DOI Welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and hundreds of department employees enthusiastically welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama during her visit Monday to the Department of the Interior Building.

The First Lady was greeted with the “Honor Song,” performed by the Native American traditional drum group the Black Bear Singers.  She was also presented with a traditional Native American shawl made by Marian Hansson from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Obama thanked DOI employees for the work they have done and the work they will do. 

“You are at the center of one of this Administration’s highest priorities- securing America’s energy future, protecting our natural environment and using natural resources as responsibly as we can,” she told a packed auditorium. 

Some of the Department’s longest-serving employees joined Obama and Salazar on stage and were recognized for their dedication and longevity.  Obama has also made visits to the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.