

happy to answer any questions you may have for me today. 

13 


509a1.eps

.\. BIOGRAI'IUCAL JNFORMATION 

2. l">mti!tn t<! whkb nt>m.IIJl!liGd: 

.M~!Il s~ • .fmJign AjfcJrr, r;;~ tlitp.utmtmf ofrl-,e Im£rlor 

O;:iober 24, 2/Jll 

4. A.dd1:eu: {Li<t~ piJoMl ~('l'l:Oil~~!!l:~~~d off= ~<<.5.} 

Information not r~lea~ed m tb~ pub II~. 

S.. Dat~>andpllliooillhirtb: 

lnl~rmaliou not rdt'il~d 1(.1 the pubJio~,:. 

6. M:u-Ituht&tvS<.{ln::~,uil>m~hl<m~ufwlll:.or~''~~=·~ 

Mt!rrletlt Kwl~ O:"'}'~>ny 

Coil/in (21 year& old); Almwogak (18 ~$ p/d} 

8, Ed!Ulation: {List !ctomto:uy ~~~ hishor o;ducation imtitlllions, date. attended, dopm r<l~iwd, and date 

degree gnmt~d.) 

Cornell Uni~Jerslty, SchooF qf lmfu.llrilll and Labor Rolalions 1991 .J'J96; B.S. ffl Jnd"!:trla1 and Labor 

Rel<ilfons granted in 1998 
14 


509a2.eps

9. Empk>yment record: (Li•t!l!jcbs held sillcc collcgo, inolnding the ti!le (lr description or job, name of 

~~mp!oyer, loomlon oiwnrk, ond d>llt:.' of Oll1lploymon!, including <my rnllllruy !l'rvlce.) 

ARCTIC SLOPE REGIONAL CORPORATION 

• ~U!iw Via Pm~:fder.t 

Anc~.AK 

• Sefticr Jr.ce l'resftiMI af Extunt;l Ajfm'" 

AJJclzonzge, AK 

• /'ice President of G<>vemrnl!!!l Aff(lirs 

And<Dnrgc, AK 

• Diredw, GavernmeJJIAjfoir~ 

W..,ki>:gl<m, D.C./.4nc/wrag~ AK 

BREAK IN SERYlCE FROM ASRC BEIWEE..¥ 21J03-20Q3 

(JJ/J9P6-Pr~-.t 

12/JIJf()..(}J/10!1 

()3/1008-1112010 

a2110QJ.oJaoos 

• Gtm:rnmen/ Affairs Ojfir:er (JJ/1002-01/10{}3 

A$1/.C Subsidiary, H<m:z;t<>n Cvninll;lillg C<>mJNYl.Jk4/ask41J.C 

Al!i!hrlrage, AK 

• Mtnw.ger afShareholder & Government Relatfom 0212001-0512002 

A11~har<lg". lfK 

• Sh(Jm/wlder Re/at/OIIS tfdministl'ator 1211999-02/2001 

Anchorage. AK 

• LabQr Rel.:l/10118 Manag<3r }0/1997-1211999 

ASRC 8-~bsidiary.Jlo;ctan Colll'rl:cting Camprury-Alasfu. LLC 

Anchorage, AK 

• Specl!llAssis!mrrro du<.P~ident & 1" Vice PIW·id~;nt Ol!J9Yfi .. JO!l997 

.Barrow. AK 

SAVVY CONSUI:riNG 

'""""' Barrow,AK 

STATE OF ALASKA 

• Rural Affairs Advisor!SJmcial Assjstanf on Education 

Office of thf'! Gav8rnor 

Juneau, AK 

nonnJn.MI1tltl~ 

0112003-09/2003 
15 


509a3.eps

NORT.HSLOPEBOROUGB • Gol!ilrmrnmt Al/illrs Intern 

VanNe.;s Feldl!lllnl.awFirm 

Washingt<m, D.C. 

06!1995-0811995 

tO. Go,•e.-nment e>Cperi~n~~; (Li•t a~y advisory, oonilUltative, b.o.norory or other port-time service or 

posilio!lJl wifu Feduml, State, or locol gov•rnm•nts, other than thos• ~~led •hove.) 

Oul.<ids of my warkwith th~ Sial~ of Alrzs/ca. /he only olh!!r govornrncnl-=ocialr!d experi!?7l<Je induie• the FCC 

A<MMlry Comrnime on Div.'"sity far Co"""""ioarions in a D;gtkl/ Age (expired); l a/sa ser1'81! as aCfJI!sulmmjar 

rheNorlh Slope Br1rough and North Slope Borough School DI.rtriot "" healthy rommunltiM, edu011t!on, and 

""""ornfc riwe/opmenl. 

II. Business rclRtil)nsbips: (List all positiom held as on officer, direct!lr, lnlStee, partner, pr"JJri<tor, agent, 

rep=<'tltative, or consult•nt of any oorporatloo, oompany, fum, parttwrehlp, or otlwr bu~inoos eute<pri:;o, 

OOucational or other instillltion.) 

• Ardlc Ero>Jomlc Col<lrc:i/, Farmer lrt/enratWnal Chair; Exrlcutiva Cammiflee, Viae Chair 

• Ted Slel'e!IS FotmdG~·on, Trustee 

• Alaska Federation ojNat<w:s.BoardMember; Legislatiw: Commlflee Membu; Leadership 

Committee, Chair; Co-Cl!air 

• Ukpea[Jvik lriupiat Corpomtio~, Former HMrd M~r 

• Cherokee Nation New Mtrrket Tax Credit Advl.l:ary Board (CNB Economic Development 

Campaey, LLC, beneflalllry} 

• Breasl Cancer FOCIIS.lnc .. Farmer Baard Member 

• COol$tGuard FoundationEoard ofTn~I>tees, Form& Tnme~ 

• Univerllily afA/aslw FarmrlazionBo~rd of1hv;tees, Former :llw/ee 

• Koalmi<: Broadcast Corp~ratlan, Fonner Boarcl Member 

• Analytical Services, Inc.. Form& HotJ.rd Member 

• Arctic Pawer, Former Boord Member 

12. Membenhips: {Li~ aU motllbelll!:ipi a!ld offices held in professiono.l, fraternal, soholarly, civic, buslnoos, 

Gbaritable lllld other orgllllizntions.) 

• Arctic S/o~ Regiomd Corporation (A.SRC}, Shamlwldm-

• Ukpeaj!;vik liiupfut Corporo!io>J, Shareholder 

• liiupiol C<mnmmily of the Arctic Slope, Diba/ Member 
16 


509a4.eps

• Nariva if"r/hge if&rrrr!'tt Tl'/ba/ A~mCIIY 

• Nn.tkmr;:f 0.mgN.J"Sc[.4mmicmrlnd'icms. Lifelima tdemb~r 

• K~rrai Rlv<~r Spwi}Mting Ancclmfan, lJj~lim{< M<lli1W 

• Pi BaM Plri. N~!!>.• Y<>:k.Dclta. Cm1ttll UJ/iwntity • J'i"aJ!wml fl:fjle.,~s~mi.m, Pomz.el' M~1ba· 

13. Fmitical mtill<!liom: :md UJ.!fu•ille~ 

{~) lis:<~11~illl:ll< ro-:hllo ~WC'Il:;<my"!llnyoo hnvcl!dd<lrlm~ !>*lic<>lT'I'~ furwl:l_¢..\ 1"" haWl 

~~=~=<~.·~*' 

JPtN qm4i<lr~refm- ..rtas~'<' .'l'rore $.!mm Dtmict T. Nrm-f<i?ri-o/.1'-" 

(bl L~"lill memt>e~llt>~ lll'i!te-.;lwld \..1, ~all~• ~ t:< Jill r>lil!til'cl J!~o$ wclt~lilm 

I'Ommll~ 4Ur!lll): lh<rll$110 ~«'-

(c) l!err'ize~llp.:.litt.:u,J OQntributi~nj 11) ooy i~dhid-.,.!.cmJlp~!g>l "~~.iMri¢n, ~clilt.,1)1~1'\:!'· J'<lli\k~l 

~cUm wnlmin.:.:.. w irnihtr<ll!l~)' ofi>:IM "" I!Kire fur th~ p;ISI JG Yl!al\1. 
17 


509a5.eps

. !J.()j:]/)}3 

Sulli\'VU. Drm Vfn Sulliwmfo•· (.L~ Semu~ fl."/:!-:!IJ/3 

A1..:1k SkJJ."' R.gw..ul Olrp;;ratiM Pali1ieD} A.:l~?n ',: ft.'I..-'2/P:lfiN 

j Ccmmiltu (ASRC PAC} 

l ~~~·de Slape JiegiMu/ COl]'DrtJ/11171 Pcf(!lca/ Mli<>~ : ()t5,1j0'2QJ4 

r£'!"I!I~~(ASRCPAC) 

Sulllwm, Dau 11{1 ~-~rlfi•«ll}i»' U.S. S.UU.Il! • IIY::2J;J(JJ4 

" ... " pomwn " " ()6$0/1(/1.5 Commiuee (ASRC I>_-! C) "" 

.4rcJ/c Slope l/egi011<!/ C~rp<lrUl{UII Po!itlt:IJ! .4cri~l1 /)6/JU/2/J/6 Commill"<? (ASRC PAC) 

' JJMO 

s $0/i{)f) 

s JOO.()O 

' 5()0.00 

' II'(J(HIO 

$ 961-;W 

' i,j()[)_fl{l 

s 1.3.:6.10 

' M){).l)() 

$S,40().fl() 

s /,1$3.80 

' 

s /.400.0(] 

' s 2.499.90 

$ J,J-/Iii/J 

.)'comg. I;!onafd E Via AliJ:ikan~jhr D"" l'<>~mg I ()7/1)$/:J0/6 $ l,OQO.GQ - ,)_'_''-"'=•cfu_._u_E_r_o•_Aclc'c"-=c•cfi_"_D_•_•_'_•_'"c~'-----~LOCW'-"Ic.l2c0c16c_ ___ __Ls MMO 

I 

I 

' 
18 


509a6.eps

Smre 

l Mml W. F""wr-

' 

RSA -.ANCHOR.1GE li.EPU!IL!CdN WOMEN'S CLr/B 

S J(f(Wfl 

, !f:f)7!2{Jf}J s !JJMWIJ 

: 05fiJ8'J{Jf!9 $ 'tOI/,00 

i Q•,J:J11{)JI 

I Mik(?lf<n<~"l!l' . 0~'J3.'JOJJ 5 _11'-t~O 

fl ,,,c,.c,•J"Ii',;'"''•-<hcc-----------~,,o,oJo/2"0'14~---l., S _;nftw--i 

i Amto L Fafu:Fat.tgl> fiJJOllf)fl i $ $/]£),(!(, 

' ' 

Wa/k~rMallrmforA/rnk7 1 t1111711015 S JOO',IW 

____ __L' ·---'-·--

14. Honors ""d award~i (Llstil!J$Chol=ltips, f~ll""'"h!po, hon~rary degrees, bonorar:r~.,~;~~y 

memb=hips, milit:l!y I!KIMJ$ and aijy ethel-spcci•l r~coguitiooG for ootst.llldillg sCNI~~ cr ~~hi<:vements.) 
19 


509a7.eps

A~~~l~r~.~~ Cft~rodif't' ~fCr>tnm~ml, ATHENA :S<xlid!)"· Class (1[2~1 7 

;v,mhW!W llcgi~l141 f.n"ltJ~ A•wnti:. {)Jmm~rclal Compaigl•.lAM Jiii.I?IAQ ~I)U 

• &ml Wttntlm ~ Cfrutk Wl11nt1~ K~rml Rl\'0!\ Al~lk<t2ll.l1 

• Ala.•ka Jotrrn~/ q(Ccmm~"'"' Thp 41! Um!"r 40 """''"t/c'i!. tOM • JJkre !IJI!b;m Wii!!JC.r, !C$ Wtmiilig C~liti<m. K<ti-"<ibw.. ,.1/<lliuMy.t • .1tlM 

.~C.w~if;!mm'tim1~.Mi$<.'>'CI..t lS$ 

Wtrri<l E.1'h'm<~ f4df"" O!,.vmpb. Mf"" WEfO Hl9.\ Qhikli~hi§r, Ctl)•llf!J.:li>'!J«c JiJhs T<>p~";!, Wfir!i l!l9J 

1 $. l'ublislw<i writillg$: (Li;t the tit.~, pll<>llsl>!rn, ~lid .:b~ Q(\>Qo~ .nticl¢S. rt:!pn~ l!dll'llri;do (I( <llile< 

publisiled m~t1!l'l~ls, <I"J>io'i; y<!\1 h!J,'<l wrinOOl.) S"I'J'I>" W'> ~)<;lO <If e.ll pu'Jlisl!lld mst<:.<1~1\Q 1M 

C=min•e. 

• SWllrn!.).'. TnmlllliiVe~. Te.r.. ~_.o;T<l\fu &omtnk:C'<:amcil: CW~ir.g ~fur 

S~le E~llk D~>Y<.'l"ffl'll:<\l.lnlh<: A!t:!lc~ Arct!c Y<;a;bo(>L A1.:rit E~c 

C,;mm:.il,W6 

• S...=~y, Tar~. "TbeArc.tie E<:C>nom\\:Cl>uooH' Cu1111wtin_g '~lth lbc Eusi1'l~Sl> 

Cornmunil;l." UAt.:JicS!ror£rl VQic...-. 14 JMIJ.IIt)' 101iiSwa'ney, T~r~. "Whlll they P.teSIIYi!li:' At't:'n"o:-F.IIt!rg)' C<mler. 4A?ri12Clli 

Swee-ney, n~ .. "M~king<he cMnemion~ Wl1y1h<; Ar.::rk: needo broMbaad Ue<l'S!<;' 

A.ia$/l:tz Df~pmck News, Jul} 2016 

• Swee~ey, Tara. "'Broadbond conneo::do!l b\'!~()tl1lflg ll)OII;I!b!lizy," Arcrit .%uude1: a July 

2{llt; 

• sw~:en<l)'. 'l'llr.:t. "'Report off-bas~ sa 11 Wf~U!d not li'm1t s\M'!;I!~!rkr ~cecss to Nat1Vn 

C()l]h fl.nmcial$.'' dfas,'M J){s_'rJa!dJ N~WS. 2!11= 10;6 

• SW!Itlley, Tam. ~~jplli! Corn:«fun:' Uqcl,;gall!fftlt. 7 Aug.m!-ll16. TR'<t .11\'Mlal.>le 

mtliec~htiJ''" b""'"'''Jll "'"lww_;"~" >I··•' ,,. .. , --.-1·,, - '· 

• Sweeu~y. Tam. ~Joumatis::mcl:~:>< f~l$ta:munptlon abow:SB 77." .-b'clieSoumil'll". 17 

Anril20!S 

• SWee-J'I<:y, T~ru. "Ex-plore Alaska; Ala'ik.a l..¢~Pis' l'our,"' fmwMfusk;:;.Cam, -2015 

(llpj)IJJX.) 

Swetmcy, Ta:rn. "'Me:lia fail to seeachle\>tmllllt!;lln Nai;J\'e e<mHll\!otiii~:· Allchor!llfe 

Dcr,"6•New.r. 5 March l0l4 (copyun'!vllilahle), 

• Sw<:1mJ.Q~, T~ra. ~Am Chronicles'~ a~s~·Year.~ Al'<'ticSowukr. Bristol !Jay T!mcs &. 

'"ur~h Hor!x!r FisMNIIIU1. 6 1~ 20!4 {~<:)p;.> ;mav~ilabl~). 

• Sw~, T!i!r<l, ~Oil u." ref=, abi~ Rq:> in till: rlg!n.-lln:enm~.~ A""'lil' &mmiff. 19 ."cllci! 

-. "'" ~~y, Taro, "'My Tum: It':Hlll!"ci!.it'11111so Q'-.lrfutme." Jw;*= F.mpirf!. 3! O.:!Obe:' 

2012 

• Swe!!ru!y, Tarn. "Why A1rukan<:ci!sm11ru( refurm: lt':snw:<>il, !llld lt's ~ur 1\.\t~n:." 

AitlsbJ Diqmlll# Nm~w, .'J November :!011 • SWt1¢111:y, Ta~:~~. ~H;tbi(al doslgnlltlonthl'Cl\«lnsl11fl!llif~·· An~l!orcg~IWI).-N«W:J, 23 
20 


509a8.eps

January 2.011 

• SweeDe}'. Tara ·'?ragnmtism. <:<~mmnn ground fore;.crg} im!ep~den~~:· lmli<:m ~n/J)" 

Today. 15 Ocl\>ber 1008 

• Sweeney, Tara. ··The Wisdom of Arctic Oil- The Luxury of Running Water.'' 

Norm.•t.= n Dece:nher 2005 (copy un~vci!able}. 

• Sl':ecncy, Tllrlt. ··wu!)iottViews !gmm:d in ANWR Debate.-, Arrd.:omg~ Drff!y Nauos: 

Voice ofdt~ Times, February 2002 (copy;mavnilubl~). 

16. Sp~~hes: Provide tlk: Co<ll:ilirree wlllt = <npi~. tmthny l!"all$Crip\ cfre~!'!lillg, 1f r,v;~iii!Ck, of ~.Tzy 

fOITil?l speoobes you have d~livered durillg the las<. ~ y= <>11 t<.>pio• rel"'"llllt '""the position f<r. which ~II'.! 

kn'j: been nomiDatcd. Fom>ol speeches includo, bur r«Jtlimited to wide!) attended publl~ add""'<= 

commeno~m~ni "P"-""'-~"5. and ~on;;,renoe leomrcs.. Pl= include tll<l dote. l'laoe 2nd OW.IIi>~:uina whe"' 

Lhey were deH~on:d. 

lltm~ htdudcd copies ofpt'l!pan:d r.slit!!l:m}" (alla<·hnt~m 2) a11d ~p'SI:c!tcs rmf<lckmmt3; q(u·!tick 1 hr<w 

re~aind copl~s. am1 haw! !1!<:/udl!d li11ks to he;;rbJgS and pres~"'nri..,.s. inaluding I<> ;-e>·~ral c;J which 1 d(l 

not fH>m written s.laf!:men ., m-a/labk: 

T!lSt:imony • ASR.C Connnent> on HJR 7 Support'.ngc;peffi<~gthe Ar~lic-:o<~!.icnal Wildlife R<:fur;tt. Afash.'ll 

&ate Legisiattll"e, Houge Rcsoul'(;(~ Commilt~c. Co-Ciutinnen Feige and Saddler. Felm!:!l"} 

2013. Liuk to he.-ring; 

httn: "'"" l~mo.i!a!C.al. lC' h~"' \_!o,_-.;(n.!J! lki"'l "'kglllt.;> tiJ{f !:-""u~,,~<•l.'·llC­

.:'""'" .:!'.ll3.ml;il~1 

• ASRC Comments on CSSB 11 HRES Vcr$Qn K on Interest Rote forl'!!fs, Tsxes and 

P!lyrnems.Al~skn Stat~ legislature, House FiQan~e Committae. April9. 2013. Link to 

ll.ming; 

f!t"\11: "'l\.;.l.i;!!!~L~·· ~'!l'~ l,.,·_~:~glc:__mi!)Utc;_,d>)'".">e-,.,.1•'\· . .>..\.l~mc ~>lf[)io: (",.'-'llol. 

p<;_',)l ~tl~~!!J))£_ ll_l_!*.!!;J!t,: ;>I J,'•.O.:.•"~,,~H)t: I:,.,.~· o··,.::n· .,::.o· .~11· ,.~, .. ,.:. ' ,..:tl.-;lh•U»" 

u • ASRC. CTRi, Doyen Co=n•n!S on the Roundtabk·O!! Erterg;· Dm:<Jlllpmeot in Indian 

CQUn!ry, U.S. Senate Commit!!;'~: 011 b-.Ui:m Affail:'l, Cbairnmn Cantwell •. ltme 2013. 

• ASRC Commcn!S on Al!l$ka's Bypass Mail Syst~m, G.S. Hous.> Commine~ on Ov<:r!light and 

Government Reform S1.1hoomminecofFcdo;ml WcrkforC~:-. LS. Po:;tal Sen~ce ond C"'!SUS, 

Chcirnum P!II"en:tl-.old.. !1.-hn:h 2014. 

• Alaska Federation ofNatives Comments on Ali!Ska )':atlvc Subsisr~nceCo--Managemtmt 

DmuWJ>tnuioH A~i of2014, U.S. HoUJ~COlWllilt~v 011 Na11uol Rc&OUn;;C$ Subcon:u.uitt~e on 

Tndi~~n and .Alaska NativeAffilirs, Cltairmim D.Yo11n!1 M~r<:h 21}1-l.. link to h~ariag: 

lJ\l!!K .. .'i<L~ L~Ld·~]!£ !'l l1:-3hl \ ~h·~!J-:."l-,!hl \l.",bll·.,~hf>lt"Y"..i..' ,~_1,. 

• ASRC, Petrolltarlnc. Comments on H.B. 286, Alaska Slate Legi~Jaturc Hou~e Fimmcc 

C())JII11itt~e, Co-Chairmen Stoltz<; ~nd Austenmm. April2014. 

• Fletcher Arctic VI ConferencePan!:l: Leadership ;n the North, February 18,2017. 
21 


509a9.eps

• Ar<:\ie FrorHierJI.,Arctie Bwincss Oppurtunili(!!< and Respun~il;le D<:vc:O'Jrtl~t ir~ t-1" Ar<!tic, 

Jenu.cy 24,2017. 

• Kick o:ffNorwegian Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, JollUI!l)' 23,2017. 

" SXSW Con:furonce, Panel Discussion on ~can you h.oor !1l<l now? The rural broadband dehat~.~. 

March21Jl7 

• A.retk Economic Cm!Th."il, The Wey !'orw~r.t. Af'CiieC"i:'dc ~Ol(i, No te~t; Hnl:: to vidw at; 

!ll!tTh-. ~!."1~'·'·~\Y!ll IIN.9ll ~'!.~ 

"' Arctic Econotnic Cnuncil BreQkout Ses~i..m: Arctic Economk and Busine.'~ Development, 

October 7, 2016. Link at: !)ll[!,~<"u.fu.!~..- !J-J\ \lllli.!>\ ~,, 

• Ar<:tic Eoonomic Council Pl~ll:lry, Fmmdnticn nrnl Strm:tureofl.'te AEC. October9, 2016. 

• M~lne~Atctl<: Forum, Atctie E~onornic ('cnmil O••ervi<%.·. O,toher 3. 2\JH\. 

• Ar.:tie S::ience Mini;terial hVelll, 3uilili::lga Bri.:l6e bmveen Arctic Resesrcl11Academia ami 

Business through T-edmolo;;;y, September29, 2016. 

• An:tic Sci~et:Mi'nisterial EV\1111, Panel: EmpuweringAtctie Communitioa !hrough Rc~~rr.il Md 

Education, September 27, 2016. 

• Wilson Cenltlr. Awtic B:.llootnie Develllp-ment R:>rutn, Panel Discussion. Note~•: llnk to \ideo a;: 

!>Ups:IIYQ\!tll..b¢.iYZU1 FmJglLg?lls!"'Pr:t;\-1 J iiQhVrdHMI!XqDNBfuC06LdSIL"xpA 

• A.--c:tic Economic Council, Arctic Fromiers· :Wl6. Tromso. '!\om;rf.J&l.uary25. 201 ~­

' .>\relic fulcounter Syrnpnslwn, Seattle.2016, Plenary Session Address, January 15, 2016. 

• Aretic Economic Council, Keynote Address: In the Spirit ufthe Rovaniemi Process. !'<lowmbcr 

25.2015. 

• Arctic Erommic C<.mncil, ArcticC"irck 2015, Ko tc~t' ln:k to ~·ideo at 

hill».: '"11"01~.!1!.-" 1~5.W-l.L"l 

• Arctic Ec(diOI)l]eCCllli!cil, ~marl:s: Openlnsofilie Office of the Secretariat, Sep1ember S, 2015. 

• Remarks fulm the Acetic People's Conference. Copenhagen. Denmark. Xovembl.>r 22. 20J3. 

• Arctic Economic Council, C'll111mcnu tQ the International Pol~r Fotmdation, Nm·cmber 201J. 

• Mendan-Hldatsa-Arikara Nation En<:rgy Summit. 0\·1")" .201:>. 

• Tciking Points for .'\re.1d<.lsuka 20!6 on A!aska-Norway econ<\!nic oppcmmities. Link: 

lutps"J!ymnu.bdl~zXONmOrWs 

17. Sdection! 

(a} Do y;m lmow why Y.:."- ..,...,..,. s~\ee~ed fur !lle pooitiO:t 10 wllieil you ;, .... ~ """'J1 nomin•ted b)• ~~~ 

i're.~idcnt? 

Jam bei11g lll>mlllf:wdfor JJO' d<!!.'P ccmmllmcm '" intprrml!g !l!c qualr)J• o;"liRfl>r Alnel'i~<W li!diwm· • .,!I<ISkll 

N"li"'s, a>rdNallw Huw<Jiian.-. I bolfew! thatth~~"'"" qW>1rhhll1 !ndlall Cmmny is:. ur.u~ceprahl~. and 1 ktrP~ 

spcnn~w:IH>}OJzy lifo \.;or king U> improve Nndili!>•ts i!ilmftan CaJml!"): Jmikm Uwml;)' All;· s<mJH>/ tl>e uro>l 

ecotJJSmi<:a!lyde;mw:;:J ami saa"a<'lj> dwllimgd .:<>mm11m'ri>:S: In ma-<:manry. ""''It is "!Y"-""V rhar Mictu A,Qlt/r$ 

10f1Mn :he Deparmu:'JII 'lftM Jmc•rir:>l' can sen-e us a caraly.<~/i>r<!<.'mlfmric IJ'ml'lh ill ;Mm t:'()mmwritios. There is 

~mmg a/ignmer.r In tiro \'/""-; o/rlr« Presf<k!u. 1/:e Set'IY:<M)'. and m~ nn craarlng ejfici,,cf•~ wllhilllm:l!ar. Ajlltl<:<. 

improvhlg rM ql~allo• <>.f'sU>•!ces rc Jud/41! Coulii!:.V. ar.rl}hnaring hcucr ratarinnsNps w/11! !he priVI!te soetor aimed 

al/nllfaling IXOncrnl~ fl1"C'I1h. 
22 


509a10.eps

l mu raised h1 rwal •. Jimlm. v.'htr~ !Mng colldllir:m.<rrrl! umt~ 411M _,, '""""~ m th~ nmlmt. :nw <um of IMng 

;, o.~&rbital/1, which dall~lg<l.<lh~ '1uafityiff{fC. l~eolth. ,.,,., .-diu:ati<.>~< Mn·kr.<.· "" m~<l.< CllM«IIltff' 

""''"'""'iri"'; and rho dimatt <»n /x! lifNlrrrmiORI!lgjix• m~c,\ Q(rfw )'<'<II~ S<:.li<mh'<l i11 ''""d Naflr•Hl1f~· umle• 

<M .!!Upmniig"L] (I"' iJJ~CJ<.trgkffl< ~,tfm"O .ciw..::t=, lh<!<"!~l>W Sf/ld<!R/S ;, tk" 8M .:;yne<JI, ,ify p«umwf 

<.>J'Sf~= '""" lr=IG/Cd w <t ...Wilcm rm=cli¢.· rmJ lllfo,.,1Mtf i&M<ll':<i<lfo 

My miflcmilm <lll<i C.tpCl1fll~'"'llf Car11~1! Unirwsi;v ,..,,.,. >'"')' Jll'ldJ/1!}} f'r~m Jn_l' hi>'l>/t\'"1<"11 1'11 lfl~ ,!meri'"'" 

india" Program tMr~ 1(1 k/lrg ill tile inatrgural das,; q{rV'<ili~ll~l ;.rr .~hl'l::kon, r!Jefim 111111'1!1#1)• f'l:&irillliC<? in til~ 

t:<mnlry P"'P"s~ly btJ/Ji rr; ~cMwme ,jmerk<JII lndian//Crilugo-.1 d,..,.ul~purl a de!!p 11pproclrrtlmt fol'tli,• .•imilaritics 

amf dijf~renr:cs """'"g AIMka Nuri'""' tmd Am""ictm Jnd!tmf, !1 "'"f dul'i11g rhi.• lime rl:m ! rJulin.l. rltm i"I'.Wtlffl 

10 00 pnrl of tile sol~n·l»> It:> tlw wm-k n•~dad roh~Jonaji>r fndkm c~~up~·. A}1or gmJ~~tJtimr t dttm! fUF<fll"' 

b.;m~ to go1 10 '''Crk. irm~~rl o[pnf:miug a-profosdwm! degnx. 

Sb••~ rlw t!me, my p!'(!Ji:.<.IIClm( '"'wl'hasfom.re<i ""f't'll>m.<t!n~r Si.'{f-dtm!l'mfrwron (lm{ impl"(!-\'11/g ,•Mqtmlil)• q_!' 

lfk b1 rnrn! Al«.<l-.r> and Nu/i'>'C tY>m>m~dries ==mf tfre ''"~"'-!)' lr>,~"rfku/cr, I tw..., 1>..'<>1 "" il<A'fJt"ilWfi;r sod.&~ 

m>d =w•m'<" «ef.l-<Je:crmfmtltm 1>1 /ll<!cy. din.'Tse l>.'ali\-c <:<Jtmmmiti~s./¥m\~lf"g as.<i5ff"g rll<! Cm.w.'l <!d!aliW> 

""'""';;""' ht'w,ceru<mr it> /lr:trmft!gfi'a-t 1k Ah""--u lfuth•.: ""Jiffi"'""'· to '"""kinj:"tlh ~rY,; fl1 "'/~Tg).' 

;,fi'O•mii:fm·~ dmW~pnM/11 ,,. wf!h «.1J1i!f/St111 d.."nZI<>pitr1J ,-..lrt=flr rd<'''"'" t:JJrt1c."llm>:, 

My '"''k lrtzz mad""'~ "'~!fomlb!~ !crrdln~ lmi;o? orgollb:lh.,)ll< artd ma11ugurg multipl~ pmj~r/1 r.trd $la,{j; m>d ir 

hcuf<~CUS~d Ilk.' ta be a resrt!ls-o>'iamed mmlilJ>l". l haw e:rpcdc•1~~ !11 lh 1mrl.fugs qf ll'aAinul:'fo~. D.C .. mul 

gqinad w1111aN~ skirts iN iman>ulimllll dlp/om,ic relmlmJ.< !'itwi•lll m.v lhM "·' Ill•' imcmuli~w.ll r:l!&l~ajt!Jc Ar~tk 

E•'llnomic Comtcil. 

B. FliTURE E~lPLO'L.MEI\'TRELATlONSinl'S 

!. wm you ~ever all C~Jl'.necticns wi!b yourpresem ~mp.loycrs. business fimlS. business <JS~oeiatkmr;, 

cr b\JSlncss oxsani:<atl>:ms if you are .:oofimwd by the S¢nat<t! 

YM. if confirmed J -rill rl?si{fll/i'Wn m.v pm:irlcm ni'r/r Arcr/'c Sl¢pl! Regional Corpm'>!tiWI MSRC). l <<!li 

co11linu~ fO be "" Akl.<l«! Narlw:: &har<!lrold"'· ill ASRC, 

2. Do ycu have- il.."l.Y pions. commitments, or agreern~rrt~ to pUISue outsid~ cmplo~mmu, "11h or 

without compensation. during your ser•ice willt tOe government? If so, please exp!@i•t. 

No 

3. Do you have any plait~, cmnmitments. or agr~enrs sftcr ~ompleting government s~ice ttl 

:r=eempleyment. affilistioo, or pnu::li~e wilh y{lur pr.wi:aus employer, busi~WSS ·firm. 

assncilltiu.l1, \lrw&AAiz\Uion? 

4. Hfi!l anybody made-a <rommitmtmtto employ ~our service~ in anyQI{Iacity :afteryoule!ve 

&ovenimeJ~t service? 

No 

5. If oonfinned, do you '*JX'Cllo serve out }'Ollr full1enn or until the next ~till! election. 

wbidwveris appllCIIble~ 
23 


509b1.eps

C. POTENT! At. CONfLICTS OF JNT.Il!RES'f 

l. Dt'ltri®!_ij fulai\Cial ~m'lt!I:S. &furred <:OII>!"='~t>lill 'lq;J~I\ts, Ul:d {ltl"~a C\ln!il:luillg 

Ue:illngs will! &wliness a5roci~os. ~!ier!ts, or euswmen. 

• ASRC Dl!,/imwf Com:rxmsm1a11 Firm. I •>11! .::-mllimre IQ pw·ricij)(Jig in 1M fl.SRC Dr9~m1d 

Cr>HtQrm.I,:W'al! P.'a~. 1'ke p/:m &pao;soJ· 'fill 1101 make C'O>IIribu.!i<m.<"" my /;~ha[frJJ tlw 

plrn• qfw· my Y!f_Jarwirm. rmif !!if'/IJ•IIit !'''"Wining 1'11 11!~ pkm wilf bt? p<~id om <!l"<'!' a.fh·.'-

ye~r ,WJ'iOtJ' hegim!ing QIJ the rlr~l~ 'i>J'$~ppralkm. 

• ASRC S!tl!mhcfdi!r lli'•kbrd. 1 am a .Wtmliolder r>f •• lSJIC, ,J.Iy Clllp!l;!l'llt~ur r«f<tt10>~.<hlp 

"'"' ;iSRC i.t iM(!pt!ISd<mr Qj "!'' sixlw:ful'Mu Starn: ,.·it!> fhe r=pcrntlrm, P;<r!;!ftnU IO J:h~ 

Ak>:;l..w}.'AA'<W CJuim:; SmirrmMI.Act CJ,fi97i {.~A<C$,;.}, .,;1/a,;kr. i'imfl-Y: -;o~pt;rwfmls MNC) 

,,.u~ar,:;ib!~ fo>· pro~•idrns """Mmf( ;,.,,qflrs. omons; <>r!rers. ro their $.~w'!Nwft!=. 

ASBC f~ 1M Alrrs!m N~lil'l!.l'll{<iCnfll rorpcralion n:pr<:s~tlrillg: 1he lm:;llf.;ss ilfl/!111-'lt.t qfits 

appr<J)I{maldy 13,000 Jiiupial B!dm~ ,<l!~l'l!hold~r-• in 11 r~Jf:ion spa!t~i~g appr.;o,\'imat<"/.1 .".< 

milll<m a.;r<>$frnm 1/'ut W<'.Sffln> !X!mmu~l(\' q[Poiur Hop~ It> 1h~ CQJ!Wl!mil;), '<[Kak/<JJ-ik. 

adj<lr:.&l< 111 .W,. Ca~adWu bm<kr. 

This :;tQ<:/i; ~'>><<>l k bo<Ighi. S(}{<;/ <}r f!'<li:FW !ik P'tbifd:.' /M<IM <ll'OCk, »>!t11ls!¢llf 1!'/tfr tho> 

tmir:l~ fl.{im:;:>1ponuirmiftM corpmv.rli<m. ASRC ilM<J.'qltd$ II"" diJtJ·i.brud <m w'r/utr a 

fJllf117<tr}y nr '"'"'•Ill basis. P'-"'1J«fW tf) 1M dMdemf rh$dhlio" policy "rfq,>~rr<ki ~[1/ro 

CQrp!»''ll/¢<1, 

UkpeaiJl-•lk lii:Iptat Corporatttm (VIC; Ofvidemi. I am r: shrmhaider o/U!C ~rf.ro an 

.4.iask11 N~li\'if corpcratlo,. i>trr unlik\' !IS/I. C. WC is a 1ofllagc rurpm•mfol' Yep!'~s;u11illif 1he 

bl1Sl!><lil1 ill/cresU if tbc dmr~ko!dersfrom tfJe commmt!J)• qff/rqlagWI: (8mrow1 A-'I'CSA 

e.uah113l<eilliolfl Ngio>m/ fflklt ASRC) tmd riling.- (l;k.• UJC) ~orpowulm:~. Vfl(~ 

~11;Jfam may ~-e c dMh.wJ. <f~f'!''d;,.g tm pn>firobiJ;ry tmd ~~~ •·ill~<gt 

~mi"" '!' dt:l!kmf &_.,,.i,'lJt'ilm pt>.lftY"''fll<"»llkr. Ill .~ 2!JJ5 I iT~~Wr* rM 

prot:att >t> diY<>.<r 1hsa ~~ by m>~>if<>rri"R Jhem It! m.'' 'W-"·m;"~" ~d"'>r ('llfid'>""-

• Sial~ 4fAitJ3ka Permanent Fund Dl'1~·~~~!fd. Th• SICiti!O] A(rrsku htls 11 <iri·idttid rh'srri/;;rll!m 

progm.mj~r-Strrr~ r"Sidntl5.jl'MII i'n>f.lll'tt41!/ e«mings Qf~u'm!rol royalries. Eligihiliry for 

rhtt dMti.,..,.J Is lfMel"lm'ned by J<'$l<k"11<'.>' durlug tf,~ rnk/r@t' ;t<'ar pret:edf11g If•~ )'>lQJ' ·''"' 

dit1ilffld f,, ;;_ppii.Jfor. i ,..ill qw:diiJ.ofo•·rhe llJ17 d!Vidcwl.for "'hfdJ t:pptf.<..al'io.~l v.i-11 111ke 

p/ar:<.' JlluM.r;hMim;h,lQJ/1. tmd di.ftri{Mkm ln ffl_m/}<:>' )(118. Ajio<r thi~ ,wrie<l if 

wr;jirmcd fl<¢ gi\'1!11/}w rei<fGmly rB1jllirfl#>enrsfor rh!?di#dimiion, 1 will nw likely 

qualifi ftW.f!J.!W'e di$!ribmionsfm· tfw rem<thJ<{er cf "'-'' ,wm<ic,z. 

z. lndicate any ll'lv~~t:nems, obliJptioos, ll!lbl!iti~, or other rel\'::icn~hip~ wbicll wWd ll'IV~I'Ill 

po!ontial c:o~fllol~ Qfinterestln !he pos.lliO<I ta which you ha\'e be~ QQminatl'.d. 
24 


509b2.eps

D~(gm:md Ageucy Ethit•s Offi<:tr,{ ro !dcntif~ _l)fl{.."'lllit!.l t::iJJ¢/'.el$ <>finl/ifll>"l [ ~"'"" emen.<rl inf" t.m et.Mco 

<J!.JNaiYWnl Wilh 1/1~ lkp«r!!!;<m/ ~ DfJ..."ig;><~led o\I~Cj' Jfthk:.t q{fio•!<:J/ <md \t"i/} ~<liiiJ'(I" ll'ilb lfmf 

.:;gnrem.m~ 1 am <Wl m·:are '<.t mlJ' mh~•· wl!fli:¢!t qj'inteJ·est. 

;;, Describe any !msinl$5 Telll.timmilip, Oea\!t!.!r, crfim.,cinltr:l!>..>:~etlon lh~! yo.u lmve bml duri~ :the 

last W ~. whethllt for yoursclf, (>l) Wh~lf ~fa diem. or ~~!~g m an l!gtll!, tltat could ln :my 

way COltStintte Q!' 1'\lllUlt ;n a possible <l<:miJH:I of inlcrc~t in 11m p~~ition t<> whicl1 ::rou have ~n 

rn.>mim~l!XI. 

P!tl~ sec-Jlr« l'<"SJX'~~.r ,_, pwagrn,_oh 1 Gj';/J1s sedii.m. 1 ;"'"' co11:1nf:ed. ~cl ... m c;;o"lfm~ r"' (l(ltrslflf, 

·.,.;ffl ri1« Qffw: q{Gu.v:•wmt;m EL-.,'h a'!d <i<~ lA'f{P.ll~lft<.'flf ·~ !H~td Agem:y Eihi.:.< (l(!kkli {t"f idmt>)~· 

[J'Momtfal ~mlfitrx qf1nwe.<~.IA1\'e .,,.,,.nit! inf~ <111 clhio· ~m<>JU wllh tkc ~·m"';>t '$ IksiJ,.•t:al<:d 

/Jgu.cy Etllics Off<>:lal r:mrl wiff comp(y u'ifh thaf agr.']~nzem. I am 1101 <nrore aftm;• M/tucoll/fiCI~ fll 

tlrl~>·w;t. 

4. Descibec lny &:tlv[ty d...;ng thepMt !() j'l'lA~ lu wilich )lOll Jnw.-: ~n~god fu~ tile pt:rpOS~ of 

direclly or lndin!CIIy inllu~ncing the p~SS!!SA deteet or modific~tion u-f any legislation or affu~llng 

~ admlnisll'«ri<:m «.'ld cxe~utiun .,n~w ocpuh1ic pol<c~, l"t1'1rdl¢$;$ ifY'lu w~re a regist..>rOO 

lobbyist. 

Jr. m.r pcsi1im ~ Ex~X~tlh~ fil'cc Prosidrmr <>/£xienwl Ai!i:.lr.! "111' du: A/Wk S!r;fM R'~~al Ccrpwmfl)lt 

(ASRC}, I Gm roq11lnrd u;. id<mr.f,.· iS$uas rita/ mig!lll'mpacr h01r ,JSRC <:tm1<1.!' 0111 irs Maturor;.·,ti.tl'idiOJis, 

ifffW'lapstraugte.r ID tlildn,•.ss r/IQu issues. arni o:;:,;x;11t~ that SII'!11C8J' Aeii•·itks thr:>tl ha•·~ c/lg(/g~r/111 

/u~/1 tdc edltfUlliOrl mid cmn;ach /t) •h~ p11bfic aU// ro ~l~cted '"'""akers: prt!>'<mli"g l<!!ilim.:"t'' b./foN 

lwJI:;lali•·c badi,;; <m.d d/1;\WOpi"fi <':""""""15 wd ana.Y,.1:0 OJ> -'IIO!IY i.\'Slff!.~ <J.(imfJ')mm~ to .1Sli.C mm' 10 

A.ffl.da Nmtr-e pcop!.,, In gc<'eml. 

5. .EY.plain how )'CI\1 Will resol~<e any pc.tentlal ct:mflict nfjnter.l$1. inelll('ling llliY (bnrmny b;: 

4lsclosed by y¢ur l"e>;pon,.,s to <be ~bcve11Wts. (Please pr'"'lde a ~PPY of (l!ly trn~r or otber agreement~.) 

1 km"' camultiUl, a~dw!i/ comintlf to cammlt. wlflr tin. Uj}lco oj(jQ~tl'llmm;tlSlhfc,; <tmlthe DcpWOIIII<'IIJ\ 

DI:$J;ttWI14 Ag_e11Cy JJJJrit.s Ojficiallo ld~11t!/Y J'f)Jii'll/ia/ rorif/iro ofi•ll~!·rtfit. I ba,.., mnered imc ~11 ,•/hies 

ilgl'ifMl?IU ll'ilh EM !Npartm~m ~ !A:;Jgm>Mrl .igmq Ethics Officio! tU/11 wilf complywirk 1~111 

IJJP>Mmer>t I""' wr m<!W" <>/ tmyMfw; <:(mj!k# afillten:s;. 

6. Pl<:<lsepra\'i.dewtittenopinions provicled 10 thd Comminee bythed~si¥t'ated ageney !!!".hk-'l officer 

of !he ageney to wl'rlcb you arenomin~ted ili!d by the Office of Gove.:nment Ethics ecn~t:ttliog 

potential oon:llic.ts ofinlercst or ;my legal impediments to ycur sO!:'Iing in thi~ position? 

I itaw consu/tci ~&will etmtJmw t<><:O.>>mit. ll'ifiii!Ja Qffi<.-e o[Gc'"ffll!ltl:~f E.•lffc;<; an<i fi>e De}mr!PMII S 

~dAgem;y Erllir:3 01/k:ia! YJ i<hmf([Y pc;wtial conjl.:<:r:; of itll«r<W.l ktlt"'> Mfflrai iMP an .:W>icr 

<W""m.ml wtihtlre~)'XII'Immt '$ ~ Apm.y .Etbta Cjjkfal and will tUJmp{ywitk rlwJ 

agrce.mem. 1 r:.m nm a><'(.<"> of <my<:>fk~<r *'lf!J~;~::; >J{Imerer;/. 
25 


509b3.eps

D, LEGALMA'fT.ERS 

!. Havl:' )"Oll ever Coon disciplined m <>i!cd f(l!" a bread1 of ethics by, ur boon the subjeo~uf u 

I:OO.',pl3irJ ro ml)'~llrt, admlnlstrotlveilgt;t~ey. profes~ional ass!leiatkm, di:;ciplinary oommi~ & 

<Jtbtrjli"Ofoosional grnup'l !fro, p]ea~><;.-:xpl~;n. 

2. Have )'Q'j ever~ ~ !lllmect of :m itl\'t!~~ig;rtbn. or im•mi¢'1o;l. ~. clnr_ged, w h~!d by "":)' 

Fildeml, State, or etru:..- !aw Cllfun:l:m.:ntl!u<hority .furviol~1ion ofn.'ly Fedemf, Sta~ rounty. <:tt 

nwclcipal law. ~a;itm, o.- nt<lillllu~, tl!!:e< th;m f11r a minor ';f";l.ffic flfl'ense':' !f sn. pl~:aSe 

expl;nr~ 

,., SI\V~; you or :my entity. pa.>ineutliij: l)t ollict a5soci!ltior~ w!wthtr lw.::ot)laror~d ur Ullill(.'l,)fpOT;Itl.'U. 

of which yoo :~r~ur w...... m o.ffi~ ct·.u h«."l inwlv<ld as ,. p!I.."J' hl $11 adrainbm!t"l\'<l ar;ency 

pro<:ll<:!dlng m civil litigl!i..'w!? tfm. jll:ease c~pJtia. 

4. Hil.ve you everb.lt1!1 C{)Jlvieted (.indn(llng plms of guilty or lloftl !'¢11/e<ldera) of~ny <:riminal 

vioMion oth<ur th;m n minor ttaffk nffim~¢? lfs". please explain. 

S. ?\euse ruM~e tlle Committee ~r ll..'IY l!<ltlitlond ffifolll»>.ion, ~\"Ol.<!bl~: or unfu,-mable. w"hicl:"t yoo 

feel should be disci~ in C0!'~'1eellon wlr,b }'gl,ll" nomin>tioo.. 

NIA 
26 


509b4.eps

E. ru:t.ATIONSHJP WITH COlViMITIEE 

1. \lllll you Cl'o$W"e that y<lllr d"f''II1lllentlaseuoy "'-1mplie;; with deadlhles fut infom~ation set by 

c:ongressioaal =mittoos? 

2. wm you or.sure thatyour-~partmen:;/a.g~ncy respo11d5 ta <~il!XIn!F'issi-cnal tnqu!rles from 

tnembers in a timely ma'>ner? 

3. WlJ! }'Olllll!lSUra that}'Otl!'dej'l3t!:mellt/8£l@Cy doe9 wh~h."YCf it CRn tO protectcongresfilonal 

wimes:ses and whistle blow~rs from reprisal fortbe!rtestimony and disdusures? 

-4. Vvlll }'Q~ <:<>op~r"te l"nlJ"lV~cllng th<~. c;~mmlttee with ,-~quested witrlCSllt:!S. W.durling t¢t:;hnkal 

experts am\ career em.ployeu. wit.~ firsthand know!W~ of malteru of interest to tile 

C<>mmitt:e" in a !ilady marmm·? 

5. Pl~~se explain il<JW ifconfimle<:!, you will ~view regulatiou~ !~;uecl by your de~:mment'asenc!'. 

311d work clos~l;y witl:t C~s, 10 eruut'l: th~t;ucll regu!ationB ~11mplj> 1<i'th lh<l spirit ofrh¢ )(liiS 

passed by Cnn~re>;s. 

1 am :cill<ftmS.CF.'•WCtl ~,; ~&1."<1 a disr.lpl~'l$!} ~th ll:> il>slimling d";>ltf: and .$(}/yf,rg_prob!~ms. 

Fwih~r; ! pi~" Mgh value "" ctJOpqrm!\>e ami E.rornspDI"l!l>l rn!mlr;nships I belfrn-, rlu;r d1~u 11af1<: ar .. 

nere.cy,Jly f>r artier- 1Q e~my em an WJII<:Iil'e l'Cvil'l>" ami nifcrm OJ ti:IJ reg~ftNO!)' em·irllllmcmwithiJr 

Jix!.'<Jn Af!airj. l wiil/JJ:.o~cl ih<: corm!d q{sr,ljecr uumer expen:;, i~M{!il7g rhos" 1l1t!W; dw ag;wq 

ami Mcmb<:1o o(Crm,gres~ <m<l rhcir srl!.!]: 

lf:<;iifirmori, l'Hi/J I.IS$fSIIhe &cre:t~r')• llr CQ1ld!,criJtg <> programmatie <md slrui!IWYJ.! tzna~>sts ofludim; 

,Jffairs. 1 will engagil Mdr pr<>[p"On< /Q discuss oe<:dt!d ,..,g.,/arory 1-efi;rm. cot!Sismm with d!e 

resp<msibiliii<.?S ami pri,w/111!:1. of fndJtm Ajfolr.•. 

6. .A.rn ;ou will'ng tc appem- an.;! testifY b~ MYO:"ly eon;lililte<i \:'Ol'l::llliU¢et!JlWI requey,--o-ffue Congres~ em S\\Ch occa:>io."'lS 3$ r=<mnb!y requwroo ro do 'i:i!J1 

l'e.1· 
27 


509b5.eps

F. GENERA.!, QUALIFICATIONS A."D VIEWS 

l. How does yoU!' previous profulsionel experi~nc~ and educ~tiQn qualify you for llie position for 

wh!ch you have been nominated? 

h<'<L<rals!i<Un rur.:t.l A/a</m. >!-k<n: li.!!7J.: ccw./iiion:sa/'1! .<m<!l! o/Ihe "'"·</ JWJmld" 1/1!• >Jaiiaa. Uptm gr/J/h1uli•tg 

frllm C(mu:/1 U11IYI'rdty, fnstead ofpii!"Sidt!g a pl~(CJsi~I><i/ ,J.•gn>r.•. f ~~~w;~"' nNm" '""'''' ""'' $:<'' w \\"tJrk 

My e.otire prr;Ji:s51ol1<11 '"'weer has i>oeufocll,;ed ~" p1"ti/J!OIIIIg ><1fdr:r-'l'm/1lalil»> tmd lmpmvhlg the <Jllal/IJ• qf/ifc ill 

,,.,{ Aln&lm at!ii fn Na11\'f' ooilllmml!l"" mmmJ lit~ ro.wwy, euJ "<!' e>."pt!rimt~~s """'' UW~iwd m"D:wd ~<f>'<UJi.lq 

for swil!fa/ w,f et!MMlltc selj'.<fmrmlnan·(lll itl "'""l diwrte NaJi>·e crmllmmitfe:;. M~ "'m·k lws made ma cr:nr{ortabla kadi:ng lmogec'!WJitbtli.U~ ami """'mgjng nutllipl~< pro].xt> amf n~'ff. 11 {,,..,. JJ!!W[ocuscl.,~ m k o 

,..,,{w-w-i<lJIIed mfiJhtger. f h"'•e gaiuad t!.'{'C>"i.:>u:o J1m: i~ w,..,-!ringwu. D.C. um*lng,illr aud e<iuc~:~llng bQ1i1 

ptJ!ilir.i/:tJJS and poJh:,vmake,.,-, Du• IO my.<rpvi~<' as 11!~ 111/eF~a/iorJa/ ,~,..,.,. q(r/11! ,Jrair E<:<J•!omit· Corwcl! 1 h~>-c 

also r1fine<l IllY &kill.< m intomatimwl diplmnaric ntlotiQII~. 

,l._(y 1/fol!m<· of~ri<mce has i<lllg/U me Jww !u rul11p1 tmd tll!'ill!: ilt <:idle~>gJilg pao;ili&J!Oi. ml!i 1 '""'" <:<ms,'s!DI!•'I> 

I>YJrkd ta "'"'"' <Jj>ptmnliiii(!JJ _flJT Nari\-c ""'""'~viJi<!.< m.i f"'liJ>I~. Tlm"'fJh"'" my ""''"""' f ha•·• k;.fi M~i1uf a 

p>-<w~n (t"<Jck '""""'' ~f...,,mfts. 

I Sl?a~<g/yhl<lie~~ lhalllvb•g t:OJ1ditla>!S thmllgbot<J f111lia" Caun!!)'ctlll h~ impf't>\·~d. Tiw stafltS'!"" ;, 

htdr'ar. Olzmrry Is tmacceptable, ami I am conc<m!~d that (I has perSI$/~d 1~0 long ill ;ff,t>Vernme!ll. 

AmericaS tndtgenompopu/atl!m "jhml Somh Dakota lo Hawaii. to .<!Iaska. J1Ul!WSO/a, and .\1ahte ~nd 

all poin~J in b~IWeG'/1 *ranks high in tro11blh1g srarisr/cs. Sl!l:smuNahw;e. domcsti~ >•tolcnc~. he!11th 

0'1.5l1r..~. /nw educntii'maf nclrin.,m<mr, a•nl pot;r !Mng condlrtons sen'l' rc> block eCO!Ic>mic progress ami 

h!!alrlt,V wmmurrififf. Oppornmi;y is 4 s!Fo,.,g amltl<;te fD tlrese problems, amt btdltm 4.1fitirs sMuld play 

a meaningful mtd sfgn(ftcam role. If corifirmed. I willf= 011 Imp!•Ol'ing !his rM~. (.,'l'ating m~mn'ng/ul 

OJ'P"Tilmitfe,;, andd~ll!rmit~lngwhercmtr pcrrzidpm/(!11 adds wt!Mall<l v.!wJJ ,.,.. shi)Jdd recogni:>lltltm 

there may be a bemr a/reman)'<'. 

JfcCI'/J/rmed. /1~111 supprm lha Sr:creiruy'sgoolro en:;rwe rharthefml~rul gow;nmwml• coordi!t/1/ii/g 

more 4/id~nl(o and effectively wfth.ln Indian Coulii!J' and utzh Alaska Nn:th'I'S. I will >rork tireb~/y 

wiril111 the DeparJmenl andwlt!r I11do'an Cowmy "' Ma1u!fi• o"d imp/enl-'11/ char.g,g-s rliat supp.?rl lmprrwerl 

qUl!Jify of lifo in lndit/111 Cmm11y. 

4. Whllt ~kills do you believe ycm may be Jacking which may be ne:c=ry to successfully carry out 

Ibis position? Wbat~1eps can be lllken to obt.~in !bose skil1a? 

1 hi!!W. SJY!nl rhe m(ljority qf my Iife inlhi! jll'ivtm uc/onmd whlft? 1 b~[lem thl!; wm bJ1r>g ~><'><' eJI<!I'tfY tvrd 

afrad! peiospet:liw w !lw posirWn, l wllliWed !vI= 1k ,.,;,,(faq offtd~ml !ldministrotiw procencs 
28 


509b6.eps

and lh~ sco;;e uf amltaril:)' <hu>llW fW'i!!Ir.m Jwf<ls <1\'W l11e [H"!JW<Wl• !hal il 1!1<1/!age.-. ll> "'-"rain tlwse 

rn'Ce::.rmy skills, Jw;/1 ""rk >LO!h subj('('.r nuwa t.\'Pt<J'/9 rmd wr:k the luxusmy IX!t.msef willrin tM 

Departmellf mncmg C<lrew· sra_o: Admfl!iswariou liil!rf<lrS and COIJ:if;NI-l'siona/ staff. 

5, Please di~uss your plillosl){lhic:~l viev.·~ on the role of gav~mmeJJt. lnelude a discu!<Siun oi wlle.!l 

you belitvethe gove."JJrnen< should imrolve lt;dfln tlte prlva:" =ror, wl1~n !leciety's ?l')ble~r.s 

should be left ro the private sea:o:r, a11d whnt stand!'lt"ds slloold be uS<:d to det.;m~ine ·.>-hen :l 

govemment )ltQgram n; no lOil):Crnecessary. 

Gowrnmanl shmtld p~mOdetl /itllld up. no1 t1 hand ou~ Governmem shrw/d offirl!mpo~<·er!lf<lrrl; ilsho:<ld 

d~!'O/e conmJIUifli~s a1ui sen'<! as <1 cnra!yst for imw>Ollir" •afrfli<ms rim! /a>llff p~blit:-priwue 

fU!Y~rteJ-s!Jip. Go''C!11"""'"~-~tm!d lwnill!b!e m.d <(J~wmic. A cw!+S~t>:-=lloppraa~hlk~s ""' e:<?rk m 

Inditm CoutWy. The refati011s!Jips between rhe U.S. Gorcrnm<7111Uld luditlll /ril;es. A/ai:ko No!illt rrib"' 

a!!(! Jl,'ati1-e corpo~aliMS an:dislincJ. alld arc deflnrtf thrmogh reg<dol(OI!S, s/Q/lii~S. exacr<lil'e order~. 

courl dedsioM and /ri!CIIks. ltls lmp~1-ariw tl1i!l rh~ Assistrml S~t,.~W'''- Jmiioll ,Ufairs und~l'.il<>lld tmd 

molro tllc moSl af!hcs.: r~loUanshij»>!a nf!<'<1i>-e{nk:lf>-'OI" progrtJmNmd services to tribes lllld .Van\'c C<Jrpnmlfrm~. 1 ;,/;..,... !hal .:;;gni]iroltl wrdg_h! s/r(Ju/d IX! gil'"" to whetluu ""!-' pm1/au/cr p-og•-am 

tkltvm-;; them=imum '"'ilwlo il&laog~t pop~lmimr ;, an '!.{flder.t mam:s. a>lti rillll sho"ld h9 det<'rmil!<'d 

t!wt:mgb C011SU/trui011 1<fth lri/R:s. (fila/. th~n collaborati<m Is """"-'~"'""lll_tllld a ~lOr<' ~Jiisclf,'f! ond 

cffiaicm approad!. 

6. Desclibethr:o=utmission, majocprograms. ami majr.r<>peratillnHl obje~'tive.;pf!h~ 

<lep:mmentlagency 10 which you hov-e baan llOfllinnted. 

Th~ m/s~irms o/111<1 /Jltl and BiE <tr<' 1<1- eHl!ailce quaflr;t cf life aml plm1dc <lCOMOmlc and educr:u/ottaf 

op]Wrrunilies l{~t~r prmrwte tf!e prc<e<:ricm ~f II'HSI a.•sc!S i11 hJdi.ln Crmmry muj Nkle-baing erfn~<!tkm 

th/11 U r;Jigmulwirfl rrfbai n<!>!/ls. TM rncredib!e t»-eati:l> if.•i!nYices,.,.·(wi<kdikroug;/1 Jrrdian.1.(kl!rosIndian gamir-.g apprc-rt!is; wildland fit\! andforesrry rmmngtWr~1u; !ami ii!l<> tn1J1; 

crm/racringlcompaclillg m::rre1-s: ~.xc.•s ro wpiltlf· llltd upholding /1'/hn! sm·~,·~lfP1l;l' - Is ~i:iJ•iff(Wm amf 

m""nil!gfili. 

1 b~llm-e tloe top rhr•tg clm:llengcsjac!nglndiaiiAfl«lr: arc !) CorJI{JioceHcy; 2} PUI<:malism: rm<l JJ a 

<mi/im11 approach ltJ a dirersc Jmf!rm Country. Jl,e.l<'are nf/ cha!le11ge.• ai!d ""'tho undarfymgfoa;ors 

for rhe pelpel!l<lli<m Qjr!u: sraws quo. If r:rmjiru,~d. l will work ra lmptm>! !he qualf1J> qfl!fe and un·ices 

wilhin lndit!n Cmmtry. 

8. In referenooto question num.bersi:t, what ii!e!orn inyouro~!nion hnve k~l1he departmerJtlagency 

from nchievi:ng its missicru over the past s"v~l years? 

lmtlrmlowl inwrio. Ch:mge is drtfkulr and il:ff pal!t of lem;r ctd~W:<:e ~ crmif<>rtab/e, whtr:h ojie" 

mm;Jn>: :.tiakir.g wirh t/1~ stll/1/S quc. iJICl'l!a:;ed call~>burtrlia,_ c~m.<Uflalim:. m;d parmershfp ar" IMcid 111 
29 


509b7.eps

creme prDgress and change.. Examples include e;rplaring parm~rship; H1thill lndmn Cammy for 

appropriate ami necessary forestry manag~meor rmd n>iiigmirm, a11d riglu-sb"ng li<e permilling process 

for energy d~ZWiopment ""Indian lands so£< is Ol>p~r •··llfr energydew;/opmel!lon public"'"' pri>rUe 

lamis elsewhere. 

9. Wha are the~takeholdcrs in the work cfthis dcpartmeut>agency'? 

Overall, the stakeholders incl«de tribes. tribal land01mer.s. pril'tlre landowners. Naliwconummiri&, 

sister DOT agem:ie:~, anyfe<laral deJltlrlm?nllllar o,·m-..ecs or hnsjrrrlsdicrlon O>CF proje<:i.S, sa<~•icas, or 

cnpira! fmpacn·ng lmiian Coumry, industr;.·, ami t/J• ..,Jmerican p8op/e, 

10. \Vhat is the propcrrulationship between the position to whioh ynu h~ve been nominnrOO. and the 

stakeholders identified in question number nine~ 

.~sagcnero/ nlllf, J bci<'IIVe the .4ssistai:!I S~tarys!JouldjOS/C!' <11! a<:Nssib/e. DYmsptwe!!l, ~ud 

collabtmuh-e rc/ali011sllip will! lhes~ ~wkelmlders. 

11. The ChiefFinandal otlt<:er~ Actreqoiresllll govemm~nr department<; and agencies to develop 

sound financial manag<lmtm! pmctices. 

a) What do ynu h.!lieve are your r'<Sponsibililics, if~oniirmed, to ensure th~t your 

department/agency h~s properm~nngemcnt EUld accauming controls? 

11:e re3pmtsibility cfthe Assismnt Secrcuuy-Jndlan.-WCtirs ill this regm·d includes res/cdng /msllo 1h~ 

m:cotmring o!ldmanagemem qflndirm Trust financial as;Nsaml rumplia,ce "'ilh tiU! approp•·iml' /uu;, 

recogm"ze Ihatthis has been a cha/!e11ge ;, the pasramf thai II romimws to b~ a chalhmge toda}'. ff 

ca1!finned, J will m>rk with apprapriute swfl'lo 111111(v=l.' rl!c C/1!1'1!111 polides QJ.'d f"'OC<'Iiur~.• a11d uudir 

findings with tl1c tment M find a•-eas upon whid< Indian ilf!Cirs ca11 impnn-e <hi.' de/ii'I:IY q(these 

irnportau/ so1-.;ccs. 

b) \V1ul1 experience do you haw inmnnaging a :arge organization? 

Fm the pll>"l twenly ywr& 1 huve l'C!Wd IJ.I a liNJI10ger amllhuughl le~'{/cr i11 ~Uasko 's largest priwJte/y 

uwned wrnpany. theAr~ll~ Slape Regional CatparaliOII. I hm'~ directly supcn•fsr!d Slaff oj at Jerm}ifieen 

hulividua/s. but 1 am also rosponsibleji>rdaliwring resnlls}Oroppro,\'imarely !3,000 lilrq;iut Eskimo 

owners <md app<-a.>imale/y llJ)I)f) employee:; nariauwide. In addi!iou lo rhese execullw dl!tillS arASRC, J 

have led srarewlde ~-ca/itiom and orgalllum"o•IS, driven Nalil'l! policy11Jorts. buill a/1/llrematiatlal 

sln!'::lurefor apan-A1"Cric, pro-growlk organi=az(on. l <m< comforrahle ll<l''igarirrg ll'ilbflrlarge 

organizations ami mat~aging large scopc'prajecz:;. I h<ow how ro ~ffecl cl<ange in /nrge organlztUions, 

and am ~killed u;tng COnLl2pl:i Qj'innol'fl/ii'C 1cami11g. 
30 


509b8.eps

12. The Govemment Perfurmnr=e~ ilr.d k11its Act require;; all pcmmcnt d~mwU! and agencic~ 

t(l identifY m=ble p~rf0!!11ancc goal~ and to report tn Congress on theirsuceess In achie>ing 

these goals. 

a) Wh:lt banefits, if any, do you sec i.~ idenlifyingperfurm"-'l~e !,'031~ a.>dreportingon 

progress in ~hleving those gwl51 

Goals, pelforma/lr:f< rJ\'illnmion,,-, gap wuz(•~·es. uml 1he devc/opmmrt mrd ~.r«mion of >II"CI<'gi~ plw1s are 

commonplace. fn 1!1~ priwu:esec/OF. 111e trbse11ce if these tools breeds imif!Cclil'e!U!SS, llla.ffic/imcics rmd 

leek qf direclfcll 1 pia~ a lifgL Wllue Oil esll!b/is!tillg gt><~ls b~'QJJJS•· J be!iere rita/ is the besl f!:IQ{ to 

m~XW.ue wherl~r dumgc !s qlecrive.. Estab!isMHg dtUJr goa/:; for nppoi,ted aud ctmter su;[f wifi I>S$isi ;, 

m~url>Jg ac/Ji<WMJ!ml and <msllriJ>g !hat mallrtgeFS hal!i? ti1~ roofs !!«<!.<.'"')' t(J hold empl~y{$$ 

accormrab/e. 

b) WJw stepssh011ld Congress consider tal.-ing when a dcp~~rtmenl>'ageru:y fuils rn r.hi'!l'e its 

perllmnance g=l$'1 Sb<mld lhes<: steps i:-:cludc rlle diminati<m, prhatio::allt'll, Uownoirin!f. 

wQCnsolidmion ofdopartmcms and'ar programs? 

Co.>tgri!Ss should tma{v;:a thesilWlliOn idmu[h• /U:Ikimrcies, m1dwm-k H'ilh rh~ "8"""' ro make mx~:;sm~ 

lmproremems, before tolcmg d~lfa rn=rw..... Th«focus should hi! 10 maximl::rt qualify ~1!1''/C~ delfwry 

ro llldhm Co<mto· altd.fimi salmions to any in:p<!dfln~_ous. Cf,w,gitJg ar<a/hni.,min;: pn>gmm• or s~n-k:e> 

for lmlian triM or-p;wpfe wili require go>W<l.'licnr ro gOl'E'mmem tmd guN/11/llffilltO A.'ask;. .Vari\i! 

r:ow;~lration. [1; /he mv.r a11 ncroplabftt soiwton =mol be td~11nj!ed. ro'!m llcet>.~:.mr;~-· niform acrirm:; 

1rould hi! W<ln-amed. 

c) What p<ri\.\.;n;mee goals do )'OO beHeve ili.mld be r:pplicablc to y¢\Jr pernom!l 

perRmnance, ifoonfirmOO? 

I shmdd be held I<J th~ same stamhrd 4.< my pt'l'l~·. .\1,1· pttrsrma/ gca/s /nch<de raish1g tile staiU/(w/ q( 

lh•fn..o; rll lnd!cn CowiiiJ' 1lmmgh cnl/aba!urian u11d pa1'1!1Crshfp with}lncmcial ilzstilllri011s; imPJ'OVing 

broadband coll>:eCiivlty; mlsfr:g 11Je quailrJ' of rile smf~:e deiiw:ry fa; etiucali<Jr> IbrO!<t:f! f'!Clmolog)-~ 

esl:lhi~Mng iHnOl'f<liw parmershl'ps wt;h TriMs fer l-crot/rce,far<!~IIY, a,d lam/ dq>·elDplm!lll rmd "'"""Z""'"'"' =d ~MNring fndiml Cou~l!;p has a sem allhe ~able uilhlu agencies and deparmzants rlml 

ma!re decisions 011 mmt~s impacn·ng American lndiO!Il ami Alaska Nat(\~:;. 

13. Pl~e deocrib~ you,-phi!®:lphy ofsupervi.so::!emplc~e relationships. Genera!ly. wha! 

sup.'>~ioory !'1'!4del do(> y<:>a fu!lo·.v? Have M)' employee =mpl.oints bacn bt~ught agaiost 'j<Ju? 

I be}II!W! t11 bui!ding~jfecrive teatns wlm·<' euch lfXlm member approac!rcs their ll'QII\> w q gro>Wh 

opportum'ly and is orie11ted toward suaus#(Jii, speaitl!~ and tnl~pl ,·, llleir ow11 skills~~ bm prnacl(\~ 

and imer-es/'lri inlearl'fflg newsJ;IJls. l s/rfW ro build a co!labf,,,ariv~ 'ti'Ork <lllvirommmt wlrere subjeCl 

marru ~ slu<r~ info>'Y:aiion JIPO.~ which r~:~:ommendatkms fbi- aclfou """ b.J made. l plr:sac a high 
31 

G. FINANCIAL DATA 

Information not released to the public. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Ms. Sweeney. 

We will begin questioning with five-minute rounds of questions. 

The President’s budget request for fiscal 2019 proposes creating 

an $18 billion public lands infrastructure fund. Money in the fund 

would be used to address repairs and improvements for BIA 

schools as well as national parks and national wildlife refuges. 

If confirmed, how would you use available resources to repair 

and improve BIE schools? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for the question, Chairman Hoeven. 

While I have not been involved in the discussions about infrastructure or funding discussions inside the department, when you 

look at the state of the Bureau of Indian Education’s schools, there 

certainly is a lot of work that needs to be done. 

In my first 180 days, my intention is to take a very disciplined 

approach to working with Indian Country, to answer your question, 

and engaging first and foremost in consultation with tribes. 


509b9.eps
32 

The CHAIRMAN. How about opioids? Obviously it is a problem everywhere. What are your thoughts on how we combat the opioid 

problem in Indian Country? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Whether it is methamphetamines or opioids, it is 

an epidemic in Indian Country. Everyone sitting in this room and 

people in Indian Country, there is no one untouched by this epidemic. It is a very serious epidemic impacting our communities. 

My intention is to learn from tribal leaders, tribal nations and 

Indian Country through consultation about what will serve their 

communities best. In my opening statement, I said Indian Country 

is not a homogenous community. What may work in the southwest 

may or may not work in the Plains, Alaska or in the Northwest. 

First and foremost, working with Indian Country to understand 

what works in their region certainly will be a priority for me. 

The CHAIRMAN. I agree with you on that point. One of the things 

I have been struck by in my time as Chair of this Committee is 

the incredible diversity in Indian Country. It is just amazing. Some 

reservations are very rural, some are urban but the differences out 

there are incredible. You are right, one size does not fit all. I think 

that is a very important point. 

Another issue we are very concerned about is child safety. As a 

matter of fact, I introduced legislation which we passed in 2016, 

the Native American Children’s Safety Act. It really goes to making 

sure we have background checks in foster care homes and those 

kinds of things. 

How do you make sure we not only fully implement legislation 

like that? Talk to me about what we can do on behalf of children’s 

safety. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you again for that question. 

With respect to child safety and the Act you referenced, I am 

concerned there are barriers to entry for our Native children in 

meeting the intent of the legislation you have proposed. By that, 

I mean I am concerned that tribal entities do not have the appropriate resources necessary to ensure children are being placed in 

appropriate homes if a background cannot be conducted. That is extremely concerning to me. 

I would tackle that with my private sector experience by working 

with the Department of Justice and other departments of jurisdiction to address child safety issues. While we may not be the experts inside of the Department of the Interior, there are other experts throughout the Administration with which we can build partnerships, leverage resources and work to tackle this issue in partnership with this Committee. 

The CHAIRMAN. Another area under HHS, even though it does 

not come under your jurisdiction, is the Indian Health Service. 

Again, any help you can provide is very important in terms of not 

only protecting children, families and women, but also their health 

care and health needs. It is certainly an area in which you will 

need to collaborate as well in this position. 

Vice Chairman Udall? 

Senator UDALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Ms. Sweeney, thank you for recently meeting with me to discuss 

your nomination. As you may recall, we discussed the importance 

33 

of transparency and impartiality in your role as the Assistant Secretary, if confirmed. 

Since you possess birthright shares in the Arctic Slope Regional 

Corporation, you promised me that you would ‘‘totally recuse yourself from any matter involving ASRC’’ so that you could avoid any 

conflicts of interest. That recusal includes oil and gas development 

in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

Will you honor that promise of recusal that you made to me? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for raising that issue, Vice Chairman 

Udall. I did appreciate the time that we spent together in your office and with your staff. 

With respect to my ethics pledge, I have pledged to recuse myself 

from any matters regarding Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. I 

would have done that regardless of the pledge because it is the 

right thing to do. To answer your question, yes. 

Senator UDALL. Will you recuse yourself from any matter that 

may benefit ASRC, including oil and gas development in the Arctic 

National Wildlife Refuge? 

Ms. SWEENEY. My ethics pledge requires me to recuse myself 

from all matters pertaining to ASRC and I will adhere to that, yes. 

Senator UDALL. Thank you. 

Ms. Sweeney, I come from an oil and gas producing State, so I 

understand the importance of oil and gas development for jobs and 

the economy. However, I also understand the importance of recognizing when an area is simply too important to develop, whether 

it be for preserving cultural heritage or protecting sensitive ecology. 

I believe responsible drilling and cultural preservation are not 

mutually exclusive. In New Mexico, for example, we have an area 

known as Chaco Canyon, a truly magnificent home to ancient 

ruins, petroglyphs and other archaeological treasures prized by 

many of the tribes in the southwest that maintain a strong spiritual relationship to the land. However, Chaco is also located in one 

of the most productive oil and gas regions in the Country. 

Do you believe there are places so important that natural resources development, like oil and gas, should be off limits? 

Ms. SWEENEY. With respect to my nomination and the role of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, I believe in self-determination. 

Working with tribal leaders and working with Indian Country on 

their priorities is something important to me. 

I want to work with tribes, and if they are choosing to develop 

their resources, whether extractive or renewable, my role as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, is to ensure tribes have the tools necessary to exercise their right to full self-determination. 

Senator UDALL. If confirmed, do I have your support to work 

with me and my staff with respect to Chaco Canyon and the concerns that tribes have there? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Yes. 

Senator UDALL. Looking from the outside, it appears that Indian 

Affairs within Interior is in complete disarray. The BIA director 

just resigned under a cloud of suspicion. Eight out of the 12 regional directors in the BIA are temporary. 

34 

I have also just learned that Interior will replace the Navajo Nation’s long-time regional director with a D.C. employee who has no 

connection to the Navajo community. 

What will you do to stabilize the department and the Indian Affairs team in these uncertain and turbulent times? 

Ms. SWEENEY. While I cannot speak to any of the personnel or 

human resource type of activity taking place within the department 

today, best practices in the private industry and what I would 

bring to the department would be a very disciplined approach to 

management, one where within the first 180 days, I intend to sit 

down with department staff to understand the challenges in the department and understand what issues we face with respect to personnel management. 

How can we fill those gaps? How can we ensure the employees 

within the department are staying true to the mission? Put politics 

aside, Indian Affairs is the department of self-determination. 

I am committed to upholding the trust responsibility to Indian 

Country, to ensuring the Federal Government is, in fact, fulfilling 

that responsibility and advocating for that in the Administration. 

In order to ensure that we have a very strong workforce, it is important to create that alignment in the department. I want people 

who are committed to the mission working for Indian Affairs. 

Senator UDALL. Thank you for that answer. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Murkowski. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you, Tara, for being here, your willingness to serve and 

that of your family. Because it is family service, we appreciate that. 

I want to follow up on the comments the Vice Chairman just 

made about some of the issues within the agency itself, within the 

BIA. It is really disconcerting to see the news reports that this individual just resigned, stepped down, or was fired, but then further, to learn you had investigations going on that speak to, allegedly, widespread harassment problems within the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs. 

I think it goes to the challenge, the charge that you heard from 

both Senators Tester and Heitkamp. You are walking into an agency that has lacked leadership and discipline that you just committed to bring. 

It is discipline in management, working with personnel to understand they take with the same fierce determination you have just 

articulated what the mission is. We really do need you to shake it 

up. I have confidence in you and know you to be one who is not 

afraid to shake it up, make some waves, and to do the right thing 

for the right reasons. 

As I have talked to colleagues about you and your background, 

one of the things I have heard is they seem a little bit uncertain. 

I am such an unabashed proponent of the fact this will be the first 

Alaska Native woman nominated to this position. But they are a 

little worried that you might be too Alaska-centric, that you do not 

have that breadth of understanding with regard to tribes in the 

lower 48. 

Can you speak to that part of your portfolio, your skill set, and 

give my colleagues assurance that you will be the Assistant SecVerDate Mar 15 2010 09:56 Aug 02, 2018 Jkt 030924 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 S:\DOCS\30924.TXT JACK
35 

retary for BIA and all of Indian Country, including our Alaska Native peoples? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question. 

Senator Murkowski, when you remove geography from the equation, the social issues that Alaska Natives, American Indians and 

Native Hawaiians face are the same. I come from a region that has 

638 compacting to deliver health care. I come from a region that 

has a regional tribal housing authority. I come from a region that 

had BIA as part of our school system. 

When you look at the social issues that we face in Alaska, opioids 

and meth addiction, domestic issues, educational challenges, as I 

have worked within Indian Country and with Indian leaders across 

this Country, we are more alike than we are dissimilar. We have 

more similarities. 

For those who may feel that I am too Alaska-centric or I do not 

have lower 48 experience, I want to dispel that myth because I am 

committed to working very hard for Indian Country and, I would 

say, for Native self-determination regardless of geography. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Going beyond geography within the confines of our own borders, your role as the founding Chair of the 

Arctic Economic Council, building that organization from really 

nothing into this pan-Arctic organization that really shares best 

practices with regards to economic development and sustainability, 

how does that experience translate to your ability to guide, manage 

and bring about discipline within the Bureau of Indian Affairs? 

Ms. SWEENEY. The Arctic Economic Council was certainly a challenge, because we had eight Arctic nations at the table and representatives from indigenous organizations within the circumpolar 

Arctic region. Starting with a budget of zero and no permanent administrative offices, we had to get to work and build an economic 

association that represented the economic needs of the people of 

the Arctic. 

The AEC is structured similarly to the Arctic Council where the 

State Department represents the United States Government. The 

chairmanship terms mirror the same terms you will find within the 

Arctic Council. They are two-year terms, much like I believe what 

would be left in this appointment here. 

During that timeframe, with the partnership of the other Arctic 

countries, we were able to negotiate with the Norwegian government to provide three years of initial funding for the administrative offices. We were able to locate permanently the administrative 

secretariat offices in Tromso, Norway. 

We were able to establish an international organization with protocols and rules of procedure that help govern and guide the discussions about economic development in the circumpolar Arctic. 

Taking that experience, whether it is in Alaska, through my private experience with the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, or the 

international experience I have had in standing up an organization, 

I want to take that same energy, those same experiences and 

translate that into the work at Indian Affairs because there is so 

much work that needs to be done. I am up for that task. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. I know you are. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

36 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Tester. 

Senator TESTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Once again, Tara, thank you for being here. 

I am going to make this very quick because in my opening statement, I pretty much made my points, you nodded your head a lot, 

so I like that. 

I will tell you that in the last two weeks as I was back in Montana, I have had two tribes approach me about law enforcement. 

That means we have a problem largely with land-based tribes. I do 

not need to tell you, because you are from Alaska, about large land 

bases. 

A lot of these tribes have reservations that are bigger than most 

States. I should not say most, but a lot of the States on the East 

Coast, so it is a big deal. 

If you are confirmed, could you take a look into that to see what 

kind of resources are available to help these folks? I can give you 

a list. It is all seven tribes in Montana that need the help. You can 

start with Fort Belknap and Blackfeet. 

The only other thing I would like to add is that we have a tribe 

called the Little Shell in Montana, the Little Shell of Chippewa Indians. For over a generation, in fact multiple generations, they 

have been trying to receive recognition. They have had it and had 

it rescinded. It has been a mess. 

We have put pressure on Interior to do it and I would hope Interior would do it. We have recognized someone’s tribes congressionally and I guess they do not have a problem doing that either except that it really is Interior’s job. 

In a bipartisan effort, I along with Senator Daines, when Secretary Zinke, the Secretary of the Department of Interior, was a 

congressman, he also had a bill to have recognition. The governor 

supports it; the attorney general supports it; the legislature supported recognition for the Little Shell. 

I would just ask that this be on your priority list once you are 

confirmed. May I have that commitment? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Senator, I understand both issues you have raised 

are very important to you. I look forward to working with you on 

them. 

Senator TESTER. Absolutely. Thanks again for being here. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How is that for being efficient? 

The CHAIRMAN. We gave you the same number of minutes as you 

have fingers on your left hand. It is good you did not have more 

questions. 

Senator Smith. 

STATEMENT OF HON. TINA SMITH, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA 

Senator SMITH. I hardly know how to follow that. 

Ms. Sweeney, it is so nice to have you here. I would like to thank 

you for your willingness to serve and for being here today. 

Though I hail from Minnesota, I went to high school and middle 

school in Anchorage, Alaska. I would love to have a chance to compare notes with you, though I think I am a bit older than you are. 

I would like to ask you a couple of questions. First, in my time 

with this Committee, I have heard from so many of my colleagues, 

37 

both Democrats and Republicans, concerns about the budget cuts 

and inadequate funding of programs in Indian Country. 

I am so proud to be here giving voice to the 11 sovereign tribal 

nations of Minnesota but we have heard this from all over the 

Country before this Committee. Personally, I am worried about 

cuts to tribal housing programs and also the energy assistance programs. All of these are really needed and important. 

I appreciate the commitment you made in your testimony to upholding the Federal Government’s trust and obligation to tribes. I 

would like you to talk a bit about how you would balance that solemn trust and obligation that you would have, that we have, with 

the need to fund the responsibilities that we have in Indian Country? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question, Senator Smith. 

My management style is of transparency. I work to build high 

caliber teams. I also hold my employees accountable and provide 

the metrics for success so that, at the end of the day, we know 

what success will look like. Having measurable results is going to 

be very important to me, if confirmed. 

When you talk about balancing the needs with the funds, first 

and foremost, I want to be boots on the ground. I want to go out 

and consult with tribal leaders on what their needs are in terms 

of funding, but also the tools Indian Affairs needs to provide so 

they can exercise their right to full self-determination. 

Senator SMITH. Can you commit to working with me and others 

on this Committee to make sure you have the resources you need 

to be able to fulfill that obligation? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Yes. 

Senator SMITH. Thank you. 

I would like to touch on one other thing I know is also extremely 

important to others on this Committee as well. This has to do with 

the reality, as I am looking at some data, that more than half of 

American Indian and Native Alaskan women and more than one in 

four men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. 

This is a huge challenge. I hear from our tribal governments in 

Minnesota that there is this big challenge in terms of non-Native 

people committing crimes of sexual violence on Minnesota reservations and Indian Country all over the Country. 

There has just been an inability of tribal governments to prosecute and sometimes an unwillingness of non-tribal governments 

around reservations to prosecute, to follow up and hold people accountable for this. 

It is an issue of huge worry to me. Senator Murkowski and I are 

working to introduce legislation that would recognize and affirm an 

Indian tribe’s inherent power to exercise their criminal jurisdiction 

over non-Indians when they commit crimes of sexual violence. 

I would like to know if you would be willing to work with us? 

Can you commit to working with us and the Department of Justice 

on this terrible problem? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I certainly look forward to working with the Committee on how best to address these gaps in tribal authority. I am 

also a very strong advocate for breaking down silos. If I have to, 

in my role as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, reach out to other 

departments, agencies or bureaus, I am willing to do that. 

38 

Senator SMITH. Thank you very much. 

I am out of time but I would like to have a chance to follow up, 

if I could, Chair Hoeven, on the Prairie Island Indian Community 

in Minnesota which is on an island in the Mississippi River. 

They have two significant issues that directly affect them. One 

is the impact of flooding caused by an Army Corps of Engineers 

dam that regularly floods their small piece of land. The other is the 

presence of a nuclear power plant with spent nuclear fuel within 

a stone’s throw of where members of Prairie Island live. 

This is of huge concern to them. I would like the opportunity to 

have a conversation with you about that and work with you to find 

a solution to these problems. 

Ms. SWEENEY. I welcome that opportunity. 

Senator SMITH. Thank you very much. 

Thank you, Chair Hoeven. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Cantwell. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Congratulations on your nomination. 

I know I am late coming to the hearing. We were trying to discuss various health care issues with one of our tribal leaders from 

the Northwest. 

First of all, I think my colleague asked you about recusing yourself from the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation interests, is that 

right? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Yes, he did. 

Senator CANTWELL. Does that mean you also would not seek a 

waiver during your time in this position to ask Interior to waive 

that recusal? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I have the ethics pledge I have signed. I worked 

with DOI Ethics and provided them with information about my entire background throughout this process. They presented me with 

this ethics pledge that I have signed and continue to reaffirm that 

with matters directly affecting or with respect to Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, I will recuse myself, yes. 

Senator CANTWELL. So you would not seek a waiver from that 

later and say, in this case, I should be able to weigh in? 

Ms. SWEENEY. No. 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you. 

Ms. SWEENEY. I will consult with Ethics if there is even an appearance of a conflict. My first stop is going to be Ethics. 

Senator CANTWELL. Yes, thank you, I think you answered it. 

Maybe you can follow up and put it in writing too. You could ask 

or petition to waive that later so that you could weigh in on something. We want to make sure you understand the question I am 

asking. 

Ms. SWEENEY. I certainly do understand your question, Senator. 

I will not be seeking a waiver. 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you. 

On environmental laws, what do you think are the most important issues for empowering tribes to have a voice in the Federal 

system? 

39 

Ms. SWEENEY. When you look at empowering tribes or empowerment in Indian Country, it is about breaking down silos, about creating ambassadors outside of Indian Country, much like members 

of this Committee, to advocate for responsible policy with respect 

to Indian economic development, Indian environmental protections, 

safe communities, housing, and infrastructure. 

It is also about bringing together thought leaders and industry 

experts. First and foremost, with respect to your question on environmental policy in Indian Country, as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, I am going out to Indian Country and have that tribal consultation. 

I believe decisions about me should not be made without me. It 

is important to provide that voice. The only way to get that perspective is by going local and working with tribal leaders. 

Senator CANTWELL. I would say a lot of our Pacific Northwest 

tribes have counted on those environmental laws to make sure 

their issues on fishing rights and environmental issues are looked 

after in a government-to-government relationship. 

I would just hope you will give them your focus. I know the Interior Secretary, at large, said something similar. I am not seeing all 

the evidence of that. He had a very different experience in Montana as a congressman and seems to ignore some of these as Secretary of Interior. 

How important do you think taking land into trust is for Indian 

Country? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Senator, thank you very much for your question. 

I want to close the loop on that last discussion and state for the 

record, Native Americans are the Aboriginal environmentalists of 

this Country. I understand the importance of that connection to the 

land and the environment because that also defines why I am who 

I am as an In ̃upiaq from Alaska. 

Going back to tribal consultation, the same approach applies 

when the Department of Interior, Indian Affairs, is looking to impact the daily lives, the policies and decisions that impact Indian 

Country, we have to, first and foremost, put meaningful consultation at the forefront. 

With respect to land into trust, there is a process for that. I am 

committed to working within the law. I am also committed to working with tribal leaders on land-into-trust issues. 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you. 

I know my time has expired, Mr. Chairman. I would just say 

that I think, as it relates to two big issues on development, the 

Army Corps in the Pacific Northwest definitely consulted with the 

tribe, but not so much that that happened in other parts of the 

Country on major projects. 

We look forward to having your voice on those issues and upholding those environmental laws that are so important for them to be 

able to participate. Thank you for your answer on land-into-trust. 

I might follow up, if I could, Mr. Chairman, with a written question 

on that just to clarify. 

We get that in your position, you are going to have people from 

different parts of Indian Country and we welcome that. We just 

want to make sure you understand the priorities that Indian Country has in our part of the world. 

40 

Land-into-trust has been a very big tool, the Port of Tacoma and 

the Puyallup Tribe that worked to make that bigger than the Port 

of Seattle all because they had the ability to take land into trust. 

We want to see it continue as an economic development tool. 

Thank you. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Senator, I certainly appreciate your perspective 

and understand these issues are important to you. I am willing to 

work with you and your staff on issues pertaining to your State. 

I would like to say that Alaska and Washington have had such 

a collegial relationship in our histories. If you look at the leadership the Yakima Nation provided to the Alaska Native community 

in the 1960s when oil was first discovered and we were trying to 

figure out what we were going to do with our land claims and how 

we were going to assemble, it was through their leadership and 

support for our right to self-determination that we were able to 

come together as an Alaska Native community to have the debate. 

It was their financial support that enabled people to travel great 

distances to engage in that meaningful conversation that then led 

to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. I hope in my tenure 

I can be a bridge between Alaska and Washington. 

Senator CANTWELL. You will never get me to disagree that our 

Washington tribes show a lot of leadership. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you. 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Daines. 

STATEMENT OF HON. STEVE DAINES, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA 

Senator DAINES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I would first like to welcome Councilmen Morin and Stiffarm 

from the Fort Belknap Indian Community who have come a long 

way to be here with us from Montana. Welcome. It is good to have 

you both here. 

In my capacity as Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources 

Subcommittee on National Parks, I have led the charge against 

sexual harassment within the National Park system. I have done 

the same with respect to findings of misconduct within the U.S. 

Forest Service. 

It is not talked about nearly enough that the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs actually suffers from the highest rates of harassment of any 

agency within the Department of the Interior. The department’s 

September 2017 report details an estimated 40-plus percent of employees experience one or more forms of harassment over the 

course of a year. Those numbers are staggering. 

I applaud Secretary Zinke’s efforts to reduce harassment and assaults at Interior but it is going to take the leadership of the entire 

department and staff like you will be critically important to make 

that effort effective. 

Ms. Sweeney, if confirmed, what would you do to combat sexual 

harassment within the department? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question, Senator Daines. 

To combat sexual harassment, first and foremost, I have a zero 

tolerance policy for sexual harassment. I strongly believe in creVerDate Mar 15 2010 09:56 Aug 02, 2018 Jkt 030924 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 S:\DOCS\30924.TXT JACK
41 

ating a safe work environment for our employees. No employee 

should ever fear coming to work because of harassment. 

It is going to be important to take best industry standard practices from the private sector and translate those into the public sector and working obviously with staff to ensure that it is a harassment-free environment. 

Senator DAINES. Detailed in a footnote in the DOI harassment 

reports is the fact that less than 10 percent of Bureau of Indian 

Education employees chose to even participate in the study. In fact, 

the report noted, ‘‘The low BIE response rate resulted in too few 

cases for inclusion and analyses due to the unreliability of the estimates.’’ 

The first question is, do you see that as a problem and second, 

what would you do to increase reporting of assault and harassment? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I certainly do see that as a problem, Senator. In 

my opening statement, I referenced my first 180 days taking a very 

pragmatic and disciplined approach to understanding the issues 

facing the department. 

First and foremost, I would have internal briefings with staff and 

then, learn about other issues impacting Indian Country from other 

departments, bureaus and agencies. That would empower me with 

that knowledge to then sit down with the tribal leaders in Indian 

Country to have that discussion. 

I believe with respect to harassment, whether just inside the department or systemic throughout Indian Country workplaces, we 

have to combat that. It is unacceptable for employees to come to 

work in fear. 

Senator DAINES. Thank you. 

Shifting gears, last month I received a letter from the Crow 

Tribe’s judicial branch detailing how BIA caseworkers regularly fail 

to show up for child abuse and neglect hearings, depriving the tribal court of potentially life-saving information regarding the whereabouts and well-being of these children under the court’s custody, 

among other serious shortcomings. 

In fact, the 2017 Montana Child Abuse and Neglect Report revealed 14 child fatalities in Montana in a one year period. Four of 

them were Indian children. Doing some rough math, that is about 

28 percent, although our Native populations in Montana are approximately 7 percent, so literally four times. I realize it is a smaller population size but we are talking about the lives of children. 

At the end of last year, my bill to protect Indian and non-Indian 

children alike from the devastating effects of parental methamphetamine use became law. But there is still a lot of work to be 

done. 

Ms. Sweeney, would you see better coordination across Federal 

departments and agencies as essential to preventing child abuse 

and neglect in Indian Country. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question, Senator Daines. 

To answer succinctly, yes, I do. I believe in breaking down silos. 

I also believe in creating strategic partnerships to address issues. 

Child safety and child neglect is one issue and there are many others. 

42 

Senator DAINES. Looking at the agencies, HHS, DOJ, DOI, oftentimes we get the proverbial stovepipes in getting better coordination and help. 

Last is just a comment. I am working with DOI officials at this 

very moment to hold the local BIA caseworkers accountable to ensure the safety of the children in the Crow tribal court instance I 

brought up. 

Thank you. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Murkowski. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I have one more policy-related question regarding the 477 legislation. It is no longer legislation; it is now law, the Indian Employment and Training Related Services Initiative. I think we all recognize what a great tool that was across Indian Country to really 

streamline services and really help us do some leveraging. 

We have now made this demonstration project permanent in 

terms of working across departments, as Senator Daines discussed, 

with employment, the tribal agendas, and really working to advance that. I understand that they are working now within BIA to 

get some MOUs out there in a timely manner. That will be important. 

There is a process yet to get you firmly situated in this position 

for which you have been nominated but my hope is that, once you 

are confirmed, you will work aggressively with these other departments to help educate them about the benefits of this initiative. 

We recognize internally how those benefits play out but in order 

to get everyone to work well together, it is going to require some 

education. I do not know if you have thought about what your plan 

might be to help facilitate that but know it is going to be important 

as we move forward. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you, Senator Murkowski. 

With respect to the 477 legislation, the program, while I cannot 

speak directly to the status inside the department today, if confirmed, I am absolutely committed to innovative approaches to 

workforce development. 

I believe workforce development provides opportunities for our 

people. Through those opportunities, we have the ability to then lift 

up our communities. Working as the lead agency under the 477 

program is very exciting but I also understand the task ahead in 

educating other departments and Indian Country on the benefits of 

a program of this nature. 

I am excited about that program and am certainly looking forward to creating innovative ways for workforce development in Indian Country. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Great. It is so important. I want to conclude my comments and I appreciate the second round, Mr. Chairman. 

When you have repeated that you view part of the responsibility 

here to breakdown silos, I cannot stress enough how important it 

is. Think about the title for which you have been nominated, Indian Affairs. What is that? That is housing, energy, commerce, 

labor, justice, education, small business, and transportation. 

43 

You know what? We have Secretaries and Cabinet members for 

each one of those. You are tasked with the oversight of all of this, 

so we need you busting down doors and saying, we have to talk 

about how our Native people are going to be the most skilled, best 

trained, and able to take advantage of all kinds of efforts. You need 

to be knocking on the door of the Secretary of Education and demanding assistance with how we make sure that our Native children receive the best education possible, health care, energy and it 

goes on and on. 

The responsibility the President has asked you to take on is an 

extraordinary one. It is challenging. I do have extraordinary confidence, but it will require inserting yourself in places where I do 

not think the Assistant Secretary for the BIA has ever felt comfortable moving into. 

I think that has been part of the problem. The BIA has been 

kind of put on the side, we will get to it when we get to it. Funding, hmm, we will work on that budget when we get to it. 

Inserting yourself into these places so that it is clearly understood this trust responsibility we have for our Native peoples 

around this Country is one that cannot be traded away or lowballed on the priority list. So it is big but I know you got it. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you, Senator Murkowski, for the confidence. I certainly appreciate it. 

I am up to that challenge. For those who know me, they know 

that I work with no fear because fear has no place in the way I 

conduct myself or in how I conduct myself in the business world. 

I am not afraid to kick down doors if I have to or politely knock 

on that door, but I am persistent. 

I have a vision for Indian Country that is economic empowerment. That includes breaking down those silos. It includes supporting sovereignty and the trust responsibility for Indian Country 

and providing them with the policies, the procedures and the tools 

to exercise their right to self-determination. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Vice Chairman Udall. 

Senator UDALL. As I said in my opening, a successful Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs must be an informed and effective advocate for Indian Country priorities. If confirmed, that responsibility to advocate will rest on your shoulders not only with Congress and the Interior Department but with the entire Federal Government. I think that is really the point Senator Murkowski was 

making, the entire Federal Government. 

I say this because since this Administration began it has expressed several positions that call into question the Federal trust 

responsibility and the United States treaty obligations to provide 

tribes with health care, education, housing and other social services. 

It is not clear if these statements were due to lack of familiarity 

with Federal Indian law. This is the possibility that concerns me 

most, whether they were made with willful disregard for these 

well-established principles. 

44 

The most recent example involves the Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services which questioned the unique legal status of Indian tribes under Federal law. Five members of this Committee 

signed my letter correcting CMS’s apparent legal misunderstanding 

and urging HHS Secretary Azar to revise the stated misinterpretation by the agency. 

While the agency has since walked back its position somewhat in 

response to my letter, it is clear that more education on basic tenets of Federal Indian law is still desperately needed. How are you 

going to address any future fundamental misunderstanding of Federal Indian law among the Executive? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question, Vice Chairman 

Udall. 

With respect to Federal Indian law and the Administration, I 

view my role as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, as an advocate 

for Indian Country inside the Administration, inside the leadership 

of the department, but also across the Executive Branch. If we 

have to salt other departments with some education on the Federal 

trust responsibility to Indian Country, I am more than willing to 

do that. 

Senator UDALL. Great. Will you commit to defending the unique 

legal status of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes? 

Ms. SWEENEY. That would be my role as Assistant Secretary. 

Senator UDALL. Great. Thank you, Ms. Sweeney. 

The Bears Ears National Monument is a living cultural landscape of desert canyons and mountains that contains tens of thousands of archaeological sites, rock paintings, cliff dwellings and ceremonial kivas. 

Many tribes, including some New Mexico tribes, consider the 

Bears Ears their ancestral home. I know President Begaye from 

the Navajo Nation, who walked in moments ago, has been a great 

advocate for that. 

The effort to protect this special place by a monument designation came on the heels of years of hard work by the Bears Ears 

Intertribal Coalition and unified support from tribes across Indian 

Country, including the National Congress of American Indians. 

Despite this strong tribal support, the national monument was 

rescinded. This move was unprecedented and ill-advised, in my 

opinion. I know that much of Indian Country agrees. As I have 

stated, if confirmed, will you be the highest ranking advocate for 

Indian Country within this Administration? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you, Vice Chairman Udall. 

With respect to your question, I cannot speak for the process 

upon which the Administration has arrived at those decisions simply because I am not at the department. Moving forward, if confirmed, my role as Assistant Secretary would be to advocate for Indian Country in those discussions. 

Senator UDALL. In light of that, I think you hit it on the head, 

I would like to know whether you will commit to clearly communicate and explain Indian Country’s opposition to the Bears Ears 

decision at the highest levels within the department and at the 

White House? 

Ms. SWEENEY. That would be within my role as Assistant Secretary, yes. 

45 

Senator UDALL. Ms. Sweeney, I am sure you are aware that the 

BIE was added to the Government Accountability Office’s high risk 

list. The Bureau had a number of problems over the years and we 

all agree that more must be done at the BIE. 

I would like to end by inviting you out to New Mexico to see the 

variety of BIE schools, especially to see examples of tribal and student success within the BIE framework. I look forward to seeing 

you out there. Thank you very much for your testimony today. 

Ms. SWEENEY. I welcome the opportunity. 

Senator UDALL. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. [Presiding.] Senator Cortez Masto. 

STATEMENT OF HON. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Ms. Sweeney, welcome and congratulations on your nomination. 

Thank you for taking the time to visit with me. We had a great 

conversation. 

Welcome to your family. Believe it or not, I have spent some time 

in Barrow, Alaska. Let me say, Eskimo ice cream is not the ice 

cream that I know. 

Let me just point out that Chairman Torres from Nevada with 

the Walker River Paiute Tribe is here. 

As you well know, we had this conversation about so many incredible tribal communities in the State of Nevada who all have 

the same concerns that you have heard, in a bipartisan way, from 

all of my colleagues, that we need an advocate, someone who is 

going to fight for our tribal communities. We have a system that 

appears to be broken and we need to fix it. 

I would like to start with an issue that has come to my attention 

and I am disappointed that do not have more information. I am 

hoping you can help me with this. 

The Department of the Interior’s fiscal year 2019 budget justification includes almost $18 million to begin the process of reorganizing of the Department of the Interior along 13 regional offices, 

yet the department has provided little information to Congress. 

This request includes roughly $900,000 to support the department’s migration to common regional boundaries. I have seen only 

a draft of the map which would cut my State in half. I have been 

hearing from my constituents, from farmers and ranchers, conservation groups and our tribes who fear the creation of joint management areas would create another bureaucratic layer or an additional level of authority. 

The question I have for you is, one, have you been briefed on the 

reorganization plan or do you know anything about it? Second, how 

would you address the concerns I am hearing from my constituents 

and I am sure across the Country as this reorganization occurs? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Thank you for your question. 

I have not been briefed on the reorganization so the actions that 

have been taken by the department to date, I am not read in on. 

So I am not familiar with how they have arrived at the decisions 

they have made. 

46 

Moving forward, if confirmed as Assistant Secretary, again, as I 

stated before, I want to be boots on the ground in Indian Country. 

I want to sit down and meet with tribal leadership to understand 

what their needs are and engage in meaningful consultation. With 

a reorganization effort that may be underway, it warrants that engagement. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. I appreciate that. The next question I 

have for you is, can you describe what you consider appropriate 

tribal consultation in this area? Let me just caution you, at this 

very hearing, at the same table, we had representatives from the 

Department of the Interior who basically said they haven’t even 

had any tribal consultation yet. They have not talked to the tribes 

about this reorganization, even though it has been an ongoing plan 

for some time. 

What do you envision that tribal consultation to look like? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I would envision not a check the box mentality. 

I have sat on the other side of consultation meetings before. In the 

past, in the private sector, in my professional experience, at times, 

depending on the department, the mentality is very different. I am 

not going to bring a check the box mentality. 

I truly believe in stakeholder engagement. I believe in going local 

first because that is the de-risking agent to any policy project, understanding that local perspective. That is the background that I 

bring coming from the private sector and the advocacy work I have 

done on behalf of our people on the North Slope and in Alaska. I 

want that to translate into Indian Affairs. 

Meaningful consultation means engagement with tribal leadership. Meaningful consultation means listening and hearing the 

message but also working with the tribal communities to find the 

appropriate answers to advocate inside the department. 

As Assistant Secretary, my role inside the department will be to 

aggressively advocate for those policies. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Can I also take that to mean that to be 

an advocate, if you are not invited into the board room to be there 

to represent tribal communities, that you force your way in or at 

least try to be there to be a voice if you are not invited to represent 

the tribal communities in this reorganization? 

Ms. SWEENEY. I wish you knew my grandmother. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. I will take that as a yes. 

Ms. SWEENEY. Let us just say I am persistent. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Good. That is what I am looking for. 

I am also looking for a commitment that you would be willing to 

come back to the Committee as well and share with us always information that you need. I think my colleague, Senator Heitkamp, 

said it best. What we are looking for is an advocate here as well. 

We need to know what we should be doing. 

We are all here in a bipartisan way to support our tribal communities, to support getting the resources where they need to be. Our 

goal has been to ensure we are hearing from you but you need to 

also let us know what you need. 

Ms. SWEENEY. I welcome the opportunity to work with this Committee on such policies. 

47 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. I have one more question. I know my 

time is running out. It is just a follow-up on Ranking Member 

Udall’s question on monuments. 

Nevada, as well, has two new monuments, Basin and Range National Monument and Gold Butte. Both of these national monuments also contain important tribal cultural resources in need of 

protection. One of them, Gold Butte, is one that has been recommended by the Secretary of the Interior to change its boundaries. 

My question for you is how will you defend against executive action proposing to diminish or eliminate these national monuments? 

Ms. SWEENEY. Again, while I have not been involved in the decision-making process to date, I certainly understand this issue and 

the monument designation issue. It is important to you and other 

members of this Committee. I look forward to learning more about 

that. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you. 

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the extra time. Thank 

you. 

Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you, Senator. 

I am done. I have had an opportunity to ask my questions and 

I am pleased you were able to field a range of questions. I think 

you can see from this Committee we are one that I think really 

takes our role as members of the Indian Affairs Committee very, 

very seriously. 

I have had an opportunity to serve on this Committee every year 

since I came to the Senate. I have found there is a level of passion 

and these issues are so bipartisan. The issue that Senator Tester 

talks about, law enforcement, and what Senator Smith and I are 

working on, being able to provide for greater protection for the 

safety of people, it is not Republican or Democrat, it is just trying 

to find the right solutions for our Native people. 

Some of the issues are very parochial to issues that may relate 

to tribes within the members’ regions. We expect you to know all 

the finite little details of all of that and then the broader picture 

of the policies as they relate to land-into-trust, to workforce development and to economic opportunities and empowerment for our 

Native people. 

The responsibilities are considerable but you, in my view, have 

certainly said those things I was hoping to hear, that you take very 

seriously the responsibility for consultation and that will be executed in a meaningful way and not, as you used the term, checking 

the box, to make sure you are in those places where Native voices 

need to be heard and represented, whether you are invited or not, 

to break down the silos when it comes to funding and within the 

bureaucracy, bring a discipline in management to an agency that 

many of us feel is broken internally right now. 

That is going to require a lot of time and emphasis working within your team to build that team because there are a lot of people 

around this Country relying on you and your team to be very, very 

successful. 

Again, I know you are up to the challenge. I have every degree 

of confidence. I could not be more proud as an Alaskan to be able 

to help shepherd you through this process. I am certainly going to 

48 

urge the Chairman and Vice Chairman of this Committee that we 

expedite a markup to move your name out of Committee to the 

Floor. 

We have been without leadership at the BIA for far too long. We 

need exactly your type of leadership. I thank you for your willingness to serve, the willingness of your family to back you, and the 

many, many friends who helped make you the woman you are. 

If there are no more questions for today, members may also submit follow-up written questions for the record. I would ask members do that promptly. I would also ask the nominee to respond 

fully and promptly to any follow-up questions we may have and 

also meet with any remaining Committee members who may wish 

to do so. 

I think Senator Cantwell mentioned she was going to have a follow up or perhaps an opportunity to discuss further but the record 

will remain open for one week. 

I want to thank you for your time and your testimony. 

With that we stand adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 5:46 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

(49) 

A P P E N D I X 

CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA

Durant, OK, October 20, 2017 

Hon. Ryan Zinke, Secretary, 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: CHOCTAW NATION SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION OF TARA SWEENEY FOR

ASSISTANT SECRETARY—INDIAN AFFAIRS

Dear Secretary Zinke: 

Halito (Hello) and warm greetings from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I am 

writing to express our appreciation to you and the President for nominating Tara 

Sweeney to be Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. 

We were pleased to hear the announcement of her selection. That post is of great 

importance to the Choctaw Nation and to all tribal nations. From reports we have 

heard from others who know Ms. Sweeney, we believe she will ably and honorably 

fill that position. Having a Native woman of her stature and experience as Assistant 

Secretary will bring added value to the Department, especially in the areas of economic self-determination and self-sufficiency that are so vital to the welfare of our 

tribal citizens. We have great hopes that Ms. Sweeney’s impressive economic experience will positively shape federal Indian policy in a way that honors our treaties, 

respects our governmental status, and removes federal obstacles to tribal economic 

development throughout Indian Country. 

Yakoke, 

GARY BATTON, Chief. 

NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS (NCAI), MAY 9, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, 

Chairman; 

Tom Udall, 

Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION AND CONFIRMATION OF TARA MAC LEAN

SWEENEY TO SERVE AS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

I write to you on behalf of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), 

the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the interests of tribal governments and communities, regarding 

the nomination of Tara Mac Lean Sweeney to serve as the Assistant Secretary for 

Indian Affairs. The Department of the Interior has an essential role in upholding 

the federal treaty and trust obligations. Accordingly, there is perhaps no more important pending nomination to ensuring the Administration is well-positioned to 

honor the centuries-old government-to-government relationship between Indian 

tribes and the United States. 

Ms. Sweeney has demonstrated she meets the qualifications of the office. She is 

a member of the Native Village of Barrow and the In ̃upiat Community of the Arctic 

Slope, and she has a strong record as an involved community member and leader. 

Ms. Sweeney has demonstrated her commitment to Alaska Native and tribal issues 

working for nearly two decades for her Native regional corporation and as Co-Chair 

of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). Through this service, as well as her considerable work with business and non-profit boards, she has gained extensive administrative experience and demonstrated her proficiency as a leader. She has also served 

the public as the Special Assistant of Rural Affairs and Education to the Governor 

50 

of Alaska. Given her experience and leadership qualities, we believe Ms. Sweeney 

has the ability to meet the demands of the Office of Assistant Secretary for Indian 

Affairs. 

Success as a leader depends both on an individual’s merits as well as the strength 

of the team surrounding that individual. This is especially true for the Office of the 

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs due to the Department’s extensive responsibilities to the 573 federally recognized Indian tribes. We encourage the Department 

to ensure that it has the appropriate personnel in place to uphold its treaty and 

trust obligations to all of Indian Country. 

In light of the foregoing, NCAI hereby offers its support for the nomination and 

confirmation of Tara Mac Lean Sweeney to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Please do not hesitate to reach out to NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Pata if you have any questions. 

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OCTOBER 17, 2017 

Hon. John Hoeven, 

Chairman; 

Tom Udall, 

Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the nomination of Tara 

Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. 

Ms. Sweeney would bring a wealth of experience to the position, having been engaged on a host of policy issues important to Indian Country with two decades of 

leadership positions at the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. 

She is a long-serving board member as well as past co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives, whose goal is to encourage economic development consistent with 

the needs of Alaska Natives. 

Ms. Sweeney is also active internationally; she is a past chair of the Arctic Economic Council, an international organization focused on growing business and economic development in Arctic nations. 

The Chamber has also had a long relationship with Ms. Sweeney. Her leadership 

encouraged the Chamber to create the Native American Enterprise Initiative, which 

focusses on crucial economic issues confronting tribally owned businesses and Native American-owned enterprises. 

The Chamber strongly supports Ms. Sweeney’s nomination and urges swift consideration by the Committee. 

Sincerely, 

NEIL BRADLEY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/CPO 

ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES (AFN), FEBRUARY 9, 2017 

Hon. Lisa Murkowski, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Don Young, 

United States House of Representatives, 

Rayburn House Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Daniel Sullivan, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR TARA KATUK SWEENEY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, INDIAN

AFFAIRS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Dear Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congressman Young, 

On behalf of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), I am writing to express our 

unqualified support for the appointment of Tara Sweeney for Assistant Secretary— 

Indian Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. AFN represents more than 

140,000 Alaska Natives, including 151 federally recognized tribes, 150 village corporations, 12 regional corporations, and 12 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums 

51 

that contract and compact to run federal and state programs. Our mission is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic and political voice of the entire Alaska 

Native community. 

We have worked with Tara for many years and have never seen a harder more 

dedicated individual who is focused on providing value and real results. Her work 

ethic is well known and is a real attribute to her and any position she might be 

appointed too. She is smart, thoughtful and hard-driving. To Tara there are no problems, only challenges to overcome, and opportunities to seize. 

Tara will bring a unique set of skill-sets to this position. She understands how 

important the economic and energy sector is to sustainable Native communities and 

the continued way of life in rural America. She is very supportive of public-private 

partnerships to stretch limited federal resources. She understands the high-cost of 

living in remote rural Alaska and on the reservations. She also understands the 

delicate balance of protecting and harvesting wild game on federal public lands. She 

is a hunter herself and continues the long tradition in the Arctic of subsistence 

hunting and fishing. 

Tara is well respected and knows how to build coalitions and lead teams to accomplish directions set by the Administration. She will provide excellent advice and 

counsel to the Secretary of Interior and the White House from her strong background and knowledge of promoting Alaska Native rights, cultural values, and economic sustainability. She has been immersed in public policy from an early age, 

with her mother, the late Eileen Panigeo MacLean a respected Alaska State Legislator representing remote rural areas in Alaska. Influenced by her mother’s public 

service and her father’s strong emphasis on education, Tara experienced firsthand 

the need to be well informed, to make good decisions, build coalitions and be focused 

on accomplishing real deliverables for the people who depend on effective government. 

Tara’s experience at Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and as former co-chair and 

board member of the Alaska Federation of Natives gives her a strong understanding 

of Native affairs both at the local, regional and national level. She will be a staunch 

supporter of the Administration and the Native people of our country. Her resume 

details specific experiences which show her capability and qualifications. 

If we can provide additional information, please contact us. 

Sincerely, 

JULIE KITKA, PRESIDENT

ANCSA REGIONAL ASSOCIATION, MARCH 7, 2017 

Hon. Ryan Zinke, 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT OF TARA KATUK SWEENEY FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY, INDIAN

AFFAIRS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Dear Secretary Zinke, 

On behalf of the ANCSA Regional Association (the Association), we write to express our unanimous support for the appointment of Tara Sweeney for Assistant 

Secretary, Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. The ANCSA Regional Association represents the Chief Executive Officers of the twelve land-based regional 

Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), as well as the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives. Our corporations are owned by over 121,000 Alaska Native people 

and were formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, 43 U.S.C. 

§ 1601, et. seq. (ANCSA). Our mission is to promote and foster the continued growth 

and economic strength of the Alaska Native Regional Corporations on behalf of our 

shareholders. When measured against the top 49 Alaska-owned companies, ANCs 

account for 75 percent of the revenue earned, 69 percent of Alaskan jobs, and 86 

percent of the global employment. Making up 20 of the top 49 Alaska-owned companies, Alaska Native Corporations have become an economic engine of Alaska. 

The Association has worked with Tara for many years on issues facing Alaska Natives and American Indians, and feel she is particularly well qualified for this appointment given her more than ten years’ experience in leadership positions and 

roles in private, public and non-profit organizations; and active engagement in Native American policy development and advocacy. Additionally, Tara has nearly 20 

years of leadership experience with Alaska’s largest privately owned company, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), currently serving as their Executive Vice 

President, External Affairs. 

Tara also serves as the Chair of the Arctic Economic Council. She was elected to 

serve as chair by the eight Arctic states and six indigenous permanent participants. 

Tara has led many of our nation’s efforts to form international arctic policy as it 

52 

relates to economic development. Furthermore, Tara has served as a member of the 

board of the Alaska Federation of Natives since 2009 and as co-chair in 2013–2014, 

leading that organization’s reorganization efforts, redrafting bylaws and other significant changes. 

Tara is a dedicated, hard-working and fearless leader focused on providing value 

and real results across local, national and international boundaries. Her passion 

shows through in every challenge she faces. She understands how important the 

economic and energy sector is to sustainable Native communities and the continued 

way of life in rural America. She is very supportive of public-private partnerships 

to stretch limited federal resources. She understands the high-cost of living in remote rural Alaska and on the reservations. She also understands the delicate balance of protecting and harvesting wild game on federal public lands. She is a hunter 

herself and continues the long tradition in the Arctic of subsistence hunting and 

fishing. 

The ANCSA Regional Association strongly supports Tara’s appointment as the 

next Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. If we 

can provide additional information, please contact us. 

Sincerely, 

GABRIEL KOMPKOFF, CHAIR

KIM REITMEIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ARCTIC SLOPE REGIONAL CORPORATION (ASRC), FEBRUARY 14, 2017 

Trump Transition Team 

RE: RECOMMENDATION FOR TARA SWEENEY 

Dear Trump Transition Team: 

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) is proud to support Ms. Tara MacLean 

Sweeney’s as the nominee for Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs (AS–IA) in the 

Department of Interior. Ms. Sweeney currently serves as Executive Vice President 

of External Affairs for ASRC and is responsible for all facets of the company’s government relations and communications. By way of quick background, ASRC is the 

largest locally-owned and operated business in Alaska, with approximately 13,000 

In ̃upiat Eskimo (Alaskan Native) shareholders and more than 12,000 employees 

stretching across Alaska and the Lower-48 states. 

In her government affairs role for ASRC, Ms. Sweeney has formulated and advocated for changes in State and Federal policy, changes that affect the lives of rural 

Arctic Alaskans like the people of her hometown as well as for changes that affect 

the State of Alaska as a whole. Her advocacy has brought the people of the Arctic 

together with like-minded tribes of the Lower 48 states on issues from Indian energy development, to government contracting, to the development of broadband communication and other vital infrastructure. Ms. Sweeney has walked the halls of 

Congress and has testified in countless U.S. Congressional and Senate hearings on 

behalf of Native American people. 

In addition to her internal posting at ASRC, Ms. Sweeney has served her home 

state and country—from her work as co-Chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives 

(2013–2014) to her most recent role as Chair of the internationally active Arctic Economic Council (AEC) (2015-present). At the AEC, Tara represents the business interests of the Arctic nations (the US, Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia), as well as numerous indigenous Permanent 

Participants. In her capacity as Chair, Ms. Sweeney has illuminated the needs of 

Arctic communities and the highlighted the best practices of circum-Arctic business 

leaders. In her role as Chair, Tara Sweeney has the attention of the ambassadors 

and foreign ministers of the Arctic nations as well as a wider circle of related international interests. 

In the U.S., strengthening the Federal Government’s relationship with Indian 

Country is vital, which is why I am so passionate about Tara’s potential role as AS– 

IA. Sweeney has spent her adult life promoting self-determination for Alaska Natives. She has forged policies which allow us to develop our own lands and refine 

our own energy resources-as well as protecting the cultural needs of our people that 

remain unchanged through time. She has earned a reputation for being an effective 

advocate for balanced Native American policy. As her own Statement of Qualifications shows, Tara comes to the task at Indian Affairs completely and extraordinarily 

prepared. Although uniquely suited to a potential role as AS–IA at the Department 

of Interior, I would argue that Ms. Sweeney’s skillset is nearly unparalleled and 

that she be considered for any position at an equal or higher place in your Administration. 

Tara Sweeney is on very familiar terms with our Alaskan Congressional delegation and I am sure you will find a vote of confidence in Tara’s abilities from that 

53 

quarter as well. She, along with her husband Kevin Sweeney, are raising two 

school-age children (high school and college), and all are familiar with our nation’s 

capital as both Tara and her husband have found need to be stationed in Washington DC at various times during their careers. Tara knows her way around the 

Beltway. 

Let me congratulate you once again on the successful election and transition in 

Washington. If you have any questions regarding our recommendation of Ms. 

Sweeney, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. As you can see, we value Ms. 

Tara Sweeney highly and endorse her consideration knowing she has the potential 

to serve her people and her country at the highest level. 

Sincerely, 

REX A. ROCK SR., PRESIDENT/CEO 

COOK INLET REGION, INC. (CIRI), FEBRUARY 9, 2017 

Hon. Lisa Murkowski, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Don Young, 

United States House of Representatives, 

Rayburn House Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Daniel Sullivan, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congressman Young: 

On behalf of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), I am writing to express our suppott 

for the appointment of Tara Sweeney as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. 

Department of the Interior. CIRI believes Ms. Sweeney is pafticularly well qualified 

for this appointment given her more than ten years’experience in leadership positions and roles in private, public and non-profit organizations and active engagement in Native American policy development and advocacy. 

Ms. Sweeney has nearly 20 years of leadership experience with Alaska’s largest 

privately owned company, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), currently serving as the company’s Executive Vice President, External Affairs. Her primary responsibilities include strategic policy and position development, implementation and 

execution, engagement with federal and state executive and legislative branches on 

improving policies affecting Indian energy, taxation, resource development, government contracting, broadband development and all facets of corporate communication. 

Ms. Sweeney serves on the Arctic Economic Council, an international council established during the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council, and in 2015 was 

elected to serve as chair by the eight Arctic states and six indigenous permanent 

pafticφpants. Additionally, Ms. Sweeney has served as a member of the board of the 

Alaska Federation of Natives since 2009 and as co-chair in 2Ot3–2014, leading that 

organization’s reform effofts to be more inclusive for Tribes and provide them with 

strengthened voting rights. 

Ms. Sweeney is well respected and knows how to build coalitions and lead teams, 

skills that will enable her to accomplish the policies and directions set by the Administration. She will provide excellent advice and counsel to the Secretary of Interior and the White House from her strong background and knowledge of promoting 

Alaska Native rights, cultural values, and economic sustainability. 

She understands how important the economic and energy sector is to sustainable 

Native communities and the continued way of life in rural America. She is very supportive of public-private partnerships to stretch limited federal resources’ She understands the high-cost of living in remote rural Alaska and on the reservations’ 

She also understands the delicate balance of protecting and harvesting wild game 

on federal public lands. She is a hunter herself and continues the long tradition in 

the Arctic of subsistence hunting and fishing, 

CIRI strongly supports Ms. Sweeney’s appointment as the next Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S, Department of the Interior. If we can provide additional information, please contact us. 

Sincerely, 

54 

SOPHIE MINICH, PRESIDENT/CEO 

ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 40, MARCH 29, 2017 

Hon. Ryan Zinke, 

Secretary, 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Washington DC. 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

It gives me great honor to show support for Tara Sweeney, whom is being considered for the position of Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. Alaska, as you know, 

holds over a third of total federal lands within its boundaries and has more federally recognized tribes than any other region. Filling this position with someone intimately knowledgeable of both of these facets will not only bring valuable insights 

to these issues, but also increased efficacy to the position. 

Within the parameters established by the Congress and the Executive Branch, the 

primary responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary are to advise the Secretary of the 

Interior on Indian Affairs policy issues, communicate policy to and oversee the programs of the BIA and the BIE, provide leadership in consultations with tribes, and 

serve as the Department official for intra- and inter-departmental coordination and 

liaison within the Executive Branch on Indian matters. 

Tara Sweeney is the Executive Vice President of External Affairs for Arctic Slope 

Regional Corporation (ASRC), and is responsible for all facets of the company’s government relations and communications. ASRC is the largest locally-owned and operated business in Alaska, with revenues in excess of $2.6 billion, with more than 

12,000 shareholders and 10,000 employees worldwide. Sweeney has been actively 

engaged as an advocate for self-determination for Alaska Natives and enjoys mentoring young professionals. 

In 2003 she served as Special Assistant for Rural Affairs and Education in Governor Frank Murkowski’s administration and most recently served as Co-Chair for 

Senator Dan Sullivan’s (R–AK) successful 2014 Senate campaign. Sweeney has 

served on numerous business and non profit boards at both the state and national 

level. She was honored in 2008 as a ‘‘Top 40 Under 40’’ business leader by the Alaska Journal of Commerce. She currently serves as a member of the Ted Stevens 

Foundation, and as the chair of the Arctic Economic Council. Sweeney grew up in 

rural Alaska. While her family roots are in the Arctic Slope Region, she also lived 

in Noorvik, Unalakleet and Bethel. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree 

in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. 

I recommend Ms. Sweeney without reservation. I am confident that she will excel 

in this position and be a valuable asset to our country and for all future growth. 

If you have any questions you may contact my office. 

Sincerely, 

REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE

NATIONAL CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIAN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

(NCAIED), MAY 8, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, Chairman; 

Hon. Tom Udall, Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

Re:Support for Tara Sweeney as Indian Affairs Assistant Secretary 

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

On behalf of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development 

(NCAIED) and its Board of Directors, I write to reiterate our support for the nomination of Tara Sweeney to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of the Interior for 

Indian Affairs. 

From the NCAIED’s perspective, Ms. Sweeney brings the perfect set of skills and 

broad experience—especially in business, economic, energy and natural resource development—to serve in this important policy and managerial position at Interior. 

Her record of staunch, effective advocacy on Native issues—and leadership in and 

collaboration with NCAIED and other leading national native organizations—will 

enable her to work effectively to make positive change from day one on the job. The 

NCAIED leadership has come to know Ms. Sweeney during her nearly two decades 

working in a variety of capacities for her Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), 

a $2.6 billion corporation and largest locally owned and operated business in Alaska. 

55 

As ASRC’s Executive Vice President for External Affairs, she has been responsible 

for government affairs and corporate communications, including strategic policy and 

position development and implementation, and government relations on issues such 

as Indian energy, taxation, resource development, government contracting, 

broadband deployment and access to capital. From her work on a variety of corporate and other private boards and federal advisory committees, Ms. Sweeney has 

gained valuable knowledge and developed relationships to draw upon in her new position. The National Center would be delighted to see this determined business executive, with a true passion for advancing business and economic development and 

self-determination in Indian Country, become the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. 

Personally, I know Ms. Sweeney as an astute, talented, effective and dependable 

collaborator and friend. In addition to her involvement with NCAIED’s Reservation 

Economic Summit (RES), I worked with her on government contracting and access 

to capital initiatives when I served as an Associate Administrator at the U.S. Small 

Business Administration. The NCAIED supports Ms. Sweeney for Assistant Administrator, and urges her prompt approval. 

Respectfully, 

CHRIS JAMES, PRESIDENT/CEO 

SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS

Hon. Ryan Zinke, 

Secretary, 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Washington DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR TARA SWEENEY AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY-INDIAN AFFAIRS

Dear Secretary Zinke, 

First, let me welcome you to your new responsibility as the primary trustee for 

American Indian tribes in fulfillment of the federal government’s trust responsibility. As a Member of the National Congress of American Indians Executive Board 

and Chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, I was supportive of your nomination of Secretary of Interior and voted to approve sending a 

letter of support for your nomination. I also serve as the President of the United 

Tribes of Michigan and Vice President for the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes. 

In 2012, I was one of ten Tribal leaders who met with Secretary Jewell to welcome her to working with Indian Country. In January of this years, she invited a 

small group of tribal leaders back to give feedback on her work and to encourage 

us to work with you as our new Secretary. Please feel free to call upon me during 

your tenure if you need assistance. 

I write to you today to express my Nation’s support for appointment of Tara 

Sweeney as your new Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. Tara has decades of American Indian/Alaska Native affairs experience spanning the private, nonprofit, and 

public sectors and significant experience in international indigenous issues. 

Her strengths are in coalition building and listening to the voices of tribal leaders 

through meaningful consultation. Tara supports tribal sovereignty and recognizes 

the importance of upholding the federal trust responsibility. She has spent much of 

her career fighting for enhancing economic development opportunities for tribal communities. I expect she will continue that push as Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs under your leadership. Tara would be an incredible asset for Indian Country 

and would work with all tribes to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship. 

Thank you for your consideration. Again, I wish to congratulate you on your recent confirmation as Secretary of the Interior. I hope we may have the opportunity 

to sit down with you soon to discuss our federal priorities. 

Respectfully, 

AARON A. PAYMENT, CHAIRPERSON

NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH, ALASKA, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

December 13, 2017 

Hon. John Hoeven, 

Chair, Committee on Indian Affairs, 

U.S. Senate, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Senator Hoeven: 

56 

1 USET SPF member Tribal Nations include: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (TX), Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians (ME), Catawba Indian Nation (SC), Cayuga Nation (NY), 

Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana (LA), Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana (LA), Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (NC), Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (ME), Jena Band of Choctaw Indians (LA), 

Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe (CT), Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (MA), Miccosukee Tribe 

of Indians of Florida (FL), Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MS), Mohegan Tribe of Indians 

of Connecticut (CT), Narragansett Indian Tribe (RI), Oneida Indian Nation (NY), Pamunkey Indian Tribe (VA), Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township (ME), Passamaquoddy Tribe at 

Pleasant Point (ME), Penobscot Indian Nation (ME), Poarch Band of Creek Indians (AL), Saint 

Regis Mohawk Tribe (NY), Seminole Tribe of Florida (FL), Seneca Nation of Indians (NY), 

Shinnecock Indian Nation (NY), Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana (LA), and the Wampanoag 

Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (MA). 

I am pleased to write to you to convey my support for the pending nomination 

of Tara MacLean Sweeney to serve as Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs at the U.S. 

Department of the Interior. 

I currently serve as the Mayor of the North Slope Borough, Alaska, the largest 

municipality in the United States in terms of landmass and the regional government for eight villages within the 89,009 square miles of the U.S. Arctic, north of 

the Brooks Mountain Range. The Borough has a population of approximately 10,000 

residents, of whom nearly 70 percent are In ̃upiat. 

As the Mayor of the North Slope Borough, and having served North Slope communities in various capacities for my entire career, I can tell you from personal and 

professional experience that Tara stands out as a leader among leaders within the 

In ̃upiat community. But Tara also has represented Alaska Native interests broadly, 

serving as co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives, whose membership includes 

151 federally recognized tribes, 150 Alaska Native village corporations, 12 Alaska 

Native regional corporations, and 12 Alaska Native regional nonprofit and tribal 

consortiums. Tara has also represented the interests of the indigenous community 

on the international stage through her work with the In ̃uit Circumpolar Council and 

as Chair of the Arctic Economic Council during the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic 

Council, the lead intergovernmental forum for the promotion of cooperation and coordination among the Arctic States. 

Tara’s expertise extends to many diverse areas—telecommunications, natural resource development, and American Indian and Alaska Native law and policy among 

them; but among this diversity of skillsets, I think it most compelling that Tara has 

the experience and proven ability to work with and across federal agencies and with 

members of Congress, state agencies, local governments, tribes and other stakeholders in the service of the American Indian and Alaska Native community. 

We would be proud to see Tara Sweeney become the first Alaska Native to serve 

as Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. She has my strong support. 

Sincerely, 

HARRY BROWER, JR., MAYOR

UNITED SOUTH AND EASTERN TRIBES SOVEREIGNTY PROTECTION FUND (USET 

SPF) 

June 4, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, Chairman; 

Hon. Tom Udall, Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice-Chairman Udall, 

On behalf of the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund 

(USET SPF), we write to support President Donald Trump’s nomination of Tara 

Mac Lean Sweeney as the Department of Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian 

Affairs (ASIA). The first Alaska Native woman to be nominated, USET SPF echoes 

her commitment to Tribal self-determination and the promotion of Indian Country’s 

priorities throughout the federal government. As she stated during her confirmation 

hearing, it is critical that she act as a voice for Tribal Nations both within and outside the Administration. 

USET SPF is a non-profit, inter-tribal organization representing 27 federally recognized Tribal Nations from Texas across to Florida and up to Maine. 1 Both individually, as well as collectively through USET SPF, our member Tribal Nations work 

to improve health care services for American Indians. Our member Tribal Nations 

operate in the Nashville Area of the Indian Health Service, which contains 36 IHS 

and Tribal health care facilities. Our citizens receive health care services both directly at IHS facilities, as well as in Triballyoperated facilities under contracts with 

57 

IHS pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 

(ISDEAA), P.L. 93–638. 

As the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs considers Ms. Sweeney’s nomination, 

USET SPF would like to take the opportunity to focus on policy priorities for the 

incoming ASIA. The ASIA plays a critical role in elevating the voices of Indian 

Country, as well as delivering upon the federal government’s trust responsibility 

and obligations. As the current Administration has yet to fully articulate its approach to Tribal Nations, it is vital that the incoming ASIA exercise leadership immediately to articulate a clear and comprehensive strategy for this Administration’s 

efforts to fulfill its obligations in partnership with Tribal Nations. With this in 

mind, USET SPF would like to outline an approach the incoming ASIA must have 

to promote success in the position and for Indian Country. 

Commitment to Tribal Consultation 

The incoming ASIA must commit to robust and ongoing Tribal consultation with 

all Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Regions and Tribal Nations. This includes fully 

engaging with Tribal governments, including Tribal leaders, in a proactive and 

transparent manner to receive advice and guidance from Tribal Nations prior to federal action. USET SPF notes that Tribal Nations are just now being invited to consult upon the proposed reorganization of the Department of the Interior, despite the 

Department’s continued implementation of this plan and an overall lack of specific 

information. With an ASIA finally seated, USET SPF hopes that the Administration 

will redouble its efforts to meaningfully engage in Tribal consultation. Tribal consultation is essential to the sacred government to government relationship between 

Tribal Nations and the United States, and is critical to ensuring the federal government fulfills its trust responsibilities and obligations. It is vital that the incoming 

ASIA regularly engage in a continued dialogue with Tribal Nations across the country, as well as honor our expectations and guidance with a goal of reaching consent 

for federal actions. 

Land into Trust 

As a core trust responsibility, and as a matter of justice arising out of the massive 

land transfer effected to the United States by Tribal Nations under conditions of duress, DOI has, for nearly 85 years, restored Tribal lands through trust acquisitions. 

These acquisitions enable Tribal Nations to build schools, health clinics, hospitals, 

housing, and provide other essential services to Tribal citizens. Moreover, because 

the trust responsibility is so deeply underfunded, many Tribal Nations depend on 

the economic development conducted on these lands in order to fund essential government services. Despite the views expressed by some outside of Indian Country, 

a majority of economic development on Tribal homelands does not result in significant revenue generation beyond supporting these services. DOI has approved trust 

acquisitions for approximately 5 million acres of former Tribal homelands, far short 

of the more than 100 million acres lost through Federal policies of removal, allotment, and assimilation. 

The Tribal Nations located in the eastern part of what is now the United States 

have a lengthier history when it comes to the systematic dispossession of our lands 

as a result of hundreds of years of federal (and before that, colonial) policies. In the 

wake of these policies, a majority of USET SPF Tribal Nations hold only a fraction 

of their homelands and some remain landless. Therefore, any changes to the current 

landinto- trust process will have particularly significant impacts in the east. We 

continue to work to reacquire our homelands, which are a fundamental to our existence as sovereign governments and our ability to thrive as vibrant, healthy, selfsufficient communities. And as our partner in the trust relationship, it is incumbent 

upon the federal government, especially the incoming ASIA, to prioritize the restoration of our land bases. 

As the BIA considers revisions to the Part 151 regulations, which are integral to 

Tribal Nation rebuilding, the ASIA must work in partnership with Tribal Nations 

to ensure this process promotes the restoration of Tribal homelands and does not 

give undue weight or influence to outside interests. USET SPF is encouraged by Ms. 

Sweeney’s plan to conduct a listening tour throughout Indian Country on this and 

other issues, and plans to urge BIA to extend its comment period to accommodate 

this dialogue. 

DOI Reorganization 

USET SPF is deeply concerned that, despite the recent initiation of consultation 

with Tribal Nations, the reorganization of the Department of the Interior is moving 

forward in the absence of Tribal consultation. The Secretary has yet to significantly 

consult with or provide much detail to Tribal Nations on the reorganization of the 

Department, although we are aware of meetings held with federal employees and 

58 

other units of government. Yet, we note that new DOI regions have been proposed 

and there is $900,000 set aside in the BIA Budget Request for its share of initial 

pre-planning responsibilities (with the knowledge that this figure will increase significantly in the out years). 

We are further concerned to see what appears to be additional reorganization activities taking place at the staff level—again, without Tribal consultation. A number 

of Senior Executive Service employees from the BIA and Office of Trust Services 

seem to have been relocated and reassigned. While we understand that the Department is afforded the latitude to make employment decisions, Tribal Nations should 

be consulted as senior staff are reassigned—particularly at the regional level. 

While USET SPF Tribal Nations acknowledge that there may unnecessary levels 

of bureaucracy and redundancies at the DOI, any eliminations or changes affecting 

Indian Country must be accomplished in fulfillment of the federal trust responsibility, and with the advice and guidance of Tribal Nations. With the appointment 

of the ASIA, we remain hopeful that the Department will take the opportunity to 

modernize the federal government and execution of the federal trust responsibility 

in a way that upholds the obligations of our sacred government-to-government relationship and promotes the full exercise of Tribal sovereignty. 

Commitment to Protecting and Increasing BIA Resources 

Because of our history and unique relationship with the United States, the trust 

obligation of the federal government to Native peoples, as reflected in the federal 

budget, is fundamentally different from ordinary discretionary spending. Inadequate 

funding to Indian Country needs to be viewed as unfilled treaty and trust obligations. However, for Fiscal Years (FY) 2018 and 2019, the Administration has requested deep reductions to nearly every line item within the BIA budget. We further 

note the long-lasting effects of continued underfunding for federal Indian programs. 

The FY 2019 Budget Request fails to reflect a prioritization of trust obligations and 

the related promises that are at the core of our special and unique relationship. 

In reducing, eliminating, and calling into question the constitutionality of federal 

Indian programs, this Administration is ignoring and undermining its trust responsibility to Tribal Nations. Moreover, the message that this sends to all American 

citizens is one of disregard and dishonor, further exacerbating the challenges we 

face in educating the nation on our history, sovereignty, and the continued obligation to Tribal Nations. We are hopeful that under Ms. Sweeney’s leadership, future 

Budget Requests for BIA will be more reflective of a commitment to honor its obligations and promises to Indian Country. 

Trust Modernization 

USET SPF, along with other Tribal organizations and Nations, is engaged in an 

effort to modernize the relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations. The current trust model is broken and based on faulty and antiquated assumptions from the 19th Century that Indian people were incompetent to handle 

their own affairs and that Tribal Nations were anachronistic and would gradually 

disappear. It is time for a new model that reflects a truly diplomatic, nation-to-nation relationship between the U.S. and Tribal Nations, and that empowers each 

Tribal Nation to define its own path. This mission should inform each action taken 

by this Administration affecting Tribal Nations. 

Our Trust Modernization Workgroup has identified 5 governing principles with 

which to engage in modernizing the trust relationship. They are as follows: 

1. Strengthen Trust Standards—Adopt Implementing Laws and Regulations. 

2. Strengthen Tribal Sovereignty—Empower Each Tribe to Define its Path. 

3. Strengthen Federal Management—For Trust Assets and Programs Still Subject to Federal Control. 

4. Strengthen Federal-Tribal Relations—One Table with Two Chairs. 

5. Strengthen Federal Funding and Improve Its Efficiency—A Pillar of the 

Trust Responsibility. 

Each of these principles addresses long-standing issues with the current trust 

model and was developed after the deliberation of Tribal leaders. Our Workgroup 

has also devised a number of short and long-term strategies aimed at realizing these 

principles. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss them with the incoming 

ASIA. 

Executive Order on U.S.—Tribal Relations 

Over the last several decades, every President, regardless of party, has issued executive orders regarding the federal trust responsibility and the federal government’s relationship with Tribal Nations. We urge the incoming ASIA to assist in the 

59 

issuance of an executive order from President Trump that: (1.) Reaffirms essential 

trust responsibilities for all federal agencies; (2.) Affirms the ‘‘best interests’’ determination in favor of Tribal Nations in all environmental and administrative determinations; and (3.) Outlining the placement of senior level Tribal Liaison positions 

across the Administration to ensure that every department/agency is executing its 

trust obligations to the greatest extent. This order should speak to and confirm the 

unique and special nature our nation-to-nation relationship, its sacred responsibility 

to fulfill its treaty and trust obligations to Tribal Nations, and recognition, and support for the principles of our inherent sovereign authorities and rights. An executive 

order of this nature would set the tone for all federal agency conduct and provide 

certainty in the federal government’s approach to decisions affecting Indian Country. Consistency and commitment in the execution of the federal trust responsibility 

would likely reduce conflict between the federal government and Tribal Nations, as 

well as the number of trust mismanagement lawsuits facing the federal government. 

Conclusion 

USET SPF thanks you for your time and consideration regarding the nomination 

for ASIA. USET SPF supports Ms. Tara Mac Lean Sweeney for this critical leadership role. We welcome her experience, commitment to self-governance, and dedication to the trust responsibility, as the Administration seeks to articulate a formal 

policy in relation to Tribal Nations and Tribal sovereignty. We urge her swift confirmation, so that she may begin her work without delay. 

Sincerely, 

KIRK FRANCIS KITCKI A. CARROLL, PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VOICE OF THE ARCTIC IN ̃ UPIAT (VOICE) 

May 3, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, Chairman; 

Hon. Tom Udall, Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

I write on behalf of Voice of the Arctic In ̃upiat (VOICE) to express our strong support for the nomination of Tara Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. 

VOICE is a 501(c)4 non-profit corporation whose twenty members include representatives from Alaska’s North Slope tribal councils, municipal governments, 

Alaska Native Corporations, a regional non-profit, and the tribal college from the 

North Slope of Alaska. Together, we represent the broad leadership of the North 

Slope of Alaska. VOICE was established in 2015 with the purpose of providing local 

advocacy and engagement from the In ̃upiat people to state, federal, and international forums addressing Arctic issues. 

Throughout her career, Tara has worked tirelessly on behalf of the In ̃upiat people 

in Alaska. Through her work at the Arctic Economic Council and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, she has been a champion of responsible resource development, 

recognizing its potential to strengthen local economies in rural communities; in her 

role at the Alaska Federation of Natives, she has promoted tribal self-determination 

and encouraged Alaska Native communities to advocate on their own behalf; and 

advanced cooperation and coordination among Arctic States through her work with 

the In ̃uit Circumpolar Council. 

We know Tara to be an effective leader who has gained much relevant experience 

through her influential positions locally as well as on the state and international 

stage. Tara excels at stakeholder engagement; her ability to work beyond the ‘‘silos,’’ 

the bureaucratic boundaries between federal agencies, state agencies, local user 

groups, and regional and local governments and entities is extraordinary and would 

be a great resource to the Secretary and Department of Interior as a whole. 

Tara has been a great advocate for Voice of the Arctic In ̃upiat, and her work on 

behalf of Alaska Native peoples cannot be understated. I am proud to recommend 

her, and we urge the swift consideration of Ms. Sweeney for the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in your committee. I thank you for your consideration of this letter; I look forward to working with Tara in her new role as Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs on issues important to our communities. 

Taikuu, 

60 

SAYERS TUZROYLUK, SR., 

President 

ANCSA REGIONAL ASSOCIATION

February 10, 2017 

Hon. Lisa Murkowski, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Don Young, 

United States House of Representatives, 

Rayburn House Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. Daniel Sullivan, 

United States Senate, 

Senate Hart Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR TARA KATUK SWEENEY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, INDIAN

AFFAIRS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Dear Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congressman Young: 

On behalf of the ANCSA Regional Association (the Association), we write to express our unanimous support for the appointment of Tara Sweeney for Assistant 

Secretary—Indian Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. The ANCSA Regional 

Association represents the Chief Executive Officers of the twelve land-based regional Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), as well as the President of the Alaska 

Federation of Natives. Our corporations are owned by over 121,000 Alaska Native 

people and were formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, 

43 U.S.C. § 1601, et. seq. (ANCSA). Our mission is to promote and foster the continued growth and economic strength of the Alaska Native Regional Corporations on 

behalf of our shareholders. When measured against the top 49 Alaska-owned companies, ANCs account for 75 percent of the revenue earned, 69 percent of Alaskan jobs, 

and 86 percent of the global employment. Making up 20 of the top 49 Alaska-owned 

companies, Alaska Native Corporations have become an economic engine of Alaska. 

The Association has worked with Tara for many years on issues facing Alaska Natives and American Indians, and feel she is particularly well qualified for this appointment given her more than ten years’ experience in leadership positions and 

roles in private, public and non-profit organizations; and active engagement in Native American policy development and advocacy. Additionally, Tara has nearly 20 

years of leadership experience with Alaska’s largest privately owned company, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), currently serving as their Executive Vice 

President, External Affairs. 

Tara also serves as the Chair of the Arctic Economic Council. She was elected to 

serve as chair by the eight Arctic states and six indigenous permanent participants. 

Tara has led many of our nation’s efforts to form international arctic policy as it 

relates to economic development. Furthermore, Tara has served as a member of the 

board of the Alaska Federation of Natives since 2009 and as co-chair in 2013–2014, 

leading that organization’s reorganization efforts, redrafting bylaws and other significant changes. 

Tara is a dedicated, hard-working and fearless leader focused on providing value 

and real results across local, national and international boundaries. Her passion 

shows through in Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congressman Young 

every challenge she faces. She understands how important the economic and energy 

sector is to sustainable Native communities and the continued way of life in rural 

America. She is very supportive of public-private partnerships to stretch limited federal resources. She understands the high-cost of living in remote rural Alaska and 

on the reservations. She also understands the delicate balance of protecting and 

harvesting wild game on federal public lands. She is a hunter herself and continues 

the long tradition in the Arctic of subsistence hunting and fishing. 

The ANCSA Regional Association strongly supports Tara’s appointment as the 

next Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. If we 

can provide additional information, please contact us. 

Sincerely, 

61 

GABRIEL KOMPKOFF, CHAIR; KIM REITMEIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES (AFN) 

May 3, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, Chairman; 

Hon. Tom Udall, Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR TARA KATUK SWEENEY FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR

INDIAN AFFAIRS

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

On behalf of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), I am writing to express our 

unqualified support for the confirmation of Tara Sweeney for Assistant Secretary— 

Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. AFN represents more than 140,000 Alaska Natives, including 186 federally recognized tribes, 171 village corporations, 12 regional corporations, and 12 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract 

and compact to run federal and state programs. Our mission is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic and political voice of the entire Alaska Native community. 

We have worked with Tara for many years and have never seen a more dedicated 

individual who is focused on real results. She brings a unique skill set, with a deep 

appreciation for the importance of the economic and energy sector to sustainable 

Native communities and the continued way of life in rural America. 

She understands the high cost of living in remote rural Alaska and on the reservations and the delicate balance of protecting and harvesting wild game on federal 

public lands. She is a hunter herself and continues the long tradition in the Arctic 

of subsistence hunting and fishing. 

Tara is well respected and knows how to build coalitions and lead teams to accomplish directions set by the Administration. With her strong background and knowledge of Alaska Native rights, cultural values, and economic sustainability, she will 

provide excellent advice and counsel to the Secretary of Interior and the White 

House. 

Tara’s leadership experience at Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and as former 

AFN co-chair and board member gives her a strong understanding of Native affairs 

both at the local, regional and national level. She will be a staunch supporter of the 

Administration and the Native people of our country. 

AFN urges the swift consideration of Ms. Sweeney for the position of Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs in your committee, and we look forward to working with 

her. 

Sincerely, 

JULIE KITKA, PRESIDENT

CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIAN TRIBES OF ALASKA

May 3, 2018 

Hon. John Hoeven, Chairman; 

Hon. Tom Udall, Vice Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 

Washington, DC. 

RE: SUPPORT FOR TARA KATUK SWEENEY FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR

INDIAN AFFAIRS

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Vice Chairman Udall: 

The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska writes to 

express its strong support for the nomination of Ms. Tara Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. 

Throughout her many years of work on behalf of the In ̃upiat shareholders of the 

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in her home state of Alaska and all Alaska Natives, Ms. Sweeney has established herself as an expert in and a proponent of issues 

with tribal government implications well suited to this position that is the face of 

the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to and government-to-government relationship with tribal governments. 

Ms. Sweeney is an experienced leader, having held executive positions within 

Alaska through her roles at the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and the Alaska 

Federation of Natives, within Indian Country through her work with the National 

62 

Congress of American Indians, and internationally as Chair of the Arctic Economic 

Council. 

We urge the swift consideration of Ms. Sweeney for the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in your Committee, and we look forward to working with 

her on issues important to Indian Country. 

Thank you for your consideration of the Tribe’s views. 

Sincerely, 

63 

RICHARD J. PETERSON, PRESIDENT


509c1.eps

November 13, 2017 

Governor Bil! Walker 

STATE OF ALASKA 

'l1tc Honotnble john Hoevcn 

Omirm:m 

·n,c Hooorablc Tom Udall 

Vice Chairm~n 

U.S. s~uau: Committe~ uu Tmlian AITail:o 

838 Hru.t Sennre Office Building 

W:L8hington, DC 20510 

D'"Ar Chairman Hocvcn, 

We write you today to fully suppmt th~ nomination of Ms. Tara Mac.l.can Sweeney !1.5 the first 

feutnle Nntive Alnskatt nominllted for Assist:mt Sccrct:1ry oflndian Affoirlt As life-long Alaskan~. w~ 

hliVC watched Ms. Swcen"J''sleadurship grow in direct proportion to o.n increased positi1•c imp~ct on 

the 'luality of life of our people resulting in meaningful oppormniti~ for indigenous people of the 

No<th. 

Ms. Sweeney's leadership in seeking sclf-dct=ination and ~tononuc development for the pwplc of 

ilie Atclic h~• been cxcmplory. A• an lnupiaq tribal and cfl'J'Oratc leader, •he ha.• sought the needed 

bal:mcc for hct Atctic Slope tegion lL!ld ~cro5S Ala:;h between nceded econmnic devdopnu:nt ~nd 

su~tllining the lifcwoys and culrure.• of Aloslm'• indigenom peoples. 

1>.15. Sweeney hos not only wotked nn AJ.,)., N~tivc i.•ucs, but gho hu• Laaadencd her perspective 

wjth other American Indian t<ibe:; through her service on the Cherokee N~tion New Matket Tax 

Cr~dit Advisory Board. When she WOll nomiruued ond elecred the co-choir of the A!·N, /\Iaska's 

st:m:widc Native org:miz:ltion repres.ntingo.llliloska Nntivc lendership nnd institutions, she 

uudetoook ~r role with a fi.on s<m~~ of pnxpuse. Ms. Sweeney sought indusivcncS> and 

tmnspnrency, and did so ~ucr;:cssfully when dr:aling w1th the many chollcngiug i•sucs fitcing an 

institution of divcn;c views but wid1 conunon goal of pw:suing a better Ji,·c for aii.!Unsk:t Nntives. 

Sh~ s<:rVcd with ilistin.ctiou as a Speci:tl Assist:om for Rural AffattS and Education in Governor 

Fronk Murkowski's adminiswttion, ond hurp"•:;ion fi>r educ"tiom•l opporluuilio' fur """vo•" wdl 

known. M•. Swccn~-y scr.-cd on many boon!~ inclll<llug the l.:nivers1ty of Alaska Foundntion Board 

o!Trusrees. Her forus on energy, communic~riom nod Native self-dctermirution will•crvc Native 

American:. w~ll if she is confirmed. Her ability to bringw.rimt~ stakeholders nnd gmup• together to 

solve problems and improve the lives of Americ:~n Indi~ns wilt be critic~!. 

M:;.. Sweeney lw. soughtiDJd found the necessary and delicate balance bchveen economic 

development and sustaiaing the ways of life ~nd cultures of Alaska'• Fits! Poople. \Vhilc mnny will 

be sad to""" her leave th~Ar~ric Slope Regional Cotpomrion, b~t cKperrise win ~erve out nation 

well in tills new role. 

We o.dvnc:<tc for a streamlined process ro bring Ms. Sweeney's expen:ise into th~ Buteau of lnd.ian 

Affuirs as <Juickly as possible. 

Sincerely, 

Bill 

'&Pff~ Walker 

Govcmru Lieutenant 

.~~ Govemor 
64 


509c2.eps

COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS 

GOVERNMENT OFFICES 

The Honorable Ryan Zinke 

Secretary 

u.s. Department of the Interior 

1849CSt. NW 

Washington, DC 20240 

Dear Mr. Se~retary, 

The Cow Creek Eland of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is one of nine federal!y recogni~ed Indian 

Tribal Governments in Oregon. Restored in 1982, our tribe has a rich history In southmn 

Oregon. Since our federal recognition 35 ye~rs ~go, we have developed housing, education and 

social service programs, businesses, a utility co<Jperative, charities, and a tribal court system fur 

our 1,722 members. We uphold Tribal Government and wish to protect and preserve Tribal 

sowrelgnty, and we desire strong relationships with local, stilte, and federal governments, Ps 

Chairman oft he Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribl! of Indians, I write to eKpress my Tribe's full 

support for the appointment of Tara Sweeney as the new Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. 

Ms. Sweer1ey h~s de~~des ofexperienre as ~rl advocate for Native people through her positions 

in the priV~te, public and non·proflt sectors. She Is skllled at coalition building ~nd stakeholder 

engagement ~nd ~strong supporter of tribal self·determlnatiorl. Whether in her leadership 

role with the Arctic Eco_nomlc Counr:il, her tireless work on behalf of the lnuplat people, or her 

Involvement with the National Congress of American Indians, Ms. Sweeney has a track record of 

promoting forward-thinking policy for Natl\1e people, l firmly believe she Js an exceptional 

candidate for the Assl~ant Secretary for Indian Affairs Position and I look forward to IIVDrking 

with her in the future. 

Respectfull;ry /J _ 

.]) a<WI luWo/ 

Daniel Courtney 

Chairman 

Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of indians 
65 


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Febru~ry 10, 2017 

Aleut -A.. 

CORPORATION 

Honorable Don Young 

Unitad States House of Representatives 

2314 Raybum Hov"'' Offke Building 

W~shfngton, DC 20510 

Honol'<!ble US3 Murkowski 

United StatcsS~natl! 

709 HortS<!nate Building 

Woshington, lx::wSl0-0203 

S""t Vi81'1Eoctronk Mail 

Honorable DonSUllivon 

United States Senate 

700. Hart Senate llulldlng 

Washlngtrm, DC20510 

Re: Support for Tara Sweeney Assistant S~cmtmy, Indian Affairs US D"partment of lnt,rior 

Dear SeW~ lor Murkow8ki, Senator Sui ~van and COngressman Vouns~ 

On behalf of the Aleut Corporation, I'm writing to express our support for the appointment of T~ra 

Swel!ney for Asslstont Secretary-lndion Affairs, for the Departmentofthe lnter!<lr. 

The Aleut Corporation is one. ofthetwelve Alaska Native Regional Ccrporationsthatwereestab\ished In 

1972 llnderthetmm oft he Alaska NatiVfl Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). To date, the Aleut 

Carporallon has appro~imately 3900shareholders,Operatlons of the Aleut Corporation and its 

subsidiaries Include Government Contract! Ill):, FUel sales, Mechanical Constrllcticn, Radicchemical 

Analysis and Remediation, lmlustrlal f>rodLJcC:&ScJVicas and Real Estate Management. The Company 

also participates In various portnerships, joint ventur"" and other business actMtles, We currently hl!\le 

over 900 l!mployei>S throughout the U.S. 

The Aleut Corporation work:5 dosely with Tara "" s~a sewes as t~e chair oft he Arctic Economic Coundl. 

She wa; elected to serva as c~air by the eight Arctic states and 51~ Indigenous permonent participants. 

Tara hll;led many of our nation's efforts to fonn lrr:ernatronal arctic policy a5 it ralilti!Stiii!COnomlt 

development, 

TheAT.,ut Corl)llr .. tion strongly supports Tara's appointment a; t~e nelct Assistant Secretary- Indian 

Affairs, fur the Department of the Interior. Tl J can provide additional Information, please contact me. 

Tfromas Mack 

President 
66 


509c4.eps

Aleutian/Pribllof Islands Association, Inc. 

1131 E. lntemationat Airport Rd. 

---~...:: 

""";j\.J'<'JH; r- .,~ .. ,...,, ... • Anchorage, Alaska 99518-1408 

;, . 

•• 0 

February 21, " 2017 

Honomblc Don Young 

United States House of Representativss 

2314 Rayburn House Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Honorable Lisa Murkowsld 

United States Senate 

709 Hart Senate Building 

Washington, DC 20510-0203 

Honorable Dan Sullivan 

United States Senate 

702 Hart Senate Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

•. 

Re: Support for Tara Katuk Sweeney Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs U.S. 

Department of Interior 

Dear Honorable Senator Murkowski, Sen3tor Sullivan and Congressman Young: 

On behalf of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA), we write to express our 

unanimous support for the appointment of Tara Sweeney for Assistant Secretary -

Indian Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. APIA is a non-profit organi~ation 

represented and governed by 13 Alaska Native Tribes in Alaska's Aleutian and Pribilof 

Islands, in a region th>lt covers om approximately 100,000 square miles, an area 

slightly larger than Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland combinr:!d. Our miss1on is to 

provide self-sufficiency an independence of the Unangan/Unangas by advocacy, 

training, technical assistance and economic enhancement; to assist in meeting the 

health, safety and well-being needs of each Unangan/Unangas community; to 

promote, strengthen and ensure the lmity of the Unangan; and to strengthen and 

preserve Unanga;l; cultural heritage. 

APIA is a member of the Alasl<a Federation of Natives and has worked with Tara for 

many years on issues facing Alaslm Natives and American Indians in her role as cochair (2013·14) where she was instrumental in the organization's reorganization 
67 


509c5.eps

efforts, redrafting by-laws and other significant changes, Tam has been an ~.FN 

board member since 2009, We feel she is particularly well qualified for this 

appointment given her more than ten years' experience in leadership positions ~nd 

roles in private, public and non-profit organizations; and active engagement in Native 

American policy development and advocacy. 

Additionally, Tara has nearly 20 years of leadership experience with Alaska's largest 

privately owned company, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), currently 

serving as their Executtve Vice President, External Affairs. 

Tara also serves as the Chair of the Arctic Economic Council and was elected to 

serve as chair by the eight Arctic states and six indigenous pe1manent participants. 

Tara has led many of our nation's efforts to form international Arctic policy as it 

relates to economic development. 

Tara is a dedicated, hard-working and fearless leader focused on providing value and 

real results across local, national and international boundaries. Her passion shows 

through in every challenge she faces. She understands how important the economic 

and energy sector is to sustainable Native communities and the continued w~y of life 

in rural America. She is very supportive of public-private partnerships to stretch 

limited federal resources, She understands the high-cost of Jiving in remote rural 

Alaska and on the reservations. She also understands the delicate balance of 

protecting and harvesting wild game on federal public lands. She is a hunter herself 

and continues the long tradition in the Arctic of subsistence hunting and fishing. 

APIA strongly supports Tara's appointment as the next Assistant Secretary -Indian 

Affairs, for the Department of the Interior. If we can provide additional infornation, 

please contact us. 

SincerOJiy, 

~'~"~] Dimitri Philemonof ( __ _ 

President/CEO 
68 


509c6.eps

lionorable Don Young 

United States House of Representativ"" 

2314 Rayburn Hcu5s Dfro::e Bulldi"'l 

'Na5hington, DC: 20510 

!fono,able Lisa Murkowski 

United States Senate 

709 Hart Senab! Bulldine 

Woshlngton, DC 20510.0203 

Honorable Dan Sullivan 

Unit.ed States Senate 

702 Hart Senate Building 

Washinaton, DC20510 

Ao: Support forT oro Kiltuk Swccncv Assistont Secretory, lndlon Affair.; U.S. O('partment of lnte~or 

Dear ~natm MurlmMkl, Senator Sullivan ond Cooercssman Younfl. 

Ahtno. lnoorporatcd stron&ly supports the appolntment of Taro SWeeney for J\sslst.mt S•orl!t•rv of Indian Affairs, US 

OepartmMt of the Interior. Tara is well \<ODWn In Alaska for her teodershlp on not only NaHvc i"ues but a~o elll!f&Y 

development and economic development 1"""'· 

Tara i! urU~uely !~illed to serve as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. She Is eurrently the E.v.l!cutive Vice President 

of E>:ternol Affolrs for Arctic Slope ReElonal Corporotion: one of Alaska's most successful corporatKlns. Her mle;. a 

very public one and requires th~t she is oonstontlv troubleshcotlne i5sues as ;h"Y arise •nd r.ro8C\Lvely '"'"ending to 

many different sta<eholder.;. Including her manac~ment & board •nd sharehcldP" as w•ll as the general public, othor 

business partners and po;entiol partners, leEisl;tors, and the medlo. Tara's board service tndude> th• Arctic Economic 

Council oocl tl>c Alosk;l Fcdcrotlon of Native;. 8oth organi,;Uons h""e lmp~rtant pol lev rele.,.nce that tmpacts tha 

live5 of many and demands an ability to wor~ W<lh multiple stokeholders. In both or!(O.nl>atiMs, Tara ha• been e!ect.ld 

to leade1"5hlp roles whl'h says something for her ability to tnstill confidence in tho"' 5hH saroJf!S and works with. 

Tara i5 veJ"I kncwiOOs•ahle of our state ond fe<ieralleslslatlv<! prooes.!ie!i. Sh~ understand the value of people's time. 

!s oono!se and iactual, and she Is r~speotful: she Ustens. 

Ahtno. Incorporated supports th~ appointment of Tara SWeeney as 1\sslslant Secrntary of Indian Affairs for lire lJS 

Department of the lnte~:>r. 

Michelle Anderson 

President 
69 


509c7.eps

February 9, 2017 

The Honorable Use Mtrtrnwskl 

709 Hart Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC :20510 

The Honorabl= Dan Sojlivan 

70:2 Hart SeMte Office Building 

Washington, DC 205\0 

The Honorable Don Young 

2314 Ra}lbum House Off.:e Bull din~ 

Washington, PC 20510 

Re: SBNC Support ofT era M. Sweeney for Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, U.S. De~artmantof 

Interior 

PearSenatorMurkOW!lki, Senator Sullivan and Congres•man Young, 

Bristol Bay Native Cmporntion {BBNC) writes In strong support for the appointment of Tarn M. SWeeney for 

Assistent Secretary, lr.dlan Affairs, U.S. Department of lnterlor. Ms. Sweeney has the drive, knowledge and 

experlence necessary to lillfill this role effectively. 

Ms. Sweeney has over 10 year.;' experience in leadership ~IUons and roles in Pf)vata, public and non-profit 

O'l:JBnizalions, and over 10 years ofacllve engagement in Alaska Native/Native American policy development 

;~nd 01dV<>ca.cy within the executive and legislative branches at the federal level. She currently serves as 

Executive Vice Preslden~ axtemal Affairs fllr Arctk:oSiope Regional Corporation, Ala~ka's la(<]es\ prillatel~ oooed 

company, where ahe has worked for nearly 20 yaars. In addition to thl~ role, Ms. Sweeney cummtly serves ao 

Chair lor the Arctic Economle Coundl, a 42-membsr board oomprised of rapresent~tlves from lh~ U.S., Russia. 

Caooda, lcelar.d, Norway, Oenmark, Sweden and Finland. 

Bristol Bay Natlva Corporation is confident Ms. Sweeney will provide excellent ad~ice and counsel to the 

Secretary of lnterlor and the Wl11te House with the unique skillsel she has. She has " sl!1mg history of 

repre..enlln~ Alaska Nali'le$, and has been on the 1orefront of developing Arctic Jlll]lay----lhe frontier orthe ruture. 

Ms. Sweeney has bui~ coalilkms and led diverno teama to accomplish concrete goats, which Is why BBNC fully 

aupp<lrto her appointment to Assl.tanl Secretary, lndlan Affairs, U.S. Oepartment of Interior. 

~ 

Sincerely, 

f'rllsXIilnt and CEO 

cc: Julie Kltka, Pff!sident Alaoka Federation of lialives 

Kim Reitmeier, Execu\lva Drrecloc, ANCSA Regional Association 

. a::.~il! mmm~ 
70 


509c8.eps

February 10,2017 

Honorable Don Young 

United States Hol156 of Representatives 

2314 Rayburn House Office Building 

Washiugton, DC 20510 

Ho110ntble Dan Sullivan 

United States Sennte 

702 Hart Senate Dllilding 

Wllllhington, DC 20510 

CI\LISt'A CORPORAT!Ot< 

Honorable Lisa Mud:owski 

United Stntes Serurte 

70.9 Hart Senate Dcilding 

Washington, DC 2051()..{1203 

Re: Support forTaraKatuk Sweeney A~isliiiii Seurel!lrY, Ivdian AffEJ.in; U.S. Department aflnterior 

Dear Senator Mw:kowski, Senator Sullivan and Con!¥l~SSWIIII Young: 

Calista Corporation (Calista) Bllpports the appointm()llt ofThra Katuk Sweeney fOr Assistant SecretaryIndimt Affairs, fux the Department of the hrterlor. Cnlista is an Alaska Native Regional Corpomtion, 

established ill\971, representing 56 villages that are inco~pomted into 46 individual corporntioru. Our 

mission is to Increase Shareholder benefits BI!d ecOlJIJmic opportunities throllj!h innovation, growth, 

leadership, execution Wld filliiildal discipline. 

Calista recognizes that Ms. K.irtuk Sv...,eney is well qualified fur ap)Xliotrneot to Assistant Secre:tmy -

Indian affairs from her years of expt:ri<;:nce III!d engagement in Native AmerlCI!ll policy Wld advocacy. 

Additionally, Tara has nearly 20 years of leadership experieooe with Alaska's largi!St prlvlllely aWIJed 

wmpany, Arctic Slope Regional Corpmation (ASRC), cum:rrtly serving as its Executive Vice Pr ... id<mt, 

External Affairs. 

More rocently, Ms. Katuk Swee.ney was instrumental in working with Cll.!ista Government Relations 

Liaison Goorge Owletm::k, Trump Alaska2016 Honorary Co-Cbair, llTld Jim Cmwfonl Trwnp Alaska 

2(}16 Chairlll1!Il in providin.g; ASRC financial support for the President Trump Alask.a Iru!.uguml 

receptioo in Washington, DC. 

Callirta Co~pomtion strongly supports Ms. Katuk Sweeney's appointment as !he next Assistant Secretary 

-Indian Affllil'll, for the DepiiTtment of th~ Interior. Thaok you for yoW' consideration. 

Sincerely, 

CT£-C~ON 

Andrew Guy 

President & CF.O 
71 


509d1.eps

February15, 2017 

San tV/a Electronic Mail 

The Honorable Don Young 

United States I louse of Representatives 

2314Rayburn House Office Building 

Wasbin~:ton, D.C. 20515 

ff•n~ coo" ~ IJ INLET 

13 ~ TRISAL 

J.l !i ];j COUNCIL 

Re: Support fur T<!ra Katuk,S1treeney Assistant Secretary, IndianAffoirs U.S. Department of interior 

Dear Congressman Young. 

On behalf oF Cook lnletTt•lbal Council (CIT C), I am writing to express our unqualified support for the 

appointment of Tara Sweoney fpr Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs, for the Department of the 

Interior. ClTC serves more than10,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people In the Anchora~e 

area with a hollst!c, wraparound investment in connecting them to employment and training, 

education, recPvery ~nrvices and child and family services. Our mission is to worklo partnership 

with Our People to develop opportunities to fulfill their endless potentlal. 

Wa have !mown Tara professionally for many years and appr~clntc her commitment, enthusiasm 

and creativity as sUe serves Alaska Native people in a variety pfrolcs. I have served with her on the 

Board of Directors of the Alaska Federation ofNativcs (APN), where we shan" our pass !on lbr 

developing lmmvatlveways that combine tlte strength ofonrpastwlth the tools of the present In 

her leadership role as Co-Chair, she worked ti1·elessly to change the governance structure to more 

effectively serve our people and to bring the organization mare rele1oancy m the new generation ;md 

new century in wh.kh we nowwod<. This t~slt required navigartng the very challenging arena of 

Native politics, which she did with grace and efficacy. 

More specifically to CITC, Tarn helped shepherd an investment !n C!TC's uniqne ~ushlinablllty 

effom. Several years ~go, CITC through Its fur-profltsubsidiary became the first indigenous-owned 

video production company in tbe Unitod States. Thra and the ArcticSIDpe Region Corporation teak 

the substantial risk ofmakin~ an investment in oul" commercial game, Never Alone, which shares 

and extends culture in the form a fan adventure puzzle game told in lnupiatwith English subtitles. 

Because the game is based In the Arctic, our team rn~dc numerous visits to Barrow under Tara's 

sponsorship and guidance and the result; of this inclusive development process ara nothing short of 

marvelDLlS. w~ aro proud to s<oy the game lws sold more than 3 million co pic~ and received several 

prestigious awat"ds, Jncluding the British Academy Television Awal"d. 
72 


509d2.eps

In addition, Tara has played a leadership role In one cfthe largest corporations In Alaska, which 

employs hundreds of NatiVe and non-Native employees. This experience has given her deep 

understanding oft he energy and development secW!"S and their importance toAlasl;a und the 

nation's economies. She undet<:Stands and appreciates the value of development and the unique 

challenges ofmral Native populations. She is very supportive of public-private partnerships to 

stretch limited fedet-al resom·ces. She understands the high cost ofl!vlngin ramote rural Alaska ~nd 

on the reservations. 

Tara is well respected and as demonstrated by her leadcr~hip in improvinJl AfN described above, 

knows how to build coalltions and lead teams to accomplish directions set by the AdministratioJL 

She will provide c~ccl]entadvice and counsel to the Secretary of Interior and the White House based 

on her strongbackgmund and knowledge ofpromotfng Alasl~a Native Issues, cultural value~, and 

oconomic sustaiuability. 

Tara's experience gives her a deep understandingofN~tive affail"S at the local, regional and national 

leVG!. She knows her way around the board room, the mayor's office, the state and fedaral 

hegislatures and Is firmly connected to making a difference. She will be un outstanding addition to 

tho Administration and an effective leader on behalf of the Native people of our country. 

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions ot· require additional information. Thank you 

for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 
73 


509d3.eps

Honorable Lisa Murk ow ski 

United States Senate 

522 Hart Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Honorable Dan Sullivan 

Unit~d States Senate 

702 Hru:t Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Febn1ary 9, 2017 

Re: Support for Tara KatukSwcency Assistant Secreta!}', Indian Afrair3 U.S. Departm~nt 

of Interior 

Dear Senators Murkowoki and Sullivi\11: 

On behalf of Doyon, Limlted {Doyon), I am writing to express our enthusinstic support for the 

appointment of Tara Sweeney for Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs, for the Department oft he 

Interior. D[)yon is one nfthe thirteen Native regional cmpnrations established by Congress 

under the terms of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Headquartered in 

Fairbanks, Doyon has more than 18,500 shareholders. many of whom reside in remote villages 

with few economic opportunities. Doyon is the largest private landowner in Alaska, with a land 

entitlement under ANCSA of more than 12.5 million acres. Doyon's mission is to promote the 

economlc and S(JCial well-being of its shareholders and future shru:eholders, to strengthen Its 

Nntive wny of life, and to protect and enhance its land and resources. 

Doyon has worked with Tnro for many years on several issues affecting Alaska Natives and 

American Indians. In particular, I had the pleasure of working closely with Tarn, her employer 

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) and Conk Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) on a package of 

refonns to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) S(a) program as applied to Alnskn Native 

Corporations. The effort, which lw;ted bet~ en 2009 and 2012, resulted in the SBA adopting 

eight of the nine major categories of reform proposed by Doyon, ASRC and CIRI. Taro played a 

huge and active role in tllat effort. 

We at Doyon also had the pleasure of working with Tara when she ~erved as Co-Chair nf the 

Alaska Federation of Nntives {AFN). At that time, AFN undertook a membership 

reorganization, redrafting of bylaws and oth~r significant changes which Tara helped lead. 

Tara has also served as Chair of the Arctic Economic Council for the last two year5. In that role, 

she has led many of our nation's efforts to form international arctic policy as it rclw:es to 

economic development. As the arctic is a rapidly developing area of the world, it was critical to 

have U.S. leadership and Tara helped provide it. 

Jn short, Tara is a d~dicatcd, hard-working !llld fcru:less leader willing to take on important issues 

of local, national and international significance. Tara will bring these attributes to the As~i~tant 

Secretnry position. Doyon offers its unqualified support for Tara's appointmetJt. 

If we can provide additional information, please contact us. 

Sincerely, 

-/'<?<>--~ Aaron M. Schutt 

President and CEO 

Doyon, Limited 
74 


509d4.eps

Copper River Native Association 

!AHTNA'TAENE NENE'l 

Board of Directors 

Sent Via Electronic M•il 

The HonOI'IIble Lisa Murk!l\\-.ki 

United States S~n:1te 

52Z Sll!l3te Hart Office Building 

Washington, DC20510 

The Honorable Don Young 

United States House of Representatives 

2J 14 Rayburn House Office Building 

Washington, DC 20515 

Februory 17,2017 

The HonOI'"~ble Daniel Sullivan 

United States S~mate 

702 Scnalc Hart Office Buildit1g 

Washington, DC20510 

Re: Support for Ta:ra Katuk Sw•eney Department ofTnterior, Assistant Sccrotary oflndian Affilirn 

Dear Representative Young, 

On behalf of tire Ahtna latme N~ne' (Copper River Native A!sodatlon) Board of Directors, I am writing to 

convey our unreserved support for Tara Sweeney as the Department of Interior's Assistant Soor~acy of Indian 

Alfnin;. Copper River Nntive A&soci3tion includes five compacted tribes of !he Ahtna :region, includin.g KlutiKnah, Tnzlin11, Gokono, Gulkono, and CantwelL Our Promise StatemOJlt is to, inspired by our cultural values, 

provide exceptional health services, child and youth development, and life-enhancmg resources to empower all 

people in our region In thrive in every stage oflife, from tr""•urcd infant to honol\!d elder. 

Ms. Sween~')' undcr><laads Native communities and mral America's sectors in regnrds to thriving sustainable 

communitioo in the economic develcpment and energy sectors. Tara brings a unique skill set to this position 

tlmt will benefit all Natives throughout the United States. Torn served as the Al""ka Fodtm.tion ofNativc's 

board member oncl co·cho.ir, as well as wi!h Arc~c Slope RegiOJtal Corporation. These e~pcriences give her a 

strong und~anding ofNatiVt: afraiJS from the local to nalionallcvd. Her work will serve as n benefit tc !he 

Administnltion and Native tribes of !he United Stlltes. 

We bt:lievt: that Ms. Swet:Iley will bring cap!lble e~pcricnccto lhc [lOSilion and remain connnitted to the people 

of the United States. 

Sinr::crcly, 

Ms.Cilad~MNollncr 

Pcesident, Beard ofDircelors 
75 


509d5.eps

The Honoraille Donald Trump 

President 

The White House 

1600 Pennsylvania Avanue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20500 

Dear Mr. Prf:lsldent: 

March 15, 2011 

I am proud to support Ms. Tara Maclmm Sweeney's potential role as Assistant 

Secretary o1 Indian Affairs (A$-IA) in the Department of Interior. Ms. SWeaney currently 

seNes as Executive Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs for ArctiC S!ope 

Regional Corpora!lan {ASRC) and ls responsible for an facets of the corporation's 

g011emment relations 'ilnd communic;;tion~. Ry way of quick background, ASRC is. the 

largest tocal!y-owned and operated business ln Aiaska, with approXImately 13,000 

!fiupiat E81<imo {AIEisKan N<'!tlve) shareholders and more than 12,000 employees 

s!reb::hing acr-oss A!aska and the lower 48 states. 

I have knO'IIn Tara in a persons! and professional capacity for more than 30 years and 

can personally attest to the integrity of her character, her passion in bultd.ng ~:;onsensus 

on behalf of Native interests, and her lengthy track record of success. 

Ms. Sweeney has formvlaied and advm:ated for changes irl State and Federal policy, 

changes th~t have positively impacted the li~s of rural Arctic Alaskans s.nd the State of 

Alaska as s. whole. Her advocacy has b·ought the Native people of Alaska together 

with tribes af the lower 48 statii;tS on Issues. ranging from Indian economic development 

lo government contracting lo the development of broadband communic;;rtion and other 

vita! infrastructure. Ms. Sweensy has walKed the halls of Congress and nas teatifted m 

countless House and Senate hearings on !>shalf of Native American people. 

In addition to her inl.errmt p<.lStiqJ at ASRC, !I.W. Sweeney has served her home slate 

and country "through her worn as co-Chai· of lhe Alaska fedeN:ltlon of Natives (2013· 

2014) and her most recent rote f!S Chair of \he internatlonal!y active Arctic Economic 

Council (AEC) (2015-present). At the AEC, Tara represents the business interests of 

the Arctic nations (the United States, Canada, Greenlancl!Denmark. Iceland. Norway, 

Sweden, Finland, and Russia), as well as numerous IMlganous Permanent 

Participants. In her capacity as Chair, Ms. Sweeney has illuminated tl'le ne'eds of Arctic 
76 

MARCH 12, 2018 

Ed McDonnell, 

Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official, 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Washington, DC. 

Dear Mr. McDonnell: 

The purpose of this Jetter is to describe the steps that I will take to avoid any 

actual or apparent conflict of interest in the event that I am confirmed for the position of Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior. 

As required by 18 U.S.C. § 208(a), I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly and predictably affected by the matter, or in which I know that a person 

whose interests are imputed to me has a financial interest directly and predictably 

affected by the matter, unless I first obtain a written waiver, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 

§ 208(b)(l), or qualify for a regulatory exemption, pursuant to 18 U .S.C. § 208(b)(2), 

or statutory exemption, pursuant to 18 U .S.C. § 208(b)(4). I understand that the interests of the following persons are imputed to me: any spouse or minor child of 

mine; any general partner of a partnership in which I am a limited or general partner; any organization in which I serve as officer, director, trustee, general partner 

or employee; and any person or organization with which I am negotiating or have 

an arrangement concerning prospective employment. 

Upon confirmation, I will resign from my position with the Arctic Slope Regional 

Corporation. Following my departure, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation will 


509d6.eps
77 

issue me payments pursuant to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Employee Incentive Program and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Long-Term Incentive 

Plan. I will not accept any such payments and will forfeit them unless I receive 

those amounts before I assume the duties of the position of Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs. For a period of two years from the date on which I receive these payments, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter 

involving specific parties in which I know the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation is 

a party or represents a party, unless I first receive a written waiver pursuant to 

C.F.R. § 2635.503 (c). 

I recently resigned my position with the Arctic Economic Council and the Ted Stevens Foundation. For a period of one year after my resignation from each of these 

entities, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter 

involving specific parties in which I know that entity is a party or represents a 

party, unless I am first authorized to participate, pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 2635.502(d). 

I presently own inherited shares in the Ukpeagvik In ̃upiat Corporation. Within 

90 days of my confirmation, I will divest these shares by transferring them to my 

non-minor, dependent children. Until I complete the transfer of these shares, I will 

not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter that to my 

knowledge has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the 

Ukpeagvik In ̃upiat Corporation, unless I first obtain a written waiver, pursuant to 

18 U .S.C. § 208(b)(1), or qualify for a regulatory exemption, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 

§ 208(b)(2), or statutory exemption, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4). Once the 

shares have been transferred, I will not participate personally and substantially in 

any particular matter involving specific parties that to my knowledge is likely to 

have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the Ukpeagvik 

In ̃upiat Corporation, unless I am first authorized to participate, pursuant to 5 

C.F.R. § 2635.502(d). 

I will request a written waiver pursuant to 18 U .S.C. § 208(b)(1) regarding my 

inherited financial interest in the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Until I have 

obtained such a waiver, I will not participate personally and substantially in any 

particular matter that to my knowledge has a direct and predictable effect on the 

financial interests of this entity. 

If I have a managed account or otherwise use the services of an investment professional during my appointment, I will ensure that the account manager or investment professional obtains my prior approval on a case-by-case basis for the purchase 

of any assets other than cash, cash equivalents, investment funds that qualify for 

the exemption at 5 C.F.R. § 2640.201 (a), or obligations of the United States. 

If I am confirmed as Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs of the Department of the 

Interior, I am aware that I am prohibited by 30 U.S.C. § 1211 (f) from holding a 

financial interest in any surface or underground coal mining operation. Additionally, 

I am aware that my position is subject to the prohibitions against holding any financial interest in federal lands or resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior extended to me by supplemental regulation 5 C.F.R. § 3501.103. 

I understand that as an appointee I will be required to sign the Ethics Pledge 

(Exec. Order no. 13 770) and that I will be bound by the requirements and restrictions therein in addition to the commitments I have made in this ethics agreement. 

I will meet in person with you during the first week of my service in the position 

of Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior in order to 

complete the initial ethics briefing required under 5 C.F.R. § 2638.305. Within 90 

days of my confirmation, I will document my compliance with this ethics agreement 

by notifying you in writing when I have completed the steps described in this ethics 

agreement. 

I have been advised that this ethics agreement will be posted publicly, consistent 

with 5 U.S.C. § 552, on the website of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics with 

ethics agreements of other Presidential nominees who file public financial disclosure 

reports. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. JOHN HOEVEN TO

TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY

Tribal Colleges and Universities 

Question 1. Thirty-five Tribal Colleges and Universities receive funding from the 

Department of the Interior. These colleges are recognized as catalysts in their communities, both in terms of higher education access and economic development. 

If confirmed, how would you support and use Tribal Colleges to create economic 

opportunity and jobs in Indian Country? 

78 

Answer. Education is crucial to creating and fostering economic opportunities 

across Indian country. If confirmed, I look forward to working with the BIE Director 

to assess the existing needs within our tribal colleges and universities and consulting with tribes to determine how best to support these entities. 

Indian Land Fractionation 

Question 2. As part of the Cobell Settlement, $1.9 billion was set aside for the 

Land Buy-Back Program. This program was designed to purchase fractional interests in trust or restricted Indian land from willing sellers at fair market value to 

reduce the amount of fractionated Indian land. The program is set to end in November, 2022. 

In recent briefings for the Committee by Interior officials, the officials have indicated that the issue of fractionated Indian interests will continue to exponentially 

increase after the program ends. 

If confirmed, how would you address fractionated lands, once the Land Buy-Back 

Program ends? 

Answer. I understand fractionated interests are a deterrent to economic development opportunities across Indian country. If confirmed, I look forward to being 

briefed on the current status of the program. Robust tribal consultation will be crucial in determining any path forward. 

Safety at BIE Schools 

Question 3. In 2016, the Assistant Inspector General for the Department of the 

Interior sent a memo to the then-acting Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Director, 

regarding the quality of measures in place at BIE schools to prevent violence 

against both students and staff from internal and external threats. 

In their reviews, they found that there is no guidance for required safety measures at BIE schools. 

If confirmed, how would you ensure that these schools are safe? 

Question 3a. Will you commit to ensuring that the BIE will adopt all measures 

needed to ensure that children are safe at these schools? 

Answer. I strongly believe that students within the BIE system should have access to safe learning environments. I am committed to ensuring our schools are safe 

from threats and violence. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, I 

will make it a priority to be briefed on the status of implementing the OIG’s recommendations and will consult with tribes to ensure these measures meet the needs 

of both students and staff. 

As part of its recommendations in its 2018 Report, the Department of the Interior 

Office of Inspector General suggests that there should be more oversight of triballyoperated schools, when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of students. The 

2018 Report states: 

‘‘BIE Budget and Finance, whose grant specialists conduct reviews of tribally 

controlled schools, does not have clear guidelines regarding oversight roles and 

responsibilities because BIE leadership bas not created long-term guidance.’’ 

Question 3b. Will you commit to being personally involved and support the BIE 

in improving administration, oversight, fiscal responsibility and other management 

components as recommended by the Office of Inspector General or as needed to address the educational needs of Indian children? 

Answer. Yes. 

Indian Gaming 

Question 4. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act sets forth standards and requirements for triba l gaming on Indian lands. For example, the Secretary of the Interior 

reviews and makes decisions on tribal- state compacts. It also authorizes the compacts to go into effect, under certain circumstances, to the extent it is consistent 

with federal law. In some cases, it is silent on certain matters such as revenue sharing in tribal-state compacts. 

These compacts represent negotiations between tribes and states. However, tribes 

have expressed concerns that revenue sharing creates an unfair bargaining position 

for tribes. 

If confirmed, how will you balance state and tribal interests in reviewing tribalstate compacts? 

Answer. I am committed to following the law as set forth by the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act. Tribal consultation and state and local engagement are key components of the law. If confirmed, I will take a balanced approach through tribal consultation, stakeholder engagement, assembling necessary data, and providing that 

79 

information to the leadership of the Department to ensure that we make can make 

informed decisions with all available information. 

Tribal Relations 

Question 5. At times, Indian tribal interests may conflict with other tribes’ interests. This conflict often arises in land-into-trust applications. 

If confirmed, how will you reconcile tribal interests when there is a conflict? 

Answer. If confirmed, my role as Assistant Secretary is to advocate for self-determination policies on behalf of Indian country. That also includes balancing aligned 

and conflicting tribal interests. Taking a balanced approach through local engagement and tribal consultation is the cornerstone of self-determination. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL TO

TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY

Question 1. The federal courts have long recognized a unique trust relationship 

between the Federal Government in general—and the Department of the interior in 

particular—and federally recognized Indian Tribes. How would you characterize 

that relationship? 

Answer. As an Alaska Native, I recognize the federal government’s relationship 

with tribes is rooted in its responsibility to promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination. If confirmed, my role as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is to be 

an advocate for Indian country, and uphold the trust responsibility the Federal Government has to tribes. Consultation is a critical part of our government-to-government relationship and a responsibility I take seriously. 

Question 2. Regarding this trust status, in a situation where the Department of 

the Interior has to make a decision that would either assist the economic position 

of a Tribe or assist the economic development of a private entity, how would you 

balance those interests? 

Answer. If confirmed, my role as Assistant Secretary is to advocate for self-determination policies on behalf of Indian country. That also includes balancing aligned 

and conflicting interests. Taking a balanced approach through local engagement and 

tribal consultation is the cornerstone to self-determination. 

Question 3. What is your view of the recent revisions to the federal recognition 

of Indian Tribes regulations? Do you see any need to improve the current administrative process for reviewing recognition petitions? If so, how? 

Answer. I have not been briefed on how the changes to the federal recognition 

process in 2015 have improved or hindered ongoing tribal recognition efforts. If confirmed, I commit to evaluating and assessing the overall process. 

Question 4. What is your position regarding the Carcieri decision? Do you support 

legislation to overturn that U.S. Supreme Court decision? 

Answer. The Department is bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court. As I 

am not at the Department, I cannot provide an official position on legislation. I respect the role of the Congress, which has the plenary authority over Indian Affairs 

matters, and appreciate its power to legislate on matters pertaining to Indian country. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. MARIA CANTWELL TO

TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY

Question 1. Last December Congress passed a controversial provision to open up 

the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas development. I understand you 

have a long history of lobbying for Arctic Refuge drilling, including being employed 

as the executive vice president of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. I further 

understand you are a shareholder in the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation’s oil and 

gas development interests within the Arctic National Refuge. 

Ms. Sweeney, if confirmed as Assistant Secretary, will you resign your job with 

the Corporation and will recuse yourself from participation in any matters involving 

the Corporation for two years? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question 1a. Ms. Sweeney, during your testimony before the Senate Indian Affairs 

Committee you indicated that you would not request a written waiver from federal 

conflict of interest law which would otherwise allow you to participate in matters 

affecting your inherited financial interest in the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, 

is that accurate? 

80 

Answer. The financial interest for which I will request a limited waiver under 18 

U.S.C. § 208(b)(l)—my inherited Class A shares in ASRC—is identical to a financial 

interest—my Class C shares in. ASRC—that Congress has explicitly exempted from 

the prohibitions of 18 U.S.C. § 208 in 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4). Due to the lack of clarity 

regarding the applicability of the 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) exemption to my inherited 

Class A shares and as set forth in my Ethics Agreement, I will request a limited 

waiver so that my inherited Class A shares will be treated the same as my Class 

C shares in the ASRC. Even if this limited waiver is granted, I will be restricted 

from participating in particular matters at the Department in which the ASRC is 

a specific party. 

It is important as a threshold matter to note that Alaska Native Corporation 

(ANC) shares are unlike shares of publicly traded companies. One cannot simply divest and reacquire ANC shares. Congress has recognized the unique status of these 

interests by creating a statutory exemption in 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) from financial 

conflict of interest laws for interests in certain ANC shares. This exemption reflects 

the fact that it is fundamentally unfair to expect an entire class of indigenous Americans, and in this instance, me specifically, to divest a birthright which I am lawfully permitted to have, in order to serve the American public. 

I currently own Class C shares in the ASRC. These shares were issued to me 

upon my enrollment in ASRC based on my status as a citizen of the United States 

who is of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian Indians not 

enrolled in the Metlaktla Indian Community) Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or combination thereof; who was born after December 18, 1971 to a parent who had been enrolled pursuant to ANCSA in the Arctic Slope Region of Alaska; and who was, at 

the time of issuance, a resident of the United States. As set forth in 18 U.S.C. 

§ 208(b)(4), my Class C Shares in the ASRC qualify for a statutory birthright exemption from the financial conflict of interest prohibition of 18 U.S.C.§ 208(a). Under 

this exemption, I am prohibited from participating in particular matter at the Department in which the ASRC is a specific party. 

I also currently own Class A shares in the ASRC, which I inherited from my 

mother and grandmother. While the 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) exemption applies to my 

Class C shares, the applicability of this exemption to my Class A shares is unsettled, because those shares were acquired via inheritance from my mother and 

grandmother. As a result, I will request a limited waiver so that my inherited Class 

A shares will be treated the same as my Class C shares in the ASRC, and, even 

if this limited waiver is granted, I will be restricted from participating in particular 

matters at the Department in which the ASRC is a specific party. 

Question 2. Not all Alaska Natives are shareholders in the Arctic Regional Corporation and not all support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, you will be responsible 

for representing the best interests of all Alaska Natives, not just those of one Regional Corporation. 

Ms. Sweeney, how will you balance the quality of life interests of the Gwich’in, 

who depend upon the caribou herds that migrate to the coastal plan for their traditional way of life, against those of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, which 

seeks the economic benefits of oil and gas development? 

Answer. If confirmed, my role as Assistant Secretary is to advocate for self-determination policies on behalf of Indian country. That also includes balancing aligned 

and conflicting tribal interests. Taking a balanced approach through local engagement and tribal consultation is cornerstone to self-determination. In this specific instance, it means consultation with the respective Gwich’in tribal governments in addition to the Native Village of Kaktovik traditional government. 

Question 2a. Ms. Sweeney, how do you think an oil spill on Corporation lands in 

the fragile North Slope tundra would adversely impact the birthright of future Alaska Natives? 

Answer. The North Slope is the region where my family and larger Ifiupiat community have traversed, survived, and thrived for thousands of years. This region defines who I am as a person and my people have a deep connection to the land and 

environment. My people also have a long history with oil, specifically when my 

great-grandfather discovered natural oil seeps near Smith Bay in the early 1920s 

and shared that discovery with the Federal Government. 

To understand my answer, it is important to understand the rationale behind the 

answer. When oil was first discovered in my home region, the North Slope, the people of the North Slope or Arctic Slope, opposed development. Despite this opposition, 

the Federal government continued to carve out large swaths of land and leasing 

areas—creating oil and gas enclaves on federal and what would become state lands. 

81 

Faced with an imposed reality by the federal government, North Slope leaders 

recognized that if we were not an organized people, development would happen to 

us, despite us. Ergo, our fight for self-determination. Early leadership fostered the 

school of thought that nothing happens to us without us. That philosophy has guided our region since the first discovery of oil on the North Slope. 

As a result, we incorporated our county form of government, the North Slope Borough, to ensure we protected our traditional and cultural practices, including our 

access to fish, wildlife, and marine mammals. Often times the home-rule North 

Slope Borough, through its planning, zoning, and permitting powers, raised the environmental compliance standards above the federal threshold. Our local and regional businesses implemented capacity building measures with our residents to ensure that if there was an incident related to development, our people were the first 

responders. Who better to respond to ensure protection and access to local food 

sources than those dependent upon those sources? Commitment to safety is part of 

our traditional and business cultures. 

Through the resiliency of the people of the North Slope and capacity throughout 

our communities, there are sufficient safeguards and protective measures and practices in place to ensure the perpetuation and care of the land that defines us, regardless of land title or ownership. 

Question 2b. Ms. Sweeney, given your background promoting controversial resource extraction projects such as drilling the Arctic Refuge, support the Pebble 

Mine in Bristol Bay, and continuing the Donlin Gold Mine, all of which pit different 

tribal interests against each other, how will you as Assistant Secretary represent 

and balance the needs of all impacted tribes? 

Answer. My professional background and duties to ASRC are rooted in advocacy 

of self- determination. To paint those efforts with a broad brush for development 

projects in Alaska is inaccurate. To the extent that Indian Affairs has jurisdiction 

over development projects, I will follow the law. If projects are outside my jurisdiction but impact tribal and/or competing tribal interests, my role as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, is to take a balanced approach through tribal consultation, 

stakeholder engagement, assembling necessary data and providing that information 

to the leadership of the Department to ensure the agency or department of jurisdiction can make an informed decision. 

Question 2c. Ms. Sweeney, we also understand that there are lease agreements 

for ASRC lands in the Arctic Refuge with BP and Chevron/Texaco. Again, to make 

sure that we understand the potential conflicts that could come into plan with any 

BIA work related to these companies, please describe the details of these lease 

agreements and whether you think any of these arrangements will require you to 

recuse yourself from any matter that potentially involves BP or Chevron. 

Answer. The details of those arrangements are proprietary and the intellectual 

property of ASRC. Therefore, I do not have access to this information. I will comply 

with my ethics agreement and consult with OGE and/or DAEO on appropriate matters that may arise outside my agreement. 

Question 3. For the last 15 years, I have been working with the Spokane Tribe 

to get the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act signed into law. This bill would provide the Tribe just and equitable compensation for the thousands of acres that were lost when the Grand Coulee Dam 

was constructed in the 1930s. The legislation is non-controversial, has passed out 

of this Committee almost every Congress and has passed both the House and the 

Senate, but unfortunately, not at the same time. 

The Tribe has made significant sacrifices to get the bill across the finish line. This 

is why I was thrilled to hear Secretary Zinke visited the Spokane Tribe and pledged 

to support compensation for the Tribe. His exact words were ‘‘I support getting to 

a conclusion on this’’ and ‘‘This is one area where Maria Cantwell and I can work 

together.’’ 

Ms. Sweeney, do you support the Secretary’s Statement? 

Question 3a. Ms. Sweeney, currently, the Department of Interior is working with 

the Department of Justice to determine if the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act qualifies as an Indian water rights 

claim in accordance to the letter sent to Attorney General Sessions and Secretary 

Zinke by House Natural Resources Chairman Bishop on April 27, 2017. It is critical 

this process is completed expeditiously. Can you assure me that you will support 

this process moving forward expeditiously? 

Answer. I am not familiar with the bill or the Secretary’s statements but understand its importance to both you and the Spokane Tribe. If confirmed, I commit to 

learning more and will work with you, the Congress, and the Department on this 

matter. 

82 

Question 4. Many tribes in Alaska and across the country are experiencing negative impacts from climate change. These range from changes in subsistence and 

wildlife patterns, to coastal erosion forcing community relocation in Alaska, and 

droughts in the southwest. 

Ms. Sweeney, what do you see as BIA’s role in the broader conversation about climate change? 

Question 4a. Ms. Sweeney, how important is it in you r view that DOI or any federal agencies take into account traditional ecological knowledge into its decisionmaking? 

Question 4b. Ms. Sweeney, if tribes are opposed to actions that the federal government is taking, including actions regarding public lands, how will you help them 

have a meaningful voice and roll in any processes and accurately carry their message to the administration? 

Answer. As I indicated at the hearing, my role as Assistant Secretary for Indian 

Affairs will be to support tribal sovereignty and self-determination and be an advocate for Indian country. Tribal consultation will be essential in determining how 

best to meet the varying needs of individual tribes across the country. 

Question 5. A number of Tribes from Washington state and around the country 

have expressed concern over the Department of Interior’s review of fee-to-trust regulations (25 C.F.R. 151). My tribal constituents fear that the Department’s proposal 

will make it increasingly difficult for tribal nations to restore their homelands and 

place land into trust status. 

Ms. Sweeney, what is your understanding of the fee-to-trust process? 

Question 5a. Ms. Sweeney, if nominated, will you review the actions the Department of Interior has taken thus far to revise the process? 

Question 5b. Ms. Sweeney, how will you and the Department consult with Tribes 

on potential changes to the fee-to-trust process? 

Answer. I am generally aware of the Department’s process for taking lands into 

trust. Because I am not at the Department, however, I have not briefed on any proposed changes to the Part 151 regulations. If confirmed, I will commit to learning 

more about this issue and look forward to consulting with tribes on this important 

responsibility. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. TOM UDALL TO

TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY

Ethics 

Question 1. Your Ethics Agreement states that ‘‘[i]f I am confirmed as Assistant 

Secretary—Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, I am aware that I am 

prohibited by 30 U.S.C.§ 121 l(f) from holding a financial interest in any surface or 

underground coal mining operation’’ (emphasis added). 30 U.S.C. § 121 l(f) provides 

that ‘‘[n]o employee of the Office (of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement] 

or any other Federal employee performing any function or duty under this chapter 

shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in underground or surface coal mining operations’’ (emphasis added). Your signed agreement only indicates that you 

are aware of the federal prohibition, but it does not indicate how you will comply 

with it. 

a.Please attest that you will comply with 30 U.S.C. § 121l(f) if confirmed to the 

position of Assistant Secretary. 

b.Please explain how you will comply with 30 U.S.C. § 1211(f) if confirmed as Assistant Secretary. 

c.Please provide the rationale used by the Office of Government Ethics (‘‘OGE’’) 

or your Designated Agency Ethics Official to determine your Ethics Agreement complies with 30 U.S.C. § 1211(f.). 

Answer. My Ethics Agreement was reviewed and approved by the Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) for the Department of the Interior and the 

Office of Government Ethics as compliant with applicable ethics requirements. I will 

comply with the requirements 30 U.S.C. § 121l(t) and its implementing regulations 

30 C.F.R. Part 706, if confirmed to the position of Assistant Secretary, by working 

with the Departmental Ethics Office and recusing myself from performing any functions or duties under 30 U.S.C. Chapter 25. 

Question 2. Your ethics agreement provides that ‘‘you will request a waiver pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(l) regarding [your] inherited financial interest in the Arctic 

Regional Corporation’’ (emphasis added). That particular statutory waiver provides 

83 

that an employee may participate personally and substantially in a particular matter in which she has a financial interest if she receives ‘‘in advance a written determination made by such official that the interest is not so substantial as to be 

deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services which the Government may expect from such officer or employee.’’ Based on the Ethics Agreement’s citation to the 

waiver contained in 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(l), it appears to set forth your intent to seek 

a waiver to participate in matters involving the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. 

a.Please attest that you will recuse yourself from all matters before the DOI related to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (‘‘ASRC’’), if confirmed. 

b.Please attest that you will recuse yourself from all matters before the DOI related to the ASRC oil and gas development in accordance with Sec. 20001 of Pub. 

L. No. 115–97, if confirmed. 

c.Please attest that you will not seek a waiver in accordance with Section 208(b)(l) 

or any other relevant statutory or regulatory provision, if confirmed. 

Answer. The financial interest for which I will request a limited waiver under 18 

U.S.C. § 208(b)( 1)—my inherited Class A shares in ASRC—is identical to a financial 

interest—my Class C shares in ASRC -that Congress has explicitly exempted from 

the prohibitions of 18 U.S.C. § 208 in 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4). Due to the lack of clarity 

regarding the applicability of the 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) exemption to my inherited 

Class A shares and as set forth in my Ethics Agreement , I will request a limited 

waiver so that my inherited Class A shares will be treated the same as my Class 

C shares in the ASRC. Even if this limited waiver is granted, I will be restricted 

from participating in particular matters at the Department in which the ASRC is 

a specific party. 

It is important as a threshold matter to note that Alaska Native Corporation 

(ANC) shares are unlike shares of publicly traded companies. One cannot simply divest and reacquire ANC shares. Congress has recognized the unique status of these 

interests by creating a statutory exemption in 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) from financial 

conflict of interest laws for interests in certain ANC shares. This exemption reflects 

the fact that it is fundamentally unfair to expect an entire class of indigenous Americans, and in this instance, me specifically, to divest a birthright which I am lawfully permitted to have, in order to serve the American public. 

I currently own Class C shares in the ASRC. These shares were issued to me 

upon my enrollment in ASRC based on my status as a citizen of the United States 

who is of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian Indians not 

enrolled in the Metlaktla Indian Community) Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or combination thereof; who was born after December 18, 1971 to a parent who had been enrolled pursuant to ANCSA in the Arctic Slope Region of Alaska; and who was, at 

the time of issuance, a resident of the United States. As set forth in 18 U.S.C. 

§ 208(b)(4), my Class C Shares in the ASRC qualify for a statutory birthright exemption from the financial conflict of interest prohibition of 18 U.S.C. § 208(a). Under 

this exemption, I am prohibited from participating in particular matter at the Department in which the ASRC is a specific party. 

I also currently own Class A shares in the ASRC, which I inherited from my 

mother and grandmother. While the 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(4) exemption applies to my 

Class C shares, the applicability of this exemption to my Class A shares is unsettled, because those shares were acquired via inheritance from my mother and 

grandmother. As a result, I will request a limited waiver so that my inherited Class 

A shares will be treated the same as my Class C shares in the ASRC, and, even 

if this limited waiver is granted, I will be restricted from participating in particular 

matters at the Department in which the ASRC is a specific party. 

Question 3. On May 7, 2018, you provided the Committee with an update to your 

OGE Form 278e. The OGE 278e was final as of February 6, 2018. This update 

states that you received additional income from the ASRC in the amount of 

$618,737 after February 6, 20 18, as part of ASRC’s Employee Incentive Program 

and Long-Term Incentive Program. 

a.Please describe the structure and purpose of the ASRC Employee Incentive Program and Long-Term Incentive Program, including information on which ASRC employees are eligible to participate in these programs and how frequently the programs provide monetary incentives of $1,000∂ to individual eligible employees. 

b.Please list all monetary incentives you have received from ASRC under the Employee Incentive Program and Long-Term Incentive Program for the last three 

years. 

c.Were the incentives listed in response to (b) reflected in the entries for ‘‘ASRC, 

Wages’’ you entered in your response to Question (G)(7) of the Committee’ s Biographical and Financial Information Questionnaire? 

84 

1OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. REPORT NO. 2017–ER–061, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

THE INTERIOR. REASSIGNMENT OF SENIOR EXECUTIVES AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF THE INTERIOR (April 2018), available at https://www.doioig.gov/sites/doioig.gov/tlles/ 

FinalEvaluaiionlSESReassignmentslPublic.pdf 

i.If so, please indicate the portion of amounts labeled ‘‘ASRC, Wages’’ that were 

obtained as part of your annual salary and the portion obtained as part of the Employee Incentive Program and the Long-Term Incentive Program. 

ii. If not, please explain your exclusion of these monetary incentives received 

under the Employee Incentive Program and the Long-Term Incentive Program. 

d.Are you aware of any other ASRC employees who have received payments in 

excess of $100,000 from ASRC under the Employee Incentive Program and the 

Long-Term Incentive Program? If so, would you describe such payments as common? 

Answer. In response to questions a, b, and d, I have an employment non-disclosure agreement that prohibits me from disclosing proprietary information about 

ASRC. In response to question c, the incentives are specifically spelled out in my 

financial questionnaire under ’wages.’ 

Question 4. Question (c)(4) of the Committee’s Biographical and Financial Information Questionnaire asks you to describe any activity ‘‘during the last 10 years in 

which you have engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and 

execution of law or public policy, regardless if you were a registered lobbyist.’’ 

Your response provides a general overview of the types of activities you have engaged in as an ASRC employee during the 10 year period referenced in the question. 

a.Please list any specific federal legislation or regulation upon which you have 

sought to directly or indirectly influence the passage, defeat, or modification of as 

a private citizen or in a professional capacity since 2015. 

b.If confirmed, will you recuse yourself from any matters related to specific legislation, regulation, or Departmental policy for which you advocated on behalf of 

ASRC? 

c.If confirmed, will you recuse yourself from any matters related to specific legislation, regulation, or Departmental policy for which ASRC, Ukpeagvik In ̃upiat Corporation, the In ̃upiat Community of the Arctic Slope, or the Native Village of Barrow may hold an interest? 

d.Are any members of your immediate family currently or previously registered 

as a Congressional lobbyist? If so, please detail the dates during which each individual was registered as a Congressional lobbyist, the name(s) of any organization/ 

client for which each individual lobbied, and a description of the issues on which 

each individual lobbied Congress. 

e.If you answered yes to (d) and you are confirmed, will you work with the Office 

of Government Ethics or your Designated Agency Ethics Official to ensure no conflicts of interest arise? 

Answer. In responses to questions a through c, T will adhere to the terms of the 

ethics agreement that I signed and which has been provided to the Committee. 

Under the terms of that agreement, I will be restricted from participating in particular matters at the Department in which ASRC and Ukpeagvik lnupiat Corporation are specific parties, and I intend to actively consult with the Department’s Designated Agency Ethics Official to ensure compliance with that agreement, if confirmed. 

In response to question d, none of my immediate family members are registered 

as a Congressional lobbyist; in the event this changes, I will commit to work the 

Department’s Ethics Office. 

Personnel Decisions 

Question 5. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently confirmed that 

DOI, acting through its Executive Resources Board, agreed to move 35 staff members and ultimately reassigned 27 of its approximately 227 members between June 

15 and October 29, 2017. 1 These reassignments have had a disproportionate impact 

on American Indian and Alaska Native (Al/AN) employees, with 11 of the 35 transferred employees identifying as Native American. Some of these high-ranking AI/AN 

employees either come from, or formed significant connections over their years of 

service with, the communities in which they work. 

a.If confirmed, what reassurances can you provide that future reassignments will 

not have a disproportionate impact on AI/AN employees? 

85 

2Morton v. Mancari, 41 7 U.S.535, 541–42 (1974) (citations omitted). 

b.What would you do as Assistant Secretary to ensure DOJ consults with the communities most affected by disruptive employee reassignments prior to reassignment? 

Answer. I am not at the Department and have not been briefed on any of the reassignments you mention. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, I 

will follow the law and Departmental policy on the reassignment of employees. 

Question 6. The OIG found as a part of its review of DOI’s reassignment of Senior 

Executive Service (‘‘SES’’) employees that the majority of affected individuals (17 

out 27) questioned whether the SES reassignments were political, punitive, or related to their proximity to retirements. Of that majority, 12 SES individuals informed OIG that DOI may have targeted them due to their work on climate change, 

energy, or conservation. Some of these employees targeted for reassignment may remain under your supervision. 

If confirmed, how will you protect employees in your ranks that may have policy 

disagreements with you and others above you? 

Answer. My role as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs will be to engage the 

staff at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education to better understand the challenges and issues we face both internally and across Indian country. If confirmed, I will lead Indian Affairs according to our mission, which is ensuring the federal government is fulfilling its responsibility of sovereignty and self-determination. 

Question 7. Recent news articles reported that three high-ranking DOI officials 

said that Secretary Zinke made several comments questioning the importance of a 

diverse workforce, saying ‘‘diversity isn’t important,’’ or ‘‘I don’t care about diversity,’’ or ‘‘I don’t really think that’s important anymore.’’ Secretary Zinke disputes 

these reports. 

What steps would you take as Assistant Secretary to ensure that DOl’s workforce 

reflects the diversity of the people the Department serves, particularly as it applies 

to Indian Country? 

Answer. I cannot speak to the matters you reference. However, if confirmed as 

Assistant Secretary, I will sit down with staff at the Department to better understand the internal challenges and issues we face. I want to discuss how to support 

employees, fill gaps, and reinvigorate our commitment to the mission, which is ensuring the federal government fulfills its trust responsibilities. 

Question 8. It is well-established that DOI may give preference to AI/ANs when 

filling vacancies for jobs that provide services to AI/ANs. The basic goals of these 

Indian preference laws are clear: ‘‘to give Indians a greater participation in their 

own self-government; to further the Government’s trust obligation toward the Indian tribes; and to reduce the negative effect of having non-Indians administer matters that affect Indian tribal life.’’ 2

If confirmed, will you follow well-established Indian hiring preferences in filling 

vacant positions within your purview (e.g., initial hiring, reassignment, transfer, 

competitive promotion, reappointment or reinstatement)? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will follow all relevant laws that dictate matters pertaining to employees under my purview, including Indian preference. 

DOI Reorganization 

Question 9. Secretary Zinke proposes dividing DOI’s Bureaus into 13 geographic 

regions across the country based on watersheds and other natural resource boundary lines. DOI’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget request for the BIA included $900,000 ‘‘to 

support the Department’s migration to common regional boundaries to improve 

service and efficiency.’’ Yet, at a recent Senate hearing to review DOI’s Fiscal Year 

2019 funding request and budget justification, Secretary Zinke stated that he is ‘‘not 

going to include the tribes unless they want to [be included in the reorganization].’’ 

a.If confirmed, what will you do as Assistant Secretary to ensure that DOI conducts a robust consultation with all potentially affected tribes? 

b.If confirmed, will you commit to carrying Indian Country’s concerns to the highest levels of the federal government—not only Secretary Zinke but also the President? 

Answer. If confirmed, I look forward to being briefed on the status of the Department’s reorganization efforts, including plans to consult with tribes. As Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs, my role is to be an advocate for Indian country. To me, 

this means engaging all levels of government on Indian country’s needs. 

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Bureau of Indian Education 

Question 10. In 2017, the Government Accountability Office added the Bureau of 

Indian Education (BIE) to its ‘‘High Risk’’ list. BlE is undergoing a number of reforms related to this designation and as part of a reorganization begun under the 

previous DOI Secretary. 

a.Please describe your familiarity with the BIE K–12 school system and outline 

the top three challenges that you believe face the Bureau. 

b.If confirmed, how would you approach working with BIE officials, Tribes, BIE 

parents, BIE students, and other stakeholders to ensure any reform efforts suit the 

needs of federally-operated and tribally-operated BIE schools? 

Answer. As stated at the hearing, my education was impacted when my village 

transitioned from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to a locally controlled school system. 

There are significant challenges within the Bureau of Indian Education that must 

be addressed immediately to begin improved service delivery for Indian students. 

Many of the recommendations in GAO’s High Risk report are common sense and 

common best practice i n the private sector. The top three challenges include: 

1 .Commitment to safety: I strongly believe that students within the BIE system should not be condemned to an unsafe learning environment. It is inexcusable that our children and their teachers are in unsafe facilities and subjected 

to conditions that can be corrected with basic property management skills. This 

i includes annual safety facility inspections, monitoring plan of safety inspections, and capacity building with staff to address safety deficiencies. 

2.Clear strategic direction: Success and effectiveness in the private sector are 

driven by clear direction. Information highlighted by the GAO High Risk report 

illustrate a significant need for strategic management and capital asset plans, 

authority matrices, and workforce, quality control and financial analysis procedures. I am driven to build a team inside of BlE committed to execution of tactics necessary to remove this bureau from the high risk list. 

3.Improved oversight: Identifying progress or success is contingent upon measurable factors and accountability. This includes effective oversight to ensure 

achievement of agency or bureau goals. Tightening up project controls, performance, and accountability measures will contribute to improved efficiencies and 

effectiveness of service deliver to our children. 

Question 11. The BIE provides funding to a number of tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and directly operates two institutions of higher education, the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institution and Haskell Indian Nations University. 

Please describe your familiarity with TCUs and, if confirmed, how you would work 

with the BIE Director to support the missions of these institutions. 

Answer. I am generally familiar with TCUs. If confirmed, I look forward to working with the BIE Director to assess the existing needs within our tribal colleges and 

universities and consulting with tribes to determine how best to support these entities. 

Question 12. Reliable Internet connectivity remains a challenge for many K–12 

and post-secondary schools in Indian Country. 

If confirmed, how will you work with other federal agencies (e.g.,the 

U.S.Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Services and the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund) to help schools on Indian lands 

access affordable state-of-the-art Internet connectivity? 

Answer. As an Alaska Native, I understand firsthand the challenges Indian country faces in terms of access to broadband. As I indicated at the hearing, I am committed to breaking down silos across Departments and agencies in order to deliver 

much-needed services to Indian country, including the students we serve. 

Land into Trust 

Question 13. The BIA testified before this Committee two weeks ago and provided 

some data on land into trust acquisitions. DOI’ s witness testified that, since this 

Administration began in January 2017, the BIA has taken 16,000 acres of land into 

trust. And of 1,300 pending applications, less than 2 percent (21 applications) are 

for gaming purposes. Trust acquisitions are important tools for Indian and Alaska 

Native Tribes to restore tribal homelands. In fact, Alaska Native tribes are now eligible for these important trust acquisitions as a result of Akiachak Native Cmty. v. 

Salazar, 935 F. Supp. 2d 195, 210 (D.D.C. 2013). 

a.Do you agree that trust acquisitions are important for restoring tribal homelands, including in Alaska? 

87 

b.What will you do as Assistant Secretary to continue land into trust acquisitions 

that appear to be stalled under this Administration? 

Answer. I cannot comment on the current status of land into trust applications 

but will commit to learning more, if confirmed. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO

TO TARA MAC LEAN SWEENEY

Question 1. Nevada recently became one of several states to decriminalize recreational use of marijuana. Nevada tribes are interested in pursuing marijuana-related economic development with the State’s support. In fact, some Nevada tribes 

have already invested significant capital in this business, providing income for the 

health and welfare for tribal members. How will you support tribal efforts to engage 

in marijuana-related economic development in Nevada? 

Answer. If confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, I will make it a 

priority to consult with tribes, including those located in Nevada, on their individual 

economic development interests and needs. 

Question 2. Both Secretary Zinke Interior and President Trump have questioned 

the designation of Gold Butte and Basin and Range National Monuments, both of 

which contain important tribal cultural resources in need of protection. How will 

you defend against Executive action proposing to diminish or eliminate these National Monuments? How will you guarantee tribes have a seat at the table when 

it comes to decisions, activities, and land management on and near their communities’ lands? 

Answer. While I am not at the Department and not briefed on any decisions relating to national monuments, I understand how important this issue is to you. I look 

forward to learning more, if confirmed. 

Question 3. Taking lands into trust on behalf of the tribes is one of the most vital 

functions the Department undertakes. Recently, Department of Interior officials appear to be gearing up to change the fee-to-trust regulations (25 CFR Part 151), in 

particular for off-reservation trust acquisitions. Acquisition of land in trust is essential to tribal self-determination. Do you think that the Part 151 regulations need 

any changes? How would you ensure that any proposed changes fulfill the Indian 

Reorganization Act’s goals ‘‘to provide land for Indians’’ and enable tribes to achieve 

and maintain self-support? 

Answer. I am not at the Department and only generally aware of the details relating to proposed changes to Part 151 regulations. I am committed to following the 

law and will look forward to learning more, if confirmed. 

Question 4. The Department of the Interior’s FY 2019 budget justification includes 

almost $18 million to begin the process of reorganization of the Department of the 

Interior along 13 different regional offices, yet the Department has provided little 

information to Congress and very little organized tribal consultation. Can you describe what you consider appropriate tribal consultation? How will Tribes factor into 

the process and what benefits do you expect they will see from this process? 

Answer. While I cannot speak to the Department’s reorganization plans, if confirmed, T will work diligently to uphold the federal government’s trust responsibility 

to tribes. I place a high premium on consultation and if confirmed, I am committed 

to bringing people together and breaking down silos to ensure I have the information I need to make the right decisions. I stand ready and willing to work on behalf 

of all Native people. 

Question 5. Nevada does not have significant amounts of natural gas, oil, or coal 

production, but energy produced by solar and geothermal has been a major boon to 

the diversification of our economy, and has provided clean energy for Nevadans and 

throughout the west. In my state, many of the Indian tribes have plans to expand 

businesses on reservations in order to provide jobs for their members—some of this 

business activity includes opening their land to renewable energy projects. What do 

you intend to do to be helpful for Indian Country, and tribes in my state, who are 

looking to diversify their economy through clean energy investments? 

Answer. I believe sovereignty is about self-determination and the role of Assistant 

Secretary for Indian Affairs is to work with tribal leaders across Indian country on 

the priorities that are most important to them. If confirmed, I will work with tribes 

to ensure they have the tools necessary to exercise their rights and create economic 

opportunities that best fit their individual needs. 

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