Tribal-State Relations Training

Tribal State: Government-to-Government Relationships

Photo Gallery

Tribal Leader Panel March 2020

Leaders

Tribal Leader Panel: Chairman Kevin Jensvold, Upper Sioux Community; Chairwoman Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe; President Robert Larsen, Lower Sioux Indian Community.

Drum Group

Opening ceremony

Mahto Inazin drum group starts the training in a good way during the opening ceremony.

Chairman Charlie Vig

Welcoming

Former Chairman Charlie Vig, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, greets state employees and shares success stories of collaboration between the SMSC and the state of Minnesota.

Chairwoman Chavers and Levi Brown

Relationships

Chairwoman Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe and Levi Brown, MnDOT Tribal Affairs Director share a smile. The importance of Gov't-to-Gov't relationship building is the core of TSRT.

Grace Smith

Stories

Grace Smith tells participants her personal story of attending an Indian Boarding School and how it affected her and her family.

Professor Tadd Johnson

Teaching

Professor Johnson, Esq., UMD professor of American Indian Studies, lectures on federal Indian policy and the legal background between the tribes and states.

Chief Executive Benjamin and Chairman Jensvold

Openness

Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Chairman Kevin Jensvold, Upper Sioux Community, candidly answer participant questions.

Ed Fairbanks

Sharing

Ed Fairbanks, former MnDOT Tribal Liaison, shares differing Federal, State, and Tribal maps of Minnesota's Indian Country.

Honor Guard

Honor

White Earth Nation Honor Guard presents the colors of the 11 tribal nations in Minnesota, the State flag, and the United States flag during the opening ceremony.

Governor Walz

Endorsement

Governor Tim Walz welcomes the MN State Commissioners and staff to TSRT and shares why he signed Executive Order 19-24.

Lt. Governor Flanagan

Support

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan speaks after the 7 Generations Exercise, urging TSRT participants to recognize their work as state employees to overcome past injustices.

Jingle Dress Dancers and Drummer

Youth

Leech Lake jingle dress dancers Nishiime’ and Nindaanis Blomgren and hand drummer Tyler Joes share their Ojibwe culture and customs with participants at a TSRT session at Bois Forte.

Grace Smith and Ed Fairbanks

Friendships

Grace Smith, speaker, and Ed Fairbanks, former MnDOT Tribal Liaison, show the caring relationships that are highly valued in Indian Country.

Chairwoman Vizenor with Sue Mulvihill

Partnerships

Former Chairwoman Erma Vizenor, White Earth Nation and Sue Mulvihill, former MnDOT Deputy Commissioner catching up at TSRT.

Tribal Liaison Panel

Education

State Tribal Liaisons answer participant questions. (L to R) Rick Smith, MHFA; Vern LaPlante, DHS; Jackie Dionne, MDH.

Glynn Crooks carrying an Eagle Staff

Tradition

Glen Crooks carries the eagle staff dressed in regalia, leading the Honor Guard in the retirement of the colors during the closing ceremony.

Tribal Land Breakout Session Panelists

Knowledge

A closer look at Tribal Lands session; information shared by Sonny Meyers, Executive Director 1854 Treaty Authority; April McCormick, Grand Portage Roads Program Director; John Morrin, Member Grand Portage Tribal Council.

Group photo with princess jingle dress dancers

Goals

TSRT promotes authentic and respectful relationships between state agencies and American Indian tribes.

Chairman Dupuis

Commitment

Chairman Kevin Dupuis, Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe shares his thoughts about effective communication, collaboration, and consultation between the tribes and state of Minnesota.

Elected Leaders at MMIW Meeting

Bonds

Roger M. Smith, District III Representative Fond Du Lac; Chairwoman Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte; Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan; Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; President Shelley Buck, Prairie Island Indian Community.

Tribal Leader Panel Fall 2019

Collaboration

Tribal Leader Panel: President Robert Larsen, Lower Sioux Indian Community; Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Red Lake Nation; Chairman Faron Jackson, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Group photo of class participants

Learning

State agency employees actively participant in their education at TSRT through question and answer sessions, building relationships with tribal counterparts and other state employees.

Why Treaties Matter Exhibit on display

Treaties

The Why Treaties Matter traveling exhibit explores how the Dakota and Ojibwe treaties with the U.S. government affected the tribes in Minnesota and why those agreements still matter today.

Big Red Drum Group

Closing Ceremony

Big Red Drum plays the Traveling Song to end the TSRT session in a good way - well wishes for the journey home.