Tara Sweeney
Tara Sweeney is an American businessperson, Alaska Native activist and political operative that since 2018 serves as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, overseeing the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education at the United States Department of the Interior.
Tara Sweeney | |
|---|---|
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| 13th Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs | |
| Assumed office August 2018 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Kevin K. Washburn |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American, Iñupiat |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Kevin Sweeney |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Eileen MacLean (mother) |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
Background and education
A daughter of teachers Bryan and Eileen MacLean, Sweeney grew up in Wainwright, Bethel, and Unalakleet and Utqiagvik in rural Alaska. Her mother served as a representative in the Alaska Legislature.[1] She is an Iñupiaq and a member of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government.[2] One of her ancestors translated the Bible into the Inupiaq language.[3]
In 1991, she graduated from Barrow High School. She went on to earn a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in 1998.[3]
Career
For almost two decades she has worked for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) with subsidiaries, in various positions, the last being as Executive Vice President of External Affair where she served as the company's spokesperson. In this capacity, she has advocated for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. She has a birthright co-ownership in the company.
She started a one-year term as co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives in October 2013[2] and served as chairman of the Arctic Economic Council from 2015 to 2017 as a representative of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.[3]
In October 2017, she was nominated by President Donald Trump for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously recommended a full vote in the Senate and she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in June 2018.[4] During the confirmation hearings she pledged to recuse herself from issues involving the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. She is the first Native Alaskan and second woman to oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[4][5]
As Assistant Secretary, she faced calls for her resignation over the inclusion of for-profit Alaska Native owned corporations to directly compete with funding set aside for native governments dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.[6] On April 28, 2020 a federal court blocked the inclusion of Alaska Native owned corporations from receiving federal stimulus money earmarked for tribal governments.[7]
Personal life
She is married to Kevin Sweeney who is also a Republican leader. The couple have two children and lives in Anchorage. She had a role in the 2011 film On the Ice, and their son Ahmaogak had a role in the 2012 film Big Miracle.[3]
References
- Alaska State Legislature-Representative Eileen MacLean
- Alaska Native executive Tara Sweeney named to top Bureau of Indian Affairs job Indianz.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- Steve Straehley and David Wallechinsky Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs: Who Is Tara Sweeney? Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- Daniel Kirby (June 28, 2018) Senate unanimously confirms Tara Sweeney for Interior Department post Ktuu.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019
- Dan MacGuill (September 18, 2018) Did Donald Trump Appoint the First Native American to Lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs? Snopes.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019
- Beitsch, Rebecca (April 16, 2020). "With corporations vying for tribal stimulus, some call for resignation of head of Indian Affairs". TheHill. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Beitsch, Rebecca (April 28, 2020). "Federal court blocks funding to corporations vying for tribal stimulus". TheHill. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
External links
Media related to Tara Sweeney at Wikimedia Commons