Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna People, was born in Winslow, Arizona into a military family.

Her father, J.D. "Dutch" Haaland, a Norwegian-American, was a decorated 30-year career Marine. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for saving the lives of Marines in Vietnam in 1967. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Mary Toya, Deb's mother, served in the U.S. Navy.

According to a New York Times article, Haaland connected with her New Mexico voters by linking her progressive campaign to her tribal background.

During her great-grandfather's day, for instance, the...