Our Work

Since its initial establishment in 2020, the Tribal State Relations Office has continuously worked closely with Tribal leadership. This collaborative work has led to the achievement of numerous accomplishments.

COVID-19 Response: 

Four days after the Tribal State Relations Team began their work, the Governor signed Executive Order 20-01, calling for a peacetime emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the TSR team paused the work on the implementation of Executive Order 19-24 and shifted focus to the immediate, pressing need of coordination and collaboration with the Tribal Nations for a statewide, pointed response to the pandemic. Frequent and ongoing communication between the Tribes and the Governor’s office was critical to coordinate on COVID responses. Early action from Tribal Nations was a crucial part of Minnesota’s success in combatting the pandemic.

Codification of Tribal Consultation Policy into State Law: 

During the summer of 2020, the TSR office met one-on-one with eight of the Tribal Nations and the issue of codifying Tribal consultation and government-to-government relations was discussed. Unfortunately, COVID travel restrictions prevented the TSR office from meeting with all eleven Tribal Nations. However, in December 2020, TSR Staff coordinated with all 11 Tribal Nations to form a working group to develop language codifying EO 19-24. In July 2021, the working group celebrated the passing of Minn. Stat. 10.65 into state law, making government-to-government relationships a lasting priority for state of Minnesota.

Legislative Gains:

The TSR office works closely with the Governor’s Policy Team and various agencies to coordinate legislative priorities between Tribal Nations and the state. The prioritization of Tribal affairs across state government has fostered consultation and discussions that have led to the inclusion of key priorities with a direct impact on Indian Country in the state’s budget and policy work. Central examples of priorities articulated and worked on by Tribal Leaders that were included in the Governor’s state budget include: Indigenous Education for All, creation of the first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office in the country, support for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training and updates to the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), funding for invasive species and environmental priorities, funding for housing and homelessness response, etc. A full summary of legislative accomplishments is being prepared and will be posted here.

Annual Summit:

The TSR office has organized four Tribal Summits hosted by the Governor (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). The 2023 Annual Tribal Summit highlighted "asks” made to the Governor during the 2019 Summit that had been accomplished at the time of the fourth Summit, such as codification of the government-to-government relationship and others:

• Increased funding and education requirements that build understanding of Native American History in Schools (Indigenous Education for All).

• Changing the Minnesota Flag and State seal to remove the painful imagery.

• Returning the Upper Sioux Agency State Park land to the Yellow Medicine Dakota people. 

• Forming a Tribal Advisory Council on Energy.

• Development of direct Tribal Aid.