By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer BISMARCK - Leaders of North Dakota tribes will continue a long tradition of meeting to talk about shared issues amongst their tribes. The theme of this meeting is “United, Tribal Nations Pursuing the Promise of Tomorrow.” The seventeenth annual United Tribes Tribal Leaders Summit is slated for Sept. 4-6 in Bismarck will attract tribal leaders, tribal professionals and all supporters of the tribes. The event is being organized by the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), and will be held at the Bismarck Civic Center Exhibit Hall. “The summit is a forum that attracts tribal leaders, tribal professionals, and friends,” says Janet Thomas, conference coordinator. “We have a tradition of coming together to talk about relevant issues and exchange ideas.” Participation is open to all interested in advancing Indian issues. Online registration is available, along with CEU’s for educators and students. The sessions are typically attended by members of the North Dakota Congressional delegation or their representatives and other leaders at the federal, state and local level. “The political landscape in Indian country is constantly changing,” says Thomas. “Paying attention to current realities is one of the best ways for leaders to work on behalf of the communities they serve.” Agenda items offer major sessions about energy, education, public safety, health care, economic development, the environment, and housing. Briefings and updates will cover gaming, taxation, emergency management, Veterans services, the budget, NCAI initiatives and the Violence Against Women Act. The event will also pay tribute to a gathering in Bismarck 50 years ago of tribal leaders from across the country. Amidst the nation’s Civil Rights movement, the National Congress of American Indians held its annual conference in the capitol city in September 1963, featuring keynote speaker Robert F. Kennedy, the nation’s attorney general. The theme of “unity” at that convention most certainly resonated with North Dakota’s tribal leaders. They later addressed the issue of state jurisdiction by rejecting Public Law 280. Meeting together led them to form United Tribes of North Dakota in 1964. When the intertribal organization was formalized in 1968 the incorporators were: Aljoe Agaard, Fort Yates; Lewis Goodhouse, Fort Totten; Reginald Breien, Belcourt; August Little Soldier, Golden Valley; and Austin Engel, Bismarck. This parent organization worked to address joblessness, education and economic development by creating an employment training center that has since evolved into an accredited tribal college, United Tribes Technical College. To this day the college and the intertribal organization continue to pursue justice, civil rights and self determination for Native People with the same passion that tribal leaders and Robert Kennedy displayed 50 years ago in Bismarck. View the agenda and registration form, along with listings of other meetings being held in conjunction with the summit at www.unitedtribespowwow.com/summit Janet Thomas can be contacted at 701-255-3285 x 1431, or by email at jthomas@uttc.edu. Trade show contact is Debbie Painte who can be contacted at 701-255-3285 x 1232 and by email at dpainte@uttc.edu. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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