Employment and Economic Development representative coming to Grand Portage

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz flank Kirk Crowe Shoe, the state’s first American Indian liaison. Kirk will work through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) with Minnesota’s tribal nations to identify priority issues and engage tribes in the development of legislative and fiscal proposals. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DEED

For too long, Minnesota’s tribal nations did not have a voice on matters of state policy. That was until Executive Order 19-24, the state’s strongest order yet, affirming the government to-government relationship between the state and tribal nations in Minnesota.

The order mandated, in part, that Minnesota state agencies maintain ongoing consultation with tribes. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) began in-person consultations with tribal nations this fall and will continue consultations into 2020. One of the first objectives is to identify priority issues and engage tribes in the development of annual legislative and fiscal proposals.

Commissioner Grove and Kirk Crowe Shoe have traveled over the last months to meet with the respective tribal leaders at Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Prairie Island Indian Community, Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Red Lake Nation. In January, they will travel to Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Additional consultations will soon follow as they continue visits to all 11 tribal nations in the state. Updates on tribal consultations will be provided as they progress.

As a result of these tribal consultations, tribes are recognizing many untapped resources available through DEED’s extensive workforce and economic development programs.

For example, each tribe paints a picture of their community’s broadband coverage. In turn, there are opportunities to share information on DEED’s grants, technical assistance and resource partnerships to improve broadband access. Broadband access provides new connections and greater economic mobility for tribal communities across Minnesota.

DEED staff are hearing first-hand about the challenges tribal members have connecting to CareerForce locations and accessing workforce development assistance. Together, partners are engaged to determine ways to improve access and offerings.

Tribal nations are very concerned about their youth entering the workforce, and they are asking for outreach and support. DEED’s youth training and career programs are available.

It is a remarkable time, historically, in Minnesota between tribal nations and state government. Commissioner Grove and Kirk Crowe Shoe are taking stock of relationships with tribal nations, learning from the past, making necessary adjustments, and re-engaging with tribal leaders more consistently to meet the needs of all Minnesotans.

American Indian Liaison Kirk Crowe Shoe says, “It is an honor for me to both serve my own people in Minnesota and walk alongside our Commissioner doing so. I look forward to carrying out this important work on behalf of the Walz-Flanagan administration in 2020.”