Tara Mac Lean Sweeney has been nominated by President Trump to be the first Native Alaskan to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, i.e. to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Both a well-known Alaska Native leader and a prominent businesswoman with the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, the largest Alaskan-owned corporation in the state, Sweeney would be the second woman to hold the post. Her appointment requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Sweeney is a member of the Native Village of Barrow and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope.
Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke praised Sweeney: “Tara is a results-driven team leader and coalition builder who has an impressive combination of business acumen and service to her community.” He added, “Her lifelong active engagement in Native American policy development and her outreach, advocacy, and organization skills are the combination we need to carry out the President’s reform initiative for Indian Country. I look forward to welcoming her to our leadership team.”
Sweeney commented: “I am honored to be nominated to serve Indian Country in this capacity. My goal is to develop strong relationships with Tribes, Alaska Native corporations and Native Hawaiian Organizations to work on innovative solutions for lifting up our communities. I am motivated to work with Indian Country to find efficiencies inside the Bureau of Indian Affairs, improve service delivery and culturally relevant curriculum in the Bureau of Indian Education, and create a more effective voice for Tribes throughout the Federal Government. I am humbled by the confidence President Trump and Secretary Zinke have shown in me and ready to serve.”
Born and raised in rural Alaska, where she attended school in several small villages, Sweeney has been active in state and national energy policy, in bringing broadband to all corners of the state, and Native self-determination. She lives in Anchorage with her husband and two children.
She has worked for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation for almost 20 years. The company has 13,000 Iñupiat Eskimo members and 12,000 employees. Its major business sectors include energy support services, industrial services, construction, petroleum refining and marketing, governmental services and resource development.
As executive vice president of external affairs, Sweeney is responsible for government affairs and corporate communications. One of her responsibilities has been to engage with federal and state government on policies affecting Indians, such as energy, taxation and resource development.
Sweeney has served on multiple boards, such as the Arctic Economic Council, Alaska Federation of Natives, FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in a Digital Age and the University of Alaska Foundation Board of Trustees.
Sweeney, who has belonged to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) all her life, was crowned Miss NCAI in 1993. She served as Special Assistant for Rural Affairs and Education under Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski.
Both of Alaska’s U.S. senators praised the appointment.
Senator Lisa Murkowski said, “Tara has a very strong record of professionalism and accomplishment in Alaska, across the country, and internationally, especially with the indigenous people of the circumpolar north. She has significant experience on Arctic issues and chaired the Arctic Economic Council. She is an expert on energy, infrastructure, broadband, economic development, Native self-determination, and a wide range of policy issues that will come before her. Secretary Zinke could not have chosen a better leader to help him fulfill the federal government’s trust responsibility, and I know Tara has the heart and drive to excel in this position.”
Senator Dan Sullivan added, “This is a historic appointment for Alaskans and for the country. I’ve worked with Tara Sweeney for years and I have witnessed first-hand her integrity, her strong leadership skills and her devotion to public service. Tara has a deep love for our state and people, and is relentless in her commitment to securing a better future for Alaska and the nation. With her long history of advocating for Alaska Native cultural values, rights, and economic opportunity, I can’t think of anyone better to have as our nation’s next Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.”
Alaska Governor Bill Walker commented, “Tara’s leadership in seeking self-determination and economic development for the people of the Arctic has been exemplary. As an Inupiaq tribal and corporate leader, she has sought the necessary balance between economic development and sustaining the ways of life and cultures of Alaska’s First People. While many will be sad to see her leave ASRC, Tara’s expertise will serve our state and nation well in this new role.”
Leonard Smith, executive director of the Native American Development Corporation, said, “Ms. Sweeney’s background consists of the right elements to assist our economic development efforts with the tribes we serve in Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota towards economic sustainability.” He added, “Her experience in energy, capital, government contracting and economic development give her the depth of knowledge to develop legislative solutions to federal policies that hinder economic development with tribal nations.”
