North Dakota – Governor Kelly Armstrong, Cabinet leaders, and other state agency representatives met with leaders and members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate on Tuesday as part of Armstrong’s effort to strengthen state-tribal partnerships and visit all five tribal nations in North Dakota during his first year in office.

The meeting took place at the Dakota Magic Casino convention center near Hankinson. Armstrong thanked Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Chairman J. Garret Renville, the Tribal Council, tribal elders, and community members for hosting the discussion. He emphasized the importance of state and tribal leaders working together to identify challenges and solutions without waiting for federal intervention.

“Waiting for somebody to come in and save the day on any of this stuff means we’re going to wait a very long time,” Armstrong said. “We can do it here, though, and we can figure out small ways to make big changes, and it starts with meetings like this.”

Renville stressed the value of engagement between governments, noting, “We may not always agree, and we shouldn’t expect to, but if we stop engaging, if we stop building the relationship, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past. Governor Armstrong, your visit showed you understand the importance of relationships.”

Following the opening remarks, tribal and state agency representatives, state legislators, and other stakeholders met in small groups to discuss priorities and challenges. Armstrong also met with the tribe’s executive leadership to talk about gaming, education, health care, law enforcement jurisdiction, addiction recovery, and corrections, including addressing barriers to re-entry.

The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is facilitating the visits to introduce the new administration to tribal nations and build stronger, more effective partnerships. Armstrong previously met with officials from the Turtle Mountain Reservation last month.

The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, home to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, is primarily located in northeastern South Dakota, with a small portion extending into southeastern North Dakota.