Native Governance Center

Rebuilders C13 Ask Us Anything Hours
2023-08-29 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
Do you have questions for our team about applying for Rebuilders Cohort 13? Are you considering filling out an application but don’t know if becoming a Rebuilder is right for you?
This year, we’re hosting new “ask us anything” drop-in Zoom sessions! The sessions are informal, fun opportunities to connect with our program staff to learn more. To get the link to join, message us on social media (@nativegov) us or email rebuilders@nativegov.org.

State Fair: Indigenous Peoples' Day
2023-08-27 09:00 - 18:00 | Dan Patch Park, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States
Are you planning to attend the Minnesota State Fair this year? In between all of those cheese curds, midway rides, and pronto pups, stop by our booth on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Fair!
We’ll be tabling in Dan Patch Park (right outside of the grandstand) with other Indigenous organizations on August 27, 2023 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. We’re grateful to NĀTIFS Indigenous Food Lab for hosting the event: this year’s theme is environmental and food justice for Indigenous people in Mni Sota Makoce.

Leadership Development Team at Grand Portage Pow Wow
2023-08-11 10:00 - 2023-08-12 21:00 | Grand Portage Pow Wow Grounds, 4 Eliza Rd., Grand Portage, MN, 55605, United States
Our leadership development team is headed to the Grand Portage Pow Wow! Look for them on Friday, August 11 and Saturday August, 12. They’ll be visiting with folks and answering questions about the Rebuilders program–they also have a giveaway!

Rebuilders Photo Session
2023-08-10 17:00 - 18:30 | Jay Cooke State Park, Jay Cooke Park Office, 780 MN-210, Carlton, MN, 55718, United States
We’re organizing a photo session at Jay Cooke State Park for Rebuilders from all cohorts!
On Thursday, August 10, we’ll meet at the park office starting at 5:00 PM to catch up, take photos with photographer Nina Francine (Cherokee), and share a meal together. Attendees will receive a boxed dinner from Northern Waters Smokehaus and high-quality digital photos as a thank-you for participating!
We still have space available: email rebuilders@nativegov.org to join us!

Become a Rebuilder!
2023-07-26 08:00 - 2023-10-02 17:00 | MN
We’re excited to announce the opening of the application period for Cohort 13 of our Native Nation Rebuilders program. Join the nation rebuilding movement! Click the button below to read about requirements, important dates, and the application process.

Deadline to apply is Monday, October 2nd 5:00 PM Central Time.
Become A Rebuilder

Netroots Nation
2023-07-15 14:30 - 15:30 | Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
Join us at Netroots Nation in Chicago for our session on Beyond Land Acknowledgment. Session description:
After hearing a land acknowledgment statement, do you ever find yourself asking, “Now what?” Land acknowledgment is growing in popularity, yet it often functions as optical allyship. Since releasing a guide to land acknowledgment in 2019, Native Governance Center (NGC) has received hundreds of inquiries from people wanting help. Most of these inquiries have focused on verbiage, rather than action steps for supporting Indigenous communities. In response, NGC created a new action-planning approach. In this session, you’ll learn why land acknowledgment can be problematic. You’ll engage in small and large group activities to learn how to design meaningful action steps. Finally, you’ll have a chance to begin creating your own action plan.

Land Rush to Land Back: Legacies of Allotment and Indigenous Resistance
2023-06-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Many Native nations control just a small percentage of their original land base. Rather than Tribal governments and individual Tribal citizens stewarding and carrying out their vision for the land, we instead see big ag, vacation home owners, the United States Forest Service, and others making decisions. How did this happen?
The United States Government stole more than 90 million acres of Indigenous land during the Allotment Era. In Land Rush to Land Back, we’ll examine allotment’s history and modern-day implications for Native nations. We’ll also highlight ongoing Indigenous resistance and the strategies Native nations are using to fight back.
Event schedule

12:00 PM: Welcome + event basics
12:15 PM: Panel discussion
12:45 PM: Q&A
1:00 PM: Event concludes

Register to reserve your spot in the Zoom webinar today. The webinar will also be broacast on Facebook Live. This event will be closed captioned.
Event host and panelists:

Host: Dr. Twyla Baker (MHA Nation)
Panelists:

Cris Stainbrook (Oglala Lakota)
Adam Savariego (Upper Sioux Dakota)
Darelynn Lehto (Prairie Island Dakota)

Sponsors: Anderson Realty, APi Group, Woodlands National Bank, STAIGER | VITELLI and Associates LLC, University of St. Thomas

Niniijaanis Art Market
2023-06-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Flava Cafe, 623 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN, 55104, United States
Join us at the Niniijaanis Art Market at Flava Cafe: we’ll be tabling in the Native-made marketplace and sharing information on our next cohort of Native Nation Rebuilders. Applications open soon. Come say Boozhoo, Háŋ, Hello!

NCAI Mid-Year Convention
2023-06-05 15:00 - 2023-06-07 18:00 | Mystic Lake Event Center, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd NW, Prior Lake, MN, 55372, United States
Join us at the 2023 NCAI Mid-Year Convention at Mystic Lake Center: we’ll be tabling in the marketplace. Come say hello!

Patagonia St. Paul Run and Film Night
2023-06-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Patagonia St. Paul, 1648 Grand Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55104, United States
Join us at Patagonia St. Paul’s Run and Film Night on June 2! The evening will begin with a short run/walk and snacks from Pow Wow Grounds. Two films featuring Indigenous athletes will be screened, followed by Q&A with the directors and featured athletes:

Run to be Visible
Know to Run: Yatika

Native Governance Center will be tabling along with A Mile in my Shoes, ReNew Earth Running, and Rising Hearts. Stop by and say hello!
Free registration is required on Patagonia St. Paul’s event page.

Minnesota Aurora FC Home Opener
2023-05-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Twin Cities Orthopedic Stadium, 2600 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN, 55121, United States
Native Governance Center is tabling at the MN Aurora FC’s home opener on May 24, 2023: stop by and say hello to our team!

Sovereignty Sidequest
2023-04-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Instagram Live
Calling all nerds! We’re going on a sidequest with our pal Dallas Goldtooth (featured in FX’s award-winning show, Reservation Dogs) to talk about sovereignty. Join us live on Friday, April 28 from 7:00-9:00 PM CT to watch Dallas and our executive director Wayne Ducheneaux II play a few of their favorite video games while chatting about important things happening in Indian Country. Do you have a question for Dallas or Wayne? During Sovereignty Sidequest, we’ll be taking audience questions, so make sure to tune in! We’ll be streaming Sovereignty Sidequest across multiple platforms live on April 28. Be on the lookout for more information on how you can join. Shout-out to Delaena Rae Uses Knife for creating the artwork for our series!

NGC at MIEA
2023-04-20 10:00 - 11:45 | Mystic Lake Event Center, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd NW, Prior Lake, MN, 55372, United States
Native Governance Center staff are presenting on “How to Talk about Native Nations” at the 2023 MIEA Conference at Mystic Lake Event Center. We’ll also be tabling to share information about our programs. Are you attending MIEA? We’d love to see you at our table, our presentation, or both!

NGC at Reservation Economic Summit
2023-04-03 - 2023-04-06 | Caesars Palace, 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
Native Governance Center is bringing a cohort of Tribal finance changemakers to the 2023 Reservation Economic Summit as part of the Tribal Finance Pilot Program. If you plan to attend RES, send us a note: we’d love to meet up!

NGC at MNACPA Spring Conference
2023-03-31 13:30 - 14:30 | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, 120 Pillsbury Hall, 310 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
The Native Governance Center team is presenting on Beyond Land Acknowledgment at the MNACPA’s spring 2023 conference. If you’re at the conference, come check out our session!

NGC at Forum on Workplace Inclusion
2023-03-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
Native Governance Center staff are delivering a presentation, “So You’ve Written A Land Acknowledgment: Now What?”, at the 2023 Forum on Workplace Inclusion conference in Minneapolis, MN. If you plan to attend the conference, we encourage you to join us for our presentation. The presentation is scheduled for 2:00-3:00 PM CT on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Native Fashion and Sovereignty
2023-03-23 12:00 - 13:00 | MN
Native-owned fashion brands are on the rise. More and more Native designers are receiving long-deserved international attention for their work while continuing to push back against the fashion industry’s history of cultural appropriation, racism, and exclusion.
Join us for Native Fashion and Sovereignty to explore how authentic Native fashion contributes to Native narrative change. We’ll share how you can support Native designers and artists, and we’ll also examine how Native nations are using their sovereignty to protect Native designs while advancing economic development through fashion.

Indigenous Representation Matters
2022-11-08 15:00 - 16:00 | MN
For too long, many major institutions have excluded Indigenous people. Exclusion is harmful: it fuels invisibility, perpetuates negative stereotypes, and limits Indigenous communities’ ability to thrive.
Indigenous people are working to build visibility and power across all sectors. They’re making their voices heard and pushing for Indigenous representation in leadership roles.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with us by joining us to hear from four Indigenous changemakers who are leaders in their fields. They’ll tell us about their experiences and provide insight into how all of us can advocate for Indigenous representation.

Give to the Max Day 2022
2022-11-01 00:00 - 2022-11-17 23:59 | MN
When the going gets ruff, Rez dogs are truly sovereignty’s best friend
Join us for our 2022 Give to the Max Day campaign featuring our best friends – Rez dogs! Systems change work can be hard work, and our Rez dogs are always there to keep us grounded.
Donate to Native Governance Center for Give to the Max Day: November 1-17, 2022. Learn more, and make a gift here.

Data Sovereignty in a Post-Roe World
2022-08-24 12:00 - 13:00 | MN
In a post-Roe world, concerns about the erosion of healthcare privacy are on the rise. Native nations and Native healthcare practitioners have long advocated for strengthening data sovereignty as a way to increase Indigenous health outcomes and protect sensitive health information. Join us virtually for Data Sovereignty in a Post-Roe World to hear from three Indigenous leaders from the healthcare field about what data sovereignty means to them and why it’s important.
Event schedule

12:00 PM: Welcome + data sovereignty basics
12:15 PM: Panel discussion
12:45 PM: Q&A
1:00 PM: Event concludes

Reserve your spot in the webinar today!
We have a limited number of Zoom tickets available. If tickets sell out, join us on Facebook Live (@nativegov).

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting our community engagement work. We love our sponsors!

Anderson Realty
API Group
Clifton Larson Allen
M Health Fairview

Sovereignty and Outdoor Spaces
2022-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 | MN
Interest in outdoor recreation surged during the COVID-19 pandemic; today, the number of Americans adventuring outdoors continues to grow. Unfortunately, the outdoor recreation industry and the mainstream conservation movement have historically excluded Indigenous people.
Native nations are using their sovereignty in a big way to reclaim and reimagine outdoor recreation and tourism. Join us for our next virtual event, Sovereignty and Outdoor Spaces, where we’ll explore:

Examples of Indigenous-designed outdoor recreation efforts
Ways non-Indigenous folks can support these efforts
Tips for recreating respectfully

Whether your bucket list is filled with outdoorsy #goals or you’re new to the outdoor recreation space, this event will provide something for everyone. Come with your questions!
Event schedule

12:00 PM: Welcome + learn the basics
12:15 PM: Panel discussion
12:45 PM: Q&A
1:00 PM: Event concludes

Reserve your spot in the webinar today!
We have a limited number of Zoom tickets available. If tickets sell out, join us on Facebook Live (@nativegov).

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting our community engagement work. We love our sponsors!

Anderson Realty
API Group
Clifton Larson Allen
Carleton College
Bell Museum
Staiger Vitelli & Associates LLC
Bremer Bank
REI

#SpringSustainer Campaign
2022-05-16 - 2022-05-31 | MN
Become a #SpringSustainer. Help us make an impact.
Spring is our busiest season: we’re delivering governance workshops for Native nations, hitting the road for in-person trainings with our Rebuilders, releasing new videos and resource guides, and planning for the rest of the year with our goals in mind.
In 2022, we’re bringing Tribal-governance related programming to ten Native nations, training a new cohort of Indigenous changemakers, and hosting several virtual discussions open to the public.
Our #SpringSustainer campaign runs from May 16-31, 2022. We’ve set a goal to raise $5,000. Your support will help us sustain our momentum!

Blood Quantum and Sovereignty
2022-03-30 16:00 - 17:00 | MN
Join us virtually for a beginner-level discussion focused on why blood quantum is controversial, how it came to be used as an enrollment and citizenship criteria for Native nations, and what it means for their sovereignty. Register to reserve your spot in the Zoom webinar today. The webinar will also be broadcast on Facebook Live. This event will be closed captioned.
Event schedule

4:00 PM: Welcome + blood quantum basics
4:15 PM: Panel discussion
4:45 PM: Q&A
5:00 PM: Event concludes

Our host will be Megan Minoka Hill, Director of Honoring Nations + Program Director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. And we’re excited to have three expert panelists: Gabe Galanda (Galanda Broadman), Dr. Elizabeth Rule (American University), and Dr. Jill Doerfler (University of Minnesota Duluth).
Reserve your spot in the webinar today!
We have a limited number of Zoom tickets available. If tickets sell out, join us on Facebook Live (@nativegov).

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting our community engagement work. We love our sponsors!

Anderson Realty
API Group
Lathrop GPM
Baker Tilly

Give to the Max Day 2021
2021-11-01 - 2021-11-18 | MN
Giving is Good Medicine!
Help cultivate change in Native communities by supporting our #TendingToTheSeeds campaign. Donate to Native Governance Center for Give to the Max Day: November 1-18, 2021. Learn more, and make a gift here.

Healing our future: Indigenous wealth building for seven generations
2021-10-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
What does an Indigenous approach to wealth look like? How can Indigenous wealth concepts help us heal our future? What are examples of wealth building happening in Indigenous communities?
Join Native Governance Center on Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021 (October 11) from 6:00-7:00 PM CT for our free virtual event, “Healing our future: Indigenous wealth building for seven generations.” The event will provide attendees with an overview of Indigenous wealth concepts and a deep dive into how Indigenous people are building wealth in their communities. We’ll also explore how Indigenous ideas about wealth can help all of us heal for the next seven generations. The event will feature stories from three Indigenous wealth building leaders: Dallas Nelson, Tasha Peltier, and Dani Pieratos. “Healing our future” is geared toward beginners and open to all: come with your questions!
The event will take place on Zoom; you’ll receive an email with Zoom access details after you register for the event. We also plan to broadcast the event live on Facebook: if Zoom tickets sell out, please join us on Facebook.
This event will be closed captioned on Zoom.
Event schedule

6:00 PM: Opening remarks
6:05 PM: Indigenous wealth basics
6:15 PM: Panel discussion
6:45 PM: Audience Q&A
6:55 PM: Closing remarks
7:00 PM: Event concludes

Hosts
Pearl Walker-Swaney (Hunkpapa Lakota and Dakota/White Earth Anishinaabe) and Jennifer Irving (Oglala Lakota) will host the event. Pearl currently serves as a program manager at Native Governance Center. Jennifer is director of grants at Red Cloud Indian School.

Panelists
Dallas Nelson (Oglala Lakota): Dallas is the director of the Lakota Language Initiative at Thunder Valley CDC, a Native-led organization that works to empower Lakota youth and families. He’s passionate about Indigenous language revitalization and learning his Lakota language.
Tasha Peltier (Hunkpapa Lakota): Tasha is co-director of the Mni Wichoni Health Circle, a Native-led organization that strives to promote community health and holistic wellness for the Lakota/Dakota Nation. She’s actively pursuing ways to provide culturally relevant approaches to achieving overall health and wellness.
Dani Pieratos (Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe): Dani Pieratos is president of Harvest Nation, a Native women-led company focused on meeting the food sovereignty needs of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe and beyond. She is deeply rooted in food and body sovereignty, along with food access.
Sponsors
We are grateful to our event sponsors! Their support makes it possible for us to bring free events to the community.
