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:
- Curriculum review
- Student Achievement
- Language revitalization
- Revision of the American Indian Education Act
- Teacher Training
Who We AreOur MissionOur History |
The TNEC consists of representatives from each of the eleven Tribal Nations of Minnesota, along with one representative from the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT), one from greater Minnesota, and two from the Twin Cities Metro.
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.
At one point there were 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 and programming to American Indian students were closed without tribal consultation.
In 2007, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) 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. 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. |
Position on Education |
Committee Bylaws |