Remarks of Secretary Salazar,
introducing First Lady of the United States,
Michelle Obama,
to the Department of the Interior
February 9, 2009
Thank you. Thank you for joining me today in welcoming the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama!
And thank you to the Black Bear Singers for performing this afternoon. They are an inter-tribal group representing American Indians that live and work in the Washington D.C area. It is an honor to hear from you.
Just a few days ago, I had the great privilege of delivering my first speech to all 67,000 members of our Department of the Interior from this same auditorium.
Connected by satellite and teleconference to offices and workplaces across the country, I described my vision for this great Department.
For too long, in my view, this Department has been seen as the Department of the West. Too few Americans see and understand the remarkable work that this Department’s dedicated public servants do, day in and day out.
This is the Department that serves as the steward of our landscapes, of our history, and of our rich cultural heritage. It is the Department that provides energy to heat our homes, water to grow our food, and the science to help our country make wise decisions.
It is the Department with responsibility to America’s First Peoples.
It is the Department that inspires our kids to get outdoors and to serve their country.
The Department’s work stretches from coast to coast, over oceans and to insular territories, and to every corner of our nation.
We are, truly, the Department of America.
Today we honor those who make this such a noble institution: the public servants who work tirelessly on behalf of the American people.
We have the honor of being joined on stage by some of the Department’s longest-serving public servants. I want to briefly recognize you:
Michael Smith
Gloria Mora
Barbara Davis, and HER SISTER:
Thelma Harjo (sister of Barbara Davis)
Carolyn McGuire
Sylvia Jones
Stanley Penn, Jr.
Robert Brown
Richard Trinidad
Ethel Smith
Daisy West
Carmen Lutzka
Charles Pereira
Darwina Neal
Charles Riggins
Laura Curlett
THANK YOU, and thank you to all the public servants of this Department who give so much on behalf of their country.
Today, we are excited to welcome an honored guest to the Department of the Interior.
… so please join me in welcoming the First Lady of the United States: Michelle Obama!
[FIRST LADY ENTERS STAGE]
Mrs. Obama, we welcome you to the Department of the Interior, and would like to present you with a traditional American Indian women’s shawl.
This shawl is a mark of respect to honor women of high achievements and distinction.
Nedra Darling, the Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs will present the shawl.
Nedra is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi [Pot-a-what-o’-me; rhymes with “Not a lot o’ me]) Nation located in Kansas.
Would everyone please stand for the presentation of the shawl and an Honor Song by the Black Bear Singers?