Deb Haaland to receive Chief Standing Bear Prize

Deb Haaland, former U.S. Interior secretary and a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Chief Standing Bear Prize for Courage, according to the Nebraska Examiner. She will be presented with the award during an Indigenous Peoples’ Day ceremony Oct. 13 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.

The prize is awarded annually by the Chief Standing Bear Project to honor those who embody the courage and legacy of Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Board president Katie Brossy said Haaland’s life demonstrates “quiet resilience” and a “willingness to lead, even when the path is uncertain,” highlighting her historic roles as the first Native American woman to lead a state political party, serve in Congress and serve in the Cabinet.