Minnesota Lawmakers to participate in Tribal-State Relations Training this week

WELCH, Minn. – Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate will participate in Tribal-State Relations Training on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12. The event this year – the training’s 10th anniversary – is hosted by the Prairie Island Indian Community at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.

“As an institution, the Minnesota House of Representatives is committed to strengthening our productive relationships with the 11 sovereign tribal nations that share common geography with Minnesota. Participating in this training and other activities – including our biennial Sovereignty Day in the House – helps us all better understand tribal sovereignty and look at issues through a proper historical context,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park). “I’m deeply grateful to President Johnny Johnson of the Prairie Island Indian Community for hosting, and I look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration with him and Minnesota’s tribal government leaders.”

“We have a lot to learn from each other and Minnesota leaders are prioritizing building relationships and enhancing understanding of the culture and history of Minnesota's tribal communities. This historic effort to learn from one another to keep tribal-state relations strong will not only improve tribal-state relations but benefit communities across the state,” said Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic (DFL – Minneapolis).

The training’s goal is to educate legislators and other attendees – including leadership within the executive branch – about American Indian tribal governments, histories, cultures, and traditions, and to help state leadership work more effectively with tribal governments and American Indians. Attendees will learn about the history of federal Indian policy; the unique relationship between tribal, state, and federal governments; ways in which differences can be resolved through understanding, mediation, agreements, and partnerships; issues which the state of Minnesota and the tribes in Minnesota may differ on, and how work of the Legislature interconnects with the tribal nations.

More information on tribal-state relations training can be found here.