Media

The vision of the Tribal State Relations Exploration Project was born from an intense need to address the glaring disparities that Native people in the state of Minnesota face. State systems are neither informed of nor capable of fulfilling the needs of Native people.

A poor understanding of Tribal sovereignty, the impact of history on current conditions, and Native people and their existence in general, has a chilling impact on Minnesota’s ability to meet the unique needs of the Indigenous population.

Video produced by Missy Whiteman

Land Back: Yellow Medicine Community

On Friday, March 15, 2024, the official transfer of land of the Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux (Yellow Medicine) Community formally celebrated a historic and long overdue process.

Dakota Elder and Yellow Medicine member, Ellita Gouge, speaks of the historical and cultural importance of the Upper Sioux State Park to their community. Tribal Chairman Kevin Jensvold of the Upper Sioux community had made numerous requests at every government-to-government meeting for 20 years. With the condition of the Park, and support of the Tribe’s request, the DNR began efforts to transfer the land, and federal encumbrances were discovered.

This sparked the HF 2310 – Environment and Energy omnibus, which became law on May 23, 2023, and included the policy provision and appropriation of $5M to begin the transfer of land from the state of Minnesota containing Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux community.

Video produced by Missy Whiteman

Director of photography: Fransisco Sanchez