“For too long this issue has been swept under the rug,” Haaland, the nation’s first indigenous Cabinet secretary, said Tuesday. She cited statistics indicating more than 90 percent of indigenous women experience violence, including more than half involving an intimate partner. “I believe we are at an inflection point,” Haaland said. “We have a president who has promised to prioritize this issue and ensure that Native American leaders have a seat at the table.” ADVERTISEMENT Haaland said the unit was part of a “whole-of-government” approach to addressing issues, saying that “for too long, Indian issues were relegated to tribal offices within federal agencies.”