In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Clinton Foundation sat down with Mary Smith, a proud Cherokee Nation citizen and seasoned public servant. With a career dedicated to advocating for Native communities, Mary reflects on the importance of honoring Indigenous peoples’ contributions and the ongoing work to support them. 

In this interview, she shares about her time in the Clinton administration and her unwavering commitment to strengthening Native American sovereignty and opportunities.

*Responses have been adjusted for length and clarity.

Q: As a Native American and member of the Cherokee Nation, can you tell us a little bit about the significance of acknowledging Native American Heritage Month as a country?

A: During Native American Heritage Month, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and profound contributions of Native Americans. We also recommit to upholding our trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations, strengthening our nation-to-nation relationships.

For centuries, Indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, displaced, and denied the right to practice sacred ceremonies. Yet today, they remain some of our strongest environmental stewards and serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at higher rates than any other group. Native peoples challenge us to confront our past and strive for better, and their contributions to scholarship, law, the arts, and public service continue to guide our future.

Q: What does celebrating Native American Heritage Month mean for you, personally?

A: For me personally, Native American Heritage Month has always been about standing against colonialism and celebrating my culture in a visible way, while making sure my peers know that Native people are still here and are a vibrant part of America.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in law and have your experiences as a woman and as a member of the Cherokee Nation shaped your journey?

A: Growing up on the far south side of Chicago, neither of my parents attended college. My father didn’t even graduate high school; he left to join the Navy during World War II. My mother, Caroline, was a gifted student who graduated high school at 16, but she never went to college, even though her three brothers did.

My Native American heritage comes from my grandmother, Ora Mae Pallone, who was born in 1905 in Westville, Oklahoma. She grew up in an era when girls were expected to stop their education after eighth grade, but she was determined to push beyond those limits. I’ve always admired her strength and perseverance.

Every day, I try to make the most of the opportunities my mother and grandmother didn’t have. In college, I majored in math and computer science, and after graduation, I worked in technology at Walgreens corporate headquarters.

While I enjoyed helping people with their computer problems, I realized I wanted to make a deeper impact. That’s what led me to law school—to help people in ways that truly matter.

Q: How did your background lead you to join President Clinton’s 1996 reelection campaign?

A: I’ve always admired President Clinton’s vision of lifting everyone up; it really aligned with my own commitment to public service. At the time, I was working as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, and I started writing letters offering to volunteer for his campaign in the evenings. But with my work schedule running late into the night, I knew that wasn’t realistic. So, I wrote one final letter saying I would quit my job and volunteer full-time.

The volunteer coordinator asked me to meet at campaign headquarters, and when I arrived, she said, “So you’re going to quit your job as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice to volunteer on this campaign?” I simply replied, “Yes, I will.” From then on, I had the honor of working on the campaign and then serving in President Clinton’s administration.

Q: Can you tell us about some of the work that moved forward during your time in the Clinton administration?

A: I was fortunate to work in the White House after the campaign, where I focused on advancing Native American policy. As a Native American, it was a personal priority to learn as much as I could and push for meaningful initiatives. By my third year, I envisioned a comprehensive agenda to improve Native American programs across federal agencies, which led to President Clinton proposing a $1.2 billion increase for Native American programs,  a moment of which I’m incredibly proud.

Q: Is there anything else you’re particularly proud of from your time in the Clinton Administration? 

A: One initiative of which I’m especially proud  was the program to train 1000  new Native American teachers over three years. President Clinton secured critical funding for Native American education, including a $293 million increase for school repairs and construction by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Under his administration, the Department of Education also allocated $1.2 billion to improve school programs nationwide, with $75 million earmarked for schools with higher Native American student populations.

Here’s a story from that time that always touched my heart: In 2000, President Clinton mentioned Native Americans in the State of the Union for the first time in decades. A young Native woman from Arizona who wanted to become a teacher was in Secretary Clinton’s box during the address, which made the moment even more special.

Fast forward almost 25 years—I was speaking to Native American graduate students at the University of Illinois, sharing the story of the teacher initiative. Two of the students had tears in their eyes and told me they’d been part of the program. Now, not only do they have teaching degrees, but also PhDs. Meeting them was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of that initiative and the work we accomplished during the Clinton administration.

Q: In 1994, President Clinton hosted a historic meeting at the White House with 300 tribal leaders, emphasizing respect for Native sovereignty, traditional culture, and the importance of a stronger partnership between governments to mobilize federal resources and improve Native lives.

How has this milestone influenced your career, and can you share more about the president’s efforts to support Native American sovereignty?

A: In April 1994, just 15 months into his presidency, President Clinton made history by inviting 322 tribal leaders to the White House, the first time since 1822 that a sitting president had done so. That same year, he signed two landmark bills: one made tribal self-governance policies permanent, and the other allowed tribes to manage their own trust accounts, marking a shift in the federal government’s approach to Indian Country.

Throughout his presidency, Clinton focused on Native American issues, signing laws, memos, and executive orders to restore tribal rights and improve housing, infrastructure, and employment on tribal lands. 

One of his key contributions came in November 2000 when he signed an executive order to establish meaningful government-to-government collaboration with tribes . He said, “There is nothing more important in federal tribal relations than fostering true government-to-government relations to empower American Indians and Alaska Natives to improve their own lives.” 

Q: You’ve mentioned economic equality a few times- can you share more about the impact of that work and how it’s shaped the progress we’ve seen so far?

A: One of the most memorable moments for me was accompanying President Clinton on his historic 1999 visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the first time a sitting president had visited Indian tribal lands since FDR.

The visit was deeply meaningful to the community. I’ll never forget an elderly woman standing by the side of the road, wearing a brightly colored skirt, waiting in the scorching sun for hours just to see the president. It was a powerful symbol of the community’s connection to this visit.

That trip, part of the New Markets Tour, was a legislative success. It helped build support for the New Markets program, which led to Congress passing tax incentives and investment loans to encourage private sector growth in underserved areas. The program emphasized that the government’s role isn’t just about providing direct services, but about driving private investment and fostering partnerships.

Q: What are some of the ongoing challenges facing Native American communities such as significant health inequities and poverty rates. How do you believe we can address these issues?

A: Many areas of Indian country still lack basic services like broadband and electricity, and these communities were hit hard by the pandemic and economic downturn. There’s an ongoing need for investment in broadband, education, healthcare, social services, access to capital, and so much more. 

Native communities still face barriers that limit economic security and opportunity, shaped by the legacies of forced removal, assimilation, and broken promises. Native Americans have lower labor force participation rates, higher unemployment, and earn less than non-Hispanic whites, which contributes to intergenerational poverty and limited mobility.

Breaking this cycle is further complicated by educational gaps, with nearly 80% of Native Americans over 25 holding less than a bachelor’s degree. To expand economic opportunities in Native communities, we must invest more in families, education, and healthcare. A focus on renewable energy will also provide both cultural and economic benefits. Not only will it lessen a dependence on fossil fuels, but it will help strengthen sovereignty for these tribes.

Q: As an attorney and former president of the American Bar Association, how can the legal system help create more opportunities and equality for Native Americans?

A: First, we need to ensure they are accurately represented in data. We also need to raise awareness about tribal sovereignty and encourage more Native American students to pursue law careers, as well as work toward increasing Native American representation in the federal judiciary.

We have to remember that under the principle of self-determination, tribal nations must have the autonomy to set their own priorities. Tribal sovereignty must be respected, and both tribes and urban Indian communities should be active partners in efforts to create lasting change.

Q: Last question here: with all that’s going on today in today’s climate, what gives you hope? 

A: I’ve had the privilege of visiting many tribal and urban Indian communities, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see the important work being done by such passionate and resilient people. I’m especially inspired by Native American students.

I’ll leave you with a story. Last year, while visiting Alaska, I met a Native law student who approached me about an issue with the Amber Alert system not working effectively in tribal communities. He asked for help from the American Bar Association (ABA). Instead of just offering assistance, I encouraged him to draft a resolution for the ABA to adopt. With help from Native lawyers, he did just that! Now, his idea is official ABA policy, allowing the organization to lobby Congress on this important issue. It’s a powerful example of how even a small group of Native Americans can make a real difference.