North Dakota

Missing, murdered Indigenous bill, education among top priorities for North Dakota tribes, chairwoman says

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BISMARCK — Standing Rock Tribal Chairwoman Janet Alkire unveiled legislative priorities during her Tribal-State Relationship Message delivered to a joint session of the North Dakota Legislature in the House Chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Alkire said that among her biggest priorities were a bill that would create an alert for missing and murdered Indigenous people in North Dakota — an issue she said was of “epidemic proportions” — and garnering funding for Senate Bill 2304, passed into law during the 2021 session. The law ensures greater understanding of Native American history and culture in the classroom.

Alkire said Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, plans to spearhead the missing and murdered Indigenous people bill.

Alkire during her address lauded lawmakers for passing

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SB 2304

two sessions ago but in a follow-up interview said more funding was necessary to finish the work the bill started.

“There is no funding attached to it, so that would be helpful,” Alkire told The Bismarck Tribune. “I’m not talking tons of funding, but at least … let’s get it moving so that it is fair to everyone.”

Alkire also spoke on the need for collaboration between state and tribal law enforcement and commended the three tribes that have entered into mutual agreements with state entities such as the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She said those tribes are the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Spirit Lake Nation, and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

She also said in her address that tribal nations want to work with legislators as education bills come during the session to “ensure the outcomes are in the best interest of all children.”

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Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, said he wasn’t able to attend Alkire’s address but welcomed the idea of collaboration.

“Every member of the tribe is a North Dakota resident. So, they are entitled to all the consideration that everybody else is, and the fact that they are a sovereign nation as well does not mean that we as a sovereign state don’t extend them the same rights, benefits and privileges,” Hogue said. “So, wherever we can collaborate on education, we should do so.”

Alkire also said in her address that there is a need for a bridge over the Missouri River in the southern part of the state. She said there is a 121-nautical-mile stretch between the two current crossings in Bismarck and the South Dakota city of Mobridge.

She announced a $14.5 million planning grant was secured from the Department of Transportation to begin the process of creating a new bridge.

Alkire said the plan for a new crossing had been in the works for nearly 40 years before the recent grant was secured.

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