Minnesota Native American Tribes

Function

There are eleven federally recognized tribes in Minnesota. Each tribe is its own sovereign nation that is distinct and unique from all other federally recognized tribes. These tribes have government-to-government relationships with the United States and are eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Federally recognized tribes have certain inherent rights of self government, (i.e., tribal sovereignty) and are entitled to received certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of their special relationship with the United States. The MnDOT Office of Tribal Affairs works on the Tribal-State Relations Training program to provide training for all state employees to learn about American Indian tribal governments, histories, cultures, and traditions.