Minnesota Tribes and Transportation

Quick Links

• Advocacy Council
• Glossary
• Indian Affairs Council
• Indian Reservation Roads Program - BIA
• Minnesota House Research Paper on Indians, Indian Tribes and State Government
• Minnesota Tribal Governments
• Michigan Tribal Technical Assistance Program
• Grants

Topics

• Minnesota Tribal Road Safety Summit, 2008
• Agreements
• Employment MOUs and policy
• Mn/DOT Public and Stakeholder Participation - Hear Every Voice
• Environmental, historic and cultural preservation
• Right of Way
• Road signs (pdf)

Developing Government-to-Government Partnerships

There are eleven federally recognized Indian tribal governments located within the State of Minnesota. Each tribe is a separate sovereign, unique unto itself and distinct from all other federally recognized tribes. Each tribe has an independent relationship with the United States and the State of Minnesota. More about Minnesota Tribes

 

The Department of Transportation recognizes the unique sovereign status of federally recognized Tribes and the cultural values of all American Indian tribes in Minnesota, and it is committed to strengthening the Government-to-Government relationship with the Tribes.

Mn/DOT, FHWA - MN Division and the tribes have agreed to combine their efforts with available resources in a coherent inter-governmental partnership that will result in more, efficient, improved and beneficial transportation services.

 

Agreements

 

Executive Order 03-05: Affirming the Government-to-Government Relationship between the State of Minnesota and Indian Tribal Governments Located within the State of Minnesota.

 

Government-to-Government Transportation Accord Signed at the 2002 Summit.

 

Additional Agreements

 

 

News

 

2009 Tribes & Transportation Conference

The Environmental Stewardship theme drew in 170 participants.

 

Roadside Vegetation MOU signed

The Roadside Vegetation MOU between Mn/DOT and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was signed on May 15.

 

Advocacy Council

The Advocacy Council for Tribal Transportation discusses roadway policy and works on issues that involve roadways on or near Indian reservations. See meeting notes and learn about issues

 

Success story: Hwy 224 on the White Earth Reservation

 

The four-mile section of Hwy 224 between Ogema and White Earth on the White Earth Indian Reservation was transferred to Becker County in June 2005

 

Through several funding sources, including County State Aid funds, Becker County and Mn/DOT improved the roadway connecting White Earth and Ogema  with wider, flatter, safer bituminous roadway. This project also allowed the Tribe to construct a new water main down the middle of Highway 224 prior to the reconstruction project. More about this project