Central ND News

Gov. Kelly Armstrong and members of his Cabinet met with leaders and community members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate on Tuesday, as part of the governor’s plan to 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.

During the event, Armstrong expressed gratitude to Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Chairman J. Garret Renville, the Tribal Council, tribal elders, and community members for hosting. He emphasized the need for state and tribal leaders to collaborate directly rather than wait 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 in his opening remarks. “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 acknowledged the significance of these discussions between governments: “Your presence here is important. When leaders come together across governments, we create opportunities not just to talk but to truly understand one another,” he said. “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.”

After their initial statements, participants divided into smaller groups to discuss shared goals and challenges facing both communities. Armstrong also held a separate session with tribal executive leadership covering topics such as gaming operations, education issues, health care access, law enforcement jurisdiction matters, addiction recovery programs and corrections—including efforts aimed at reducing barriers for individuals re-entering society after incarceration.

The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is overseeing these meetings as a way for the new administration to establish stronger ties with tribal nations throughout North Dakota. Last month, Armstrong visited officials from Turtle Mountain.

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate are based primarily on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation which lies mostly in northeastern South Dakota; a portion extends into southeastern North Dakota.