Tara Sweeney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tara Sweeney
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| Katuk | |
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Sweeney in 2018
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| 13th Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs | |
| In office July 9, 2018 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Kevin K. Washburn |
| Succeeded by | Bryan Newland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tara Katuk MacLean
July 28, 1973 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michael Sweeney |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Eileen MacLean (mother) |
| Education | Cornell University (BS) |
Tara MacLean Sweeney (born July 28, 1973) is an American businesswoman and politician from Alaska. She is an Alaska Native of Iñupiaq heritage. From 2018 to 2021, she held an important government job as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.
Sweeney has also worked in business and was involved in Alaska state politics. In 2022, she ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives but was not elected.
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Early Life and Education
Tara Sweeney was born to Bryan MacLean, a teacher, and Eileen MacLean, a politician who served in the Alaska Legislature. She is a member of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government. One of her ancestors even helped translate the Bible into the Inupiaq language.
She grew up in several towns in rural Alaska, including Wainwright, Bethel, Unalakleet, and Utqiagvik. In 1991, she graduated from Barrow High School. After high school, Sweeney went to Cornell University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998.
Business and Leadership Career
For nearly 20 years, Sweeney worked for the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC). This is a company owned by Alaska Natives that works in many industries. As a top executive, she was the main spokesperson for the company. In this role, she supported allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Sweeney also held important leadership positions. She was the co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives for a one-year term starting in 2013. From 2015 to 2017, she was the chair of the Arctic Economic Council, representing the Inuit Circumpolar Council.
Government and Political Work
In 2003, Sweeney began working for Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski. She was his Special Assistant for Rural Affairs and Education.
Later, she became involved in national politics. During the 2014 U.S. Senate election in Alaska, she was a co-chair for Republican Dan Sullivan's campaign. She also supported his re-election in 2020.
Leading the Bureau of Indian Affairs
In 2017, President Donald Trump chose Sweeney to be the assistant secretary for Indian affairs. She was approved by the U.S. Senate in June 2018. This was a historic moment, as she became the first Alaska Native and only the second woman to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This government agency is in charge of matters related to Native American and Alaska Native tribes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a debate arose about how to distribute government aid money. Sweeney suggested that for-profit Alaska Native corporations should be able to receive some of the funds meant for tribal governments. A federal court initially blocked this idea. However, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the Alaska Native corporations were eligible to receive the funds.
2022 Campaign for Congress
In 2022, Alaska's only congressman, Don Young, passed away. A special election was held to fill his seat. Sweeney decided to run for the position.
The election used Alaska's new system called instant runoff voting, or ranked-choice voting. In the first round, called a primary, Sweeney finished fifth. Only the top four candidates could move on to the final election. When the fourth-place candidate dropped out, there was a legal question about whether Sweeney could take his place. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that she could not.
Sweeney then ran as a write-in candidate, where voters have to write her name on the ballot. This effort was not successful. She also ran in the regular election for a full term in Congress but ended her campaign after the primary.
Personal Life
Sweeney is married to Kevin Sweeney. They have two children and live in Anchorage, Alaska.
She had a small acting role in the 2011 movie On the Ice. Her son, Ahmaogak, also appeared in the 2012 film Big Miracle.
