For Mary Pavel, staff director and chief counsel to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the opportunity to immerse herself daily in Native American issues including housing, energy and land restoration is deeply rewarding, both professionally and personally.
The youngest of six siblings, Pavel, 47, grew up on the Skokomish Reservation in Washington state. Since starting work in February at the committee, chaired by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), her days have been packed with meetings with tribal leaders, work on reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act , and keeping tabs on how the Department of the Interior is rolling out a $1.9 billion land -buyback program. “I try to make sure we see the issues from all angles — making sure that we’re trying to put forth good policy.”
