History of tribal government in Minnesota

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July 22, 1999
Dan Gunderson - Reporter, Andy Favorite - Interviewee, Lowell Bellanger - Interviewee, Zenas Baer - Interviewee
Listen: History of tribal government in Minnesota
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MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on the history of tribal government in Minnesota, and its potential changes.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, the umbrella organization of six Ojibwe bands in the state, is considering adoption of a new constitution. With at least one of the bands threatening to withdraw from the MCT, the process is likely to be lengthy, and tense…and at the same time, White Earth is debating a new constitution of its own.

The government structure most Indian tribes now operate under was put in place by the Federal government in 1934. The Indian Reorganization Act imposed a constitution on tribes, effectively destroying a system of tribal governance that had been in place for hundreds of years.

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In 2008, Minnesota's voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution: to protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.

Efforts to digitize this initial assortment of thousands of historical audio material was made possible through the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. A wide range of Minnesota subject matter is represented within this collection.

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