Tribal Nations Education Committee (TNEC)
Mission Statement
The mission of the TNEC is to strengthen, protect, and advance the overall education experience and opportunities for all tribal (American Indian) students, families, and communities of Minnesota.
About the Committee
The Tribal Nations Education Committee is a group of tribally appointed representatives which advocates for American Indian students in Minnesota.
TNEC advocates for positive change in areas including, but not limited to:
Read our current Position on Education in the state of Minnesota.
TNEC advocates for positive change in areas including, but not limited to:
- Curriculum review
- Student Achievement
- Language revitalization
- Revision of the American Indian Education Act
- Teacher Training
Read our current Position on Education in the state of Minnesota.
History
There used to be two American Indian committees named in Minnesota Statute 124D.80 - Committees on American Indian Education Programs. One was known as the Indian Education Committee and the other was the Minnesota Indian Scholarship (MISP) Committee. These committees had representatives from all eleven Tribal Nations in Minnesota which provided a direct link between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Tribal Nations. The Indian Education Committee was terminated in 2001 due to a sunset provision in the statute, and the MISP Committee expired in 2003. Around the same time, two MDE field offices that provided direct services to American Indian students and programs were closed without tribal consultation.
In 2007, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Education & Human Services Subcommittee determined that a statewide Indian Education Committee was needed for the purpose of advocating for American Indian students in all areas of education. Therefore, the Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) formally approved the establishment of the Tribal Nations Education Committee through a resolution dated February 9, 2007. The TNEC is significant because membership must be endorsed by tribal governments, and thus operates on foundations of self-determination and sovereignty.
In 2007, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Education & Human Services Subcommittee determined that a statewide Indian Education Committee was needed for the purpose of advocating for American Indian students in all areas of education. Therefore, the Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) formally approved the establishment of the Tribal Nations Education Committee through a resolution dated February 9, 2007. The TNEC is significant because membership must be endorsed by tribal governments, and thus operates on foundations of self-determination and sovereignty.
Committee Membership
The TNEC consists of representatives appointed by each of the eleven Tribal Nations of Minnesota, along with a representative from the Twin Cities Metro, greater Minnesota, and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT).
RepresentativesMaria Burnett, Vice Chair
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa mariab@grandportage.com Jennifer Murray, Chair Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa jennifermurray@fdlrez.com Laurie Harper (Alternate: Dorothy Robinson) Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe laurie.harper@llojibwe.net (dorothy.robinson@llojibwe.net) Vondalee Carr (Alternate: Leanne Hoffman) Bois Forte Band of Chippewa vrcarr@boisforte-nsn.gov (lhoffman@boisforte-nsn.gov) Dan Morgan Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community dan.morgan@shakopeedakota.org Dana Goodwin (Alternate: Trista Ayers) White Earth Nation dana.goodwin@whiteearth-nsn.gov (trista.ayers@whiteearth-nsn.gov) Niiyo Gonzales Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe niiyo.gonzalez@millelacsband.com |
Paul Dressen
Prairie Island Indian Community pdressen@piic.org Jesse Kodet (Alternate: Jackie Probst) Lower Sioux Indian Community jesse.kodet@lowersioux.com (jprobst@redwoodareaschools.com) Carrie Trutna Upper Sioux Indian Community carrie@uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov Glenda Martin Red Lake Nation glendamartin.mikinaak@gmail.com Billie Annette, Secretary Minnesota Chippewa Tribe bannette@mnchippewatribe.org Beth Tepper Twin Cities Metropolitan Area beth_tepper@rdale.org Zhaawin Gonzales Twin Cities Metropolitan Area zgonzales@miwrc.org Edye Washington Greater Minnesota edith.washington@isd709.org |
