The Native Nations Rebuilders Program (Rebuilders) is an opportunity for emerging and established leaders to further build networks and grow their knowledge base to more effectively lead in their communities. The program, administered by the Native Governance Center, is a two-year cohort experience serving Native nations that share geography with Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Native Nations Institute (NNI) provides educational instruction to the cohort every quarter, which includes comprehensive case studies that address current challenges and experts who offer insight into their leadership approach.

This year’s Rebuilders event took place at Mystic Lake Casino on December 3rd-5th, 2019. NNI faculty, Miriam Jorgensen, Joan Timeche (Hopi), Danielle Hiraldo (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), and Davida Delmar (Navajo Nation/Diné), worked with Cohort 11 to deepen their understanding of Native Nation Building concepts and empower Cohort 10 as they embark upon their year 2 community action plans. Other speakers included Regis Pecos (Pueblo de Cohciti), Co-Director of the New Mexico Leadership Institute at the Santa Fe Indian School and former Governor and Councilor of Pueblo de Cochiti, who connected core values to decision making and community engagement; and Prairie Rose Seminole (Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota), Program Director, American Indian Alaska Native for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who shared resourceful methods to increase community engagement and map public networks.

Cohort 10 concluded Year 1 with presentations of their Year 2 action plans. To date, 188 participants have completed the Rebuilders program since 2009. As the Rebuilders implement their plans in action, their nations are seeing the seeds of those efforts. If you are interested in this program, look for the announcement for Cohort 12 in summer 2020.