Staff Attended Tribal State Relations Training (TSRT) at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota

By Wendy Spry

A small cohort of DOC staff attended Tribal State Relations Training (TSRT) at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota, on March 21 and 22, 2023.

The mission of TSRT is to "provide training and education for Minnesota state employees about American Indian tribal governments, histories, cultures and traditions, in order to empower state employees to work effectively with American Indians and promote authentic and respectful relationships between state agencies and American Indian tribes."

DOC staff attending this training found common ground with tribal nations in the areas of resource coordination, healthy communities and a desire for success for the people we serve. Equally important, they were able to learn American Indian history through a different lens. Some steps they hope to implement in their work included building effective communication and relationships with tribal nations, recognizing the importance of accurate data collection, and exercising compassion and empathy in their daily work.

(Tribal-State Relations Training (TSRT) is the official training offered to all State of Minnesota employees per Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribal Governments (PDF). Minnesota Statute 10.65 affirms the Government-to-Government relationship between the State of Minnesota and the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota.)

Left to right: Barbara Bauer, Dan Jones, Aarah Saugen, Morgan Woodbury, Wendy Spry, and Paul Dosunmu.

:::