EchoHawk sworn in as head of Indian Affairs

BYU law professor Larry EchoHawk was officially sworn in Friday as the new assistant Interior secretary for Indian Affairs, allowing him to get a quick start on his work, after the Senate confirmed him earlier this week.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar swore him in and said, "I will rely on his steady leadership as we move forward to protect tribal communities, advance Indian education, carry out our trust responsibilities, support sustainable tribal economies and address Indian country's infrastructure needs."

EchoHawk said, "I want to thank President (Barack) Obama and Secretary Salazar for this opportunity to be a part of their efforts to bring positive change to Indian country."

He added, "I also want to thank the Congress and tribal leaders for their confidence and support. To the Indian Affairs employees, I want to express my appreciation for their dedication to serving the American Indian and Alaska Native people."

EchoHawk also pledged to "continue to honor the federal trust responsibility, to support tribal self-determination and to make a positive difference in the tribal communities we serve."

The quick ceremony on Friday will be followed up in coming weeks by a public swearing-in ceremony at the Interior Department's Washington headquarters, a department news release said.

EchoHawk, 60, a Pawnee who was the attorney general of Idaho and a legislator there, was the first American Indian in U.S. history to be elected to a statewide office. He received a bachelor's degree from BYU (where he played on the football team) and his law degree from the University of Utah.

He told the Deseret News earlier this week that he will make education, economic development and law enforcement three areas of focus for his work.

"Many of these people live in poverty. There are communities of American Indians that have nearly 80 percent unemployment. I'm going to do whatever I can to improve their quality of live," he said.

In his new job, he will develop Interior's policy on Indian-related issues and make budget recommendations affecting Indian education, public safety, social health and welfare, economic development and other issues.

He also oversees agencies that carry out those functions, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Office of Indian Gaming, the Office of Self-Governance, the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development and others.

E-MAIL: lee@desnews.com