State/Tribal Relations

This toolkit provides state legislators a basic foundation for working with Tribal Nations. It includes short case studies, policy options, and examples of good relationship building. These policy options should be evaluated in context and alongside Tribal partners. This toolkit provides only an introductory policy overview and is not intended to replace more substantial learning. The authors recommend self-education before reaching out to Tribal Nations to not unfairly burden Tribal partners when an abundance of information is already available. For further learning, explore the Nature Conservancy’s interactive Indian Country 101 training, read the Native American Rights Fund’s Tribal Implementation Toolkit and the National Congress of American Indians’ Indian Country 101 booklet, and contact your state’s Indian Affairs office, commission, or committee (if available).

Strong State-Tribal relationships can advance state policy with thousands of years of ongoing Indigenous ecological knowledge and research. State and Tribal collaborations can offer mutual benefits across reduced legal conflict, identifying redundancies, and increased federal funding. While states have no authority over Tribal nations unless granted by Congress, all states have treaty obligations to Tribal nations, whose Tribal sovereignty exceeds state sovereignty. The relationship between Tribal nations, states, and the federal government is complicated, but recognizing Tribal sovereignty can help states avoid costly mistakes.

On June 10, NEC convened Minnesota and Wisconsin legislators for the annual Mississippi River Legislative Caucus (MRLC) River Tour at Lake Pepin, as part of the River Days of Action. During the tour, legislators learned about the issues impacting Lake Pepin and how Minnesota and Wisconsin state agencies are collaborating with federal, Tribal, and local partners on restoration projects.

In June, NEC hosted 18 state legislators and legislative staff from 10 states for a three-day tour across Washington State to explore sustainable and resilient Blue Economy development. Legislators from across the country engaged with stakeholders from the private sector, Tribes, and academia to learn about innovative approaches to grow coastal economies while tackling challenges related to aquaculture, workforce development, and port infrastructure. Through site visits and robust discussions, the Washington Blue Economy Tour highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration and provided actionable policy solutions for legislators to take back to their home states.