The Office of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission (NDIAC) will host a two-day conference in June focused on strengthening relationships between tribal, local, state and federal governments. This is the fifth Strengthening Government to Government Relationships and Partnerships Conference hosted by NDIAC. Prior NDIAC conferences saw attendance of more than 300 tribal, local, state and federal officials.
This year’s conference will be held Wednesday, June 21, and Thursday, June 22, at the Bismarck Event Center.
The free conference is open to the public and is designed for those in government and private industries who work with the five federally recognized tribes within North Dakota. Attending the conference will be tribal leaders from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes), the Spirit Lake Nation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Nation, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, state legislators and other top state officials and federal government representatives.
“Strong government-to-government partnerships are built on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding that each of the five tribes with whom we share geography is a distinct, sovereign nation,” Burgum said. “By genuinely engaging, listening and learning about each tribe’s challenges and opportunities, we can work to enhance the quality of life and ensure prosperity for current and future generations of citizens in tribal communities and across North Dakota.”
“It’s an honor to be a part of the process that is taking place in North Dakota, as we work together to build a better future for all. As an attendee in the past, I have looked forward to this event as do many others across the state,” said NDIAC Executive Director Nathan Davis. “My hope is to continue laying the foundation that will move the State of North Dakota and the five Tribal Nations with which we share geography into the future.”
The agenda will include a keynote address from Burgum and an update from Davis, along with an address from each of the five United Tribes. The focused theme of the conference will be centered around economic, workforce and community development, with breakouts being hosted by Job Service North Dakota, the Department of Commerce, North Dakota Securities Department, North Dakota Council on the Arts, and many more. Content will highlight what resources are available to governments and citizens alike, as we strive to continue the economic growth for all of North Dakota. For the first time, the conference also will include a youth panel discussion.
The conference is supported by sponsorships.
For more information and to register, visit this link.