Standing Rock chair opens North Dakota Legislature, urges collaboration with tribes
‘We may not always agree, but we must remain united in service to our people’
Indigenous Democracy Reporter
Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, delivered the opening address at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck on Jan. 7, emphasizing that tribal economic expansion is vital to the state’s prosperity. (Photo credit/ Adrianna Adame)
Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, urged North Dakota lawmakers to join forces with tribal nations during Tuesday’s state Legislature’s opening address. Delivering remarks at the Capitol in Bismarck she said, “Our collective work can create lasting change and brighter futures for the next generation.”
Alkire praised SB 2304, a 2021 law former Gov. Doug Burgum signed that mandates that fourth and eighth graders receive Indigenous studies lessons. The law provides coursework focusing on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Mni Wakan Oyate, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.
She thanked Burgum for his support of Native communities and pressed lawmakers to pass more education policies that serve the interests of North Dakota’s tribes.
“As education bills move through the state and at the federal level, we want to work with you to ensure the outcomes are in the best interest of all children,” she said. “I know we agree that the children of our state deserve the best opportunities we can provide for them.”
Alkire emphasized the importance of economic development on reservations. She argued that growth in tribal economies benefits the entire state and should be a shared priority between Native nations and North Dakota.
Violent crimes and criminal activities are much higher than in non-Native areas, which have adequate funding and adequate staffing. Criminal behavior does not end at the reservation border.” Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
The chairwoman suggested a state-funded study to assess the economic contributions of the five tribal nations to North Dakota’s economy. “This is critical to understanding our joint relationship,” she said. “We must know our impact on each other to strategize a cooperative future for common citizens.”
Alkire raised concerns about the federal underfunding of tribal law enforcement, which she said has created a public safety crisis affecting both tribes and the state. She called for state support in securing federal monies for more reservation officers and training.
“Violent crimes and criminal activities are much higher than in non-Native areas, which have adequate funding and adequate staffing,” Alkire said. “Crime doesn’t respect political boundaries. Criminal behavior does not end at the reservation border.”
She commended Turtle Mountain Chippewa citizen Rep. Jamie Davis, a Democrat from District 9, for planning a bill to create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) alert system. The measure would help address the higher rates of violent crime on reservations, she said.
Alkire acknowledged Burgum’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between the state and tribes, recalling that one of his first acts as governor was to reach out to Standing Rock tribal leaders.
He later launched the government-to-government summit, fostering ongoing dialogue between state officials and tribal nations. Burgum relinquished the governorship to former U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-ND, on Dec. 15, after President-elect Donald Trump tapped him for future Interior Secretary.
Looking ahead, Alkire called for continued collaboration and communication between state lawmakers and neighboring tribes. “We may not always agree, but we must remain united in service to our people and the state of North Dakota,” she said.