{"id":92527,"date":"2025-01-09T14:52:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T19:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=92527"},"modified":"2025-01-09T16:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T21:00:30","slug":"north-dakota-monitor-tribes-share-priorities-with-state-lawmakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/01\/09\/north-dakota-monitor-tribes-share-priorities-with-state-lawmakers\/","title":{"rendered":"North Dakota Monitor: Tribes share priorities with state lawmakers"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Janet<\/a>
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chair Janet Alkire delivers the Tribal-State Relationship address during a joint session of the Legislature on January 7, 2025. Photo by Michael Achterling \/ North Dakota Monitor<\/figcaption>\r\n
Standing Rock chair stresses building unity and infrastructure<\/div>\r\n
Thursday, January 9, 2025<\/div>\r\n
By Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor<\/a><\/div>

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Tribes, the state and federal government must continue to work together for the benefit of their people, Janet Alkire, chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a Tuesday address to state lawmakers.<\/p>

\u201cOur common citizens are our bridge, and without the valuable support they need, that infrastructure will collapse,\u201d Alkire said.\u00a0<\/p>

In her speech, Alkire provided the Legislature with updates on the five Native nations that share geography with North Dakota: Standing Rock, the Spirit Lake Nation, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.<\/p>

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More 2025 legislative session coverage<\/a><\/div>\t<\/div>\t<\/p>

The need for more infrastructure on reservations was a common refrain in Alkire\u2019s speech.<\/p>

In recent years, North Dakota tribes have benefited from federal legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act and other funding to support developments as wide ranging as new housing, medical facilities and energy projects, she said.<\/p>

For instance, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $14.5 million planning grant for a proposed bridge over the Missouri River connecting the reservation to Emmons County.<\/p>

But it\u2019s not enough, Alkire said. She called on lawmakers, tribal chairs and federal leaders to continue investing in infrastructure in the interest of future generations.<\/p>

\u201cA bridge to the future needs infrastructure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n