Native Governance Center

Native Governance Center Native-led nonprofit dedicated to supporting Native nations in strengthening their sovereignty.
(1)

It's time to PLAY BALL! Our ticket-sale fundraiser with the St. Paul Saints Baseball is first up to bat, with games July...
06/22/2026

It's time to PLAY BALL! Our ticket-sale fundraiser with the St. Paul Saints Baseball is first up to bat, with games July 2nd-July 5th.

$5 of every ticket sold using our link goes to NGC! https://www.gofevo.com/group/Nativegovernance This first week of games is packed with themed nights, including monster food-truck rallies, a first-responder's night, and you guessed it, FIREWORKS!

Get your tickets now, and help us hit a home run for Tribal sovereignty!
• St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, Thursday, July 2nd at 7:07 PM
• St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, Friday, July 3rd at 6:07 PM
• St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, Saturday, July 4th at 6:07 PM
• St. Paul Saints vs. Buffalo Bisons, Sunday, July 5th at 2:07 PM

This Summer, alumni from Native Governance Center's Rebuilders program had the opportunity to reconnect for continued le...
06/19/2026

This Summer, alumni from Native Governance Center's Rebuilders program had the opportunity to reconnect for continued learning. In partnership with the Tribal Sovereignty Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth, these leaders earned a Certificate in Applied Tribal Sovereignty (CATS). Designed with Rebuilders alumni in mind, this opportunity deepened their work in Tribal governance and nation rebuilding. It was also a chance for continued connection and support beyond their Rebuilders experience.

In this program, Rebuilders explored:
• Principles of Tribal Sovereignty
• Federal Indian law and policy
• Strengths-based leadership
• Public speaking
• Strategic management
• Community engagement
• Constitutional reform
• Project management and funding
• Foundations of Tribal Board Governance

Thank you so much to all the Rebuilders who were able to join, and to the amazing staff at UMD!

The Indian Reorganization Act was passed on June 18th, 1934, and marked a new era of Tribal and federal government relat...
06/18/2026

The Indian Reorganization Act was passed on June 18th, 1934, and marked a new era of Tribal and federal government relations. Known as the "Indian New Deal," it was created in response to the Meriam Report, a study on the state of Native nations.

The act sought to strengthen the sovereignty of Native nations by building and formalizing Tribal governments. Yet, it didn't take into account the Indigenous governance practices Tribes already had in place. Many federally recognized Tribes signed on to this plan, while others chose not to. Native nations that participated in the New Deal created governing systems based on federal examples, such as adopting the three-branch system of government or western-style constitutional templates. These systems assumed that Indigenous nations were the same and ignored the unique governance practices and structures Tribes had in place.

To learn more about the history and complex impact of the Indian Reorganization Act, watch "The Indian Reorganization Act Explained: Ep 13 of Crash Course Native American History" featuring Che Jim, available on YouTube.

June is Pride month! 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ As a reminder, Two-Spirit people have always existed, and will continue to be vital part...
06/16/2026

June is Pride month! 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ As a reminder, Two-Spirit people have always existed, and will continue to be vital parts of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. We honor our LGBQT2S+ relatives this month and beyond!

Last year, NGC hosted the “Sacred Voices: Learning from Indigiq***r and Two-Spirit Leaders” webinar. We wanted to uplift a couple of our favorite quotes from the conversation. You can read our Indigenous Knowledge and Two-Spirit Leadership Resource at https://nativegov.org/resources/indigenous-knowledge-and-two-spirit-leadership/ to learn more, or watch the webinar recording on our channel.

We appreciate these knowledgeable speakers for sharing their time and thoughts with us. The conversation was moderated by Giiwedin (descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and an enrolled member of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin), with Susan Allen (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), Isaac Casados (Diné), and Jordan Dresser (Northern Arapaho Tribe), who lent their expertise on this important subject.

06/12/2026

Two-Spirit people have always held vital roles in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. We honor our LGBQT2S+ relatives this month and beyond!

Last year, NGC hosted the “Sacred Voices: Learning from Indigiq***r and Two-Spirit Leaders” webinar. In this conversation, Jordan Dresser (Northern Arapaho Tribe) lent their expertise on this important subject. "The power of tribal sovereignty is that each Nation can do what they want. And nobody else should be able to tell them what to do. And I think that's a really true power that we have. And I think that goes back to creating this new generation who's recognizing those things as well. But also, being comfortable with who they are. You know? And being true. Because I think if you don't know who you are, then you're not going to be an effective leader."

Read our Indigenous Knowledge and Two-Spirit Leadership Resource - https://nativegov.org/resources/indigenous-knowledge-and-two-spirit-leadership/ to learn more, or watch the webinar recording on our channel.

June 3rd-4th, 2026, we attended the Government 2 Government Conference in Bismarck, ND! Hosted by the North Dakota India...
06/11/2026

June 3rd-4th, 2026, we attended the Government 2 Government Conference in Bismarck, ND! Hosted by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, the conference is a space for new connections, honest conversations, and the renewal of commitments. Additionally, it works as a space to uplift progress made between Native nations and all levels of government.

Program Director Michaela Madrid presented "Co-Creating Pathways for Sovereignty and Story," sharing how relational, culturally grounded, and sustainable approaches are being used in NGC's recent work with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation (TRPLF). Guided by principles such as honoring sovereignty, centering Indigeneity, practicing humility, and prioritizing cultural safety, the process emphasizes listening, trust-building, and shared learning. We were excited to share our knowledge and gather feedback from leaders in governance seeking more inclusive and lasting approaches to Indigenous engagement.

We're partnering with the St. Paul Saints Baseball next month for a fun summer activity! Join us at a St. Paul Saints ba...
06/08/2026

We're partnering with the St. Paul Saints Baseball next month for a fun summer activity! Join us at a St. Paul Saints baseball game this July, and when you purchase tickets through NGC’s fundraising link - https://www.gofevo.com/group/Nativegovernance, $5 of every ticket sold will be donated directly to Native Governance Center.

Your support directly contributes to our mission of assisting Native nations in building their capacity to exercise sovereignty. This work comes to life through four key programming areas: Leadership Development, Tribal Finance, Community Engagement, and Tribal Governance Support.

Take NGC out to the ballgame this July! ⚾

Happy Pride Month from NGC! 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Here at Native Governance Center, we believe acknowledgment must go hand in hand w...
06/04/2026

Happy Pride Month from NGC! 🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Here at Native Governance Center, we believe acknowledgment must go hand in hand with action. Below are a few ways you can support Two-Spirit and Indigiq***r relatives, along with a list of individuals and organizations you can elevate and learn from year-round! We call on Tribal leaders to engage in governance that includes, supports, and protects our q***r and trans relatives. For Non-Native allies and accomplices, we encourage you to take action in your local communities and consider how you can support Indigiq***r and LGBTQ2S+ people more broadly.

Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the histories and cultures of Two-Spirit and Indigiq***r communities. Engage with resources created by Indigenous scholars, knowledge-keepers, storytellers, and organizations.

Support Indigenous-Led Initiatives: Contribute to and amplify programs and events that center Two-Spirit and Indigiq***r voices, ensuring they lead the narrative.​

Advocate for Inclusive Policies: Work towards policies that recognize and protect the rights of Two-Spirit and Indigiq***r individuals within both Indigenous and broader societal contexts.​

Support and Collaborate with Native Nations: Through a respectful approach to standing with Native nations and their communities, particularly the Two-Spirit community, you can help shift the narrative, raise awareness of the challenges they face, and promote sovereignty.

Time and Resources: Can you set aside time and resources each month to contribute to the Two-Spirit community? Can you attend events featuring Two-Spirit folks? Can you set up a recurring donation to a Two-Spirit organization? Support comes in all shapes and sizes. Something as simple as setting aside time to learn about the community is a great first step!

Policy Change: Are there active policies harming LGBTQ2S+ people that you oppose? Contact your local representatives and encourage them to implement changes!

Follow, Support, Learn:







Read our Indigenous Knowledge and Two-Spirit Leadership Resource to learn more about the roles of Two-Spirit and Indigiq***r people, or watch the webinar recording on our website at https://nativegov.org/resources/indigenous-knowledge-and-two-spirit-leadership/

The Indian Citizenship Act was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Calvin Coolidge on this day...
06/02/2026

The Indian Citizenship Act was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Calvin Coolidge on this day, June 2nd, 1924.

Citizenship was denied to the first peoples of Turtle Island in the Constitution, and although the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all those born in the United States, the notion that sovereign Native Nations within the US were outside the jurisdiction of the Federal government meant Native peoples were deemed non-citizens. With federal influence clearly affecting sovereign Native Nations, along with thousands of Native Veterans fighting in WWI, individual Native Americans deserved United States citizenship and the ability to vote in federal elections.

After the passage of the Citizenship Act, it would take decades of struggle to ensure that Native rights were recognized and enforced in all 50 states. Even today, the work continues to ensure Native voices are included, and their rights and sovereignty are respected.

Learn more about the ongoing effort to assert and support the Native vote:

Follow - Native American Rights Fund

Visit: https://vote.narf.org/

Thank you for helping us raise over $6,000 for the campaign—every donation, mention, and share helped. We are so grate...
06/02/2026

Thank you for helping us raise over $6,000 for the campaign—every donation, mention, and share helped. We are so grateful to you. We are also grateful to organizations like Native Ways Federation for working to increase giving to Native-led organizations across Indian Country.

By giving to Native Governance Center, your generosity grows into support for our programs:
ℹ️Community Engagement: Everyone has a role in supporting sovereignty and building an Indigenized future. By sharing resources and learning opportunities, we provide accessible education to all.
💪🏽Leadership Development: The Native Nation Rebuilders is a leadership cohort with a growing network of over 200 active members and alumni making change throughout our region. We support these leaders in identifying and developing their own community action plans.
💰Tribal Finance: Works directly with Native nations to offer a cohort-based program providing finance leaders with a financial assessment, training, resources, and executive coaching to enhance their nation’s existing financial leadership and capacity.
🪶Tribal Governance Support: Engages with elected Tribal leaders, Tribal administrators, and Tribal citizens to strengthen Tribal governance systems through educational opportunities, technical assistance, capacity building, and resources.

Your support helps ensure the work we do to support Native nations and leaders continues! Learn about our programs, check out our resources and events, and more at nativegov.org


Native Ways Federation

Address

1730 New Brighton Boulevard, Suite 104/236
Minneapolis, MN
55413

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+1 651-571-0826

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Native Governance Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Native Governance Center:

Shortcuts

Share