Meaningful Tribal input is critical for creating regional policies that reflect the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities, uphold sovereignty, and foster long-term partnerships based on respect and mutual understanding.
The Met Council uses Tribal input in review of our policies and actions to ensure they are both just and sustainable for future generations.
American Indian Advisory Council
The Met Council’s American Indian Advisory Council – a group of Indigenous culture carriers and systems changers in the metro region – co-created a regional land, water, and people acknowledgement with members of the region’s American Indian communities. Working with the Met Council, the American Indian Advisory Council introduced recommendations for organization-wide changes for Tribal relations and specific policies and actions for parks and trails, water, environmental justice, transportation, and housing. It’s all part of our updated Imagine 2050 commitments.
Land, Water, and People Acknowledgement
The Met Council acknowledges that land in the seven-county metro region is the ancestral home of the Dakota Oyate. As part of our commitment to address the unresolved harms to Tribal Nations, we’re dedicated to instilling Land, Water, and People commitments in our regional policies, including long-range plans and developments in Imagine 2050.
Government-Government Tribal Relationship Policy
The Met Council recognizes Tribal Nations as sovereign governments with inherent rights to self-determination.
Through meaningful consultation, coordination, and collaboration with Tribal Nations and American Indian community members, the Met Council is committed to incorporating these perspectives into regional planning and decision-making.
Our Tribal policy guides this commitment across housing, transit, community development, and environmental services. It supports planning and investments that promote housing access, safe and inclusive transit, culturally grounded development, and environmental stewardship.