Interior Secretary says he'll treat Native American tribes as 'equals'

March 9 (UPI) -- Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said he wants to interact with Native American tribes as equals and supported their calls for sovereignty and self-determination.

Zinke, who was confirmed March 1, made the comments during the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' "Identifying Indian Affairs priorities for the Trump Administration" oversight hearing.

Zinke, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, recently resigned as Montana's sole member of the House of Representatives to lead the Department of the Interior.

During testimony, Zinke cited his experience with Montana's seven tribes recognized by the U.S. government. Zinke said while serving as a member of Congress he made it his priority to "remain accessible" to all tribal members "from the Crow Nation to the Blackfeet Nation" in order to work together "on a leader-to-leader basis."

"I viewed them as equals, not rivals. We shared and debated our priorities and ideas while seeking common ground," Zinke said, reading from his prepared remarks. "As a warrior, I respected their culture and traditions greatly and I agree with the core value, 'if you have to fight, fight for your people.'"

Zinke will lead the Interior Department amid conflict over the Dakota Access oil pipeline. On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled against the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, which were challenging the permit process for the pipeline at the center of the U.S. energy debate for more than a year.

"I entered the department just a few days ago, but the importance of my mission to partner with American Indians and Alaska Natives is one I do not take lightly," Zinke said. "It is an issue of incredible importance to me personally. Regardless of political party, our duty as Americans is to uphold our trust responsibilities and consult and collaborate on a government-to-government basis with tribes from Maine to Alaska."