Minnesota Governor, Lieutenant Governor Celebrate Ceremonial Signing of Executive Order 19-24 with Tribes in Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota-Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan hosted a bill signing ceremony with elected Minnesota Tribal leaders from most of the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. The ceremony was held on the Minnesota State Capitol Grounds at the State Department of Revenue. The bill, "Government to Government Relationship with Tribal Governments," passed both houses of the Minnesota state legislature earlier this year on June 30, and was signed into law the next day by Minn. Governor Tim Walz. The bill signing ceremony was postponed until November due to COVID-19.

The bill-Executive Order 19-24-provides for Tribal-state relations and requires state agencies to implement Tribal consultation policies in consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments. It requires state agencies to develop and maintain ongoing consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments related to matters that have tribal implications, and for state agencies to designate a Tribal liaison to ensure nation-to-nation consultation is maintained and to serve as a point of contact for the tribes.

"The status quo will continue if we don't change it, but we made a commitment today, where the Governor and I signed a commitment that says we are rejecting the status quo," said Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan during the bill signing ceremony. "The status quo wasn't working for Native people, hasn't worked for Native people, and it wasn't working for Tribal governments."

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