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Tara Sweeney

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Tara Sweeney
Katuk
13th Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs
In office
July 30, 2018 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKevin K. Washburn
Succeeded byBryan Newland
Personal details
Born
Tara Katuk MacLean

(1973-07-28) July 28, 1973 (age 51)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMichael Sweeney
Children2
RelativesEileen MacLean (mother)
EducationCornell University (BS)

Tara MacLean Sweeney (born July 28, 1973)[1] is an Iñupiaq American businesswoman and former government official who served as assistant secretary of the interior for Native American affairs from July 2018 to January 2021.[2] Sweeney previously served in Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski's cabinet.[3]

Early life and education

A daughter of Bryan MacLean, a teacher, and Eileen MacLean (née Panigeo), who served as a Democratic member of the Alaska Legislature.[4] Of Iñupiaq descent, she is a member of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government.[5] One of her ancestors translated the Bible into the Inupiaq language.[6]

Sweeney grew up in the towns of Wainwright, Bethel, Unalakleet, Utqiagvik in rural Alaska. In 1991, she graduated from Barrow High School. Sweeney attended Cornell University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and labor relations in 1998.[6]

Career

Business career in Alaska

Tara Sweeney being sworn in for her new role at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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.[citation needed]

She started a one-year term as co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives in October 2013.[5] From 2015 to 2017, Sweeney served as chair of the Arctic Economic Council as a representative of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.[6]

Political activity

In 2003, Sweeney joined the cabinet of Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski as Special Assistant for Rural Affairs and Education.[3]

During the 2014 United States Senate election in Alaska, Sweeney served as co-chair of Republican Dan Sullivan's Senate campaign, stating that the Democratic Senate Majority "feverishly worked on an agenda that stifled growth and economic opportunities in Alaska". As Assistant Secretary, Sweeney wrote an op-ed endorsing Sullivan's reelection in 2020, arguing that Sullivan's opponent Al Gross supported "national Democrats' own radical, anti-Alaska agenda".[7]

In 2022, Sweeney announced her run for Alaska's at-large congressional district special election after the death of Don Young.[8] In June, she finished fifth in the 50-person at-large primary, with the top four advancing to a runoff. When the third-placer, Independent Al Gross dropped out, the question of her moving to fourth arose. A case for her inclusion brought by her supporters lost and she did not protest her elimination.[9] Sweeney announced a week after the primary election she was suspending her campaign after not "seeing a path to victory."[10]

Bureau of Indian Affairs

In October 2017, Sweeney was nominated by President Donald Trump as assistant secretary for Indian affairs.[11] The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously recommended a full vote in the Senate, and she was unanimously confirmed in June 2018.[12] During her confirmation hearing, she pledged to recuse herself from issues involving the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. She is the first Alaska Native and second woman to oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[12][13]

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.[14] On April 28, 2020 a federal court blocked the inclusion of Alaska Native owned corporations from receiving federal stimulus money earmarked for tribal governments.[15] The Supreme Court head the case on appeal and reversed the lower courts decision, agreeing that the 12 Alaska Native Regional Corporations were indeed eligible for the CARES Act funding along with the tribes.

Personal life

Sweeney is married to Kevin Sweeney, a former aide to Senator Lisa Murkowski. The couple have two children and live in Anchorage.[16] She had a role in the 2011 film On the Ice, and their son Ahmaogak had a role in the 2012 film Big Miracle.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Tara Katuk Mac Lean Sweeney, Native Village of Barrow Traditional Inupiat Government and Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope".
  2. ^ "Former Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Tara Katuk Mac Lean Sweeney | Indian Affairs". www.bia.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "History Made: Alaskan Leader Tara Mac Lean Sweeney Becomes First Female Alaska Native for Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs". www.doi.gov. August 16, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Alaska State Legislature-Representative Eileen MacLean
  5. ^ a b Alaska Native executive Tara Sweeney named to top Bureau of Indian Affairs job Indianz.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Steve Straehley and David Wallechinsky Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs: Who Is Tara Sweeney? Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  7. ^ October 25, Tara Sweeney Updated; October 24, 2020 Published; 2020. "Sullivan has been a champion for rural Alaska". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 16, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Tara Sweeney kicks off campaign for Congress, names campaign manager Karina Waller, others in key positions". April 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Alaska Supreme Court ruling keeps Tara Sweeney off U.S. House special election ballot, Anchorage Daily News, Mark Thiessen (AP), June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Tara Sweeney drops out of Alaska U.S. House race, Anchorage Daily News, Iris Samuels (ADN), August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  11. ^ DeGeorge, Krestia (November 14, 2016). "What will federal policies affecting Alaska Natives look like under the Trump administration?". ArcticToday. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Daniel Kirby (June 28, 2018) Senate unanimously confirms Tara Sweeney for Interior Department post Ktuu.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019
  13. ^ 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
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (April 28, 2020). "Federal court blocks funding to corporations vying for tribal stimulus". TheHill. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Demer, Lisa; October 18, Erica Martinson Updated; October 18, 2017 Published; 2017. "Alaska Native leaders say Tara Sweeney is well suited for Trump's top Indian affairs job". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 16, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last4= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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