Tribal leaders and state legislators come together in the Capitol for the day of the sovereignty

On Monday, dozens of tribal leaders and state legislators came together in the Senate building in St. Paul to build relationships and talk about joint priorities.

The sovereignty day was full of possibilities for the eleven tribal nations guides in the state to visit members of the Minnesota House and the Senate – an opportunity to share, an opportunity to sit over and learn from each other.

The day started with a small meeting outside on the site of the Senate building. Singer of the Red Tree Drum Group from the lower Sioux Indian Community opened with a flag song and a song to honor veterans.

Lakota oldest Jerry gave a call.

“You are here for people,” said very much.

The organizers of the day event say that this is the first time that tribal leaders and legislators have gathered in the Senate building.

Within the Senate building, the chosen head of state and government and the state's legislators took part in a welcome body. Behind them were the flags of the tribal nations next to the flags of the USA and Minnesota – a symbol of the work of work and the governments of the country that have come together in recent years.

Some of the tribal leaders around the podium were elected last year.

Ashley Cornforth was one of the recently elected ones. Cornforth is the secretary treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Cornforth said that tribal sovereignty cannot be a “uniform” approach to working with tribal nations.

“The state must recognize that each of us as tribe leaders has unique duties and responsibility in order to best serve our own communities and our own members,” said Cornforth. “Respect of tribal sovereignty means to understand or at least recognize these differences and to work individually with each nation.”

“Legislative consultation”

The day of the sovereignty began a few years ago when the former DFL spokesman for Melissa Hortman and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, then DFL legislator, wanted to build on earlier efforts to increase relationships between tribal leaders and legislators.

Hortman called it “legislative consultation”. Hortman explained that the idea behind the legislative consultation is that the governor's office has had a relationship between the government and the government with tribal nations, but the state legislature also has the responsibility to consult tribal leaders.

At the events on Monday, the state leadership of both parties were present, and more than a dozen tribal leaders spoke on panels all day.

Tribal leaders have addressed several topics all day. The chairman of the Indian community in Prairie Island has concerns about state legislation that introduced a legislation that would effectively increase a moratorium for nuclear power.

Johnson recalled those present, the Indian community of Prairie Island is only several hundred meters from the nuclear power near Red Wing.

“Due to the increased demand and the need for reduced carbon emissions and energy generation, there is a new advance on nuclear energy.

Johnson emphasized that the community on Prairie Island is looking for information about the future of the work.

“Our members, they have problems.

Like other tribal leaders, Johnson emphasized the need for the legislators of the state consult the tribal leaders. The topic of consultation was raised many times during the day.

Another leader said that the consultation would go beyond the coordination or the exchange of information. April McCormick, a tribal leader from the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, asked her leaders in the state government to “reach early and to fulfill it often”.

“We won't live afraid”

During the day, trumpers also revolved around the effects of the recent cuts of the Trump government on federal financing and the way these cuts could affect tribal nations.

During the morning session, the chairman of the Indian municipality of Upper Sioux Kevin Jensvold said that his tribe had experienced several hundred years of federal politics and dozens of president.

“We won't be afraid of life what happens today or yesterday,” said Jensvold.

“Our ancestors have sacrificed too much … We will be aware of what is going on at the federal level, but we will not be scared of life, which may happen or not.

The US Senator Tina Smith spoke during a committee in the late morning about the effects of the federal financing cuts on tribal nations. Smith is a member of the Senate Committee for Indian affairs.

The Democrat spoke especially with the effects of cuts on the financing of Medicaid and the effects on people covered by Medicaid in Minnesota.

“This is not a question of interpretation;

Tribal leaders also brought up specific topics in terms of financing concerns regarding health care through Indian health services and the financing of education by Bureau of Indian Education.

The chairman of the Red Lake Nation, Darrell Seki Sr., held the copy of the US constitution with it, which he carries with him, and said he believed that the financing cuts in various federal authorities are a violation of the contracts signed with the US government.

Seki asked the legislators to understand that the lack of financing as well as the years of underfunding for health care and public security can be felt deeply at Red Lake.

“You have made a promise now,” said Seki.