From November 30 - December 2, 2016 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN, the Native Governance Center and Native Nations Institute welcomed Native Nation Rebuilders from Cohort 7 for their final educational meeting and Rebuilders from Cohort 8 for their first meeting. The event provided an opportunity for the cohorts to meet one another and to share program experiences and expectations. Each cohort of Rebuilders are drawn from the Native nations that share a geography with Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The 18 Rebuilders in Cohort 7, who represent 10 different tribes, used their time together to finalize action plans and prepare nation-building presentations for their tribal communities.

The 20 Rebuilders in Cohort 8 began their journey with a deep-dive into the fundamentals of Native nation rebuilding, exploring the differences between the standard approach and nation building approach to tribal community development. They also participated in a variety of exercises that hone strategic thinking about tribal governance and community outcomes.

The Native Nation Rebuilders Program is a two-year commitment program that brings all types of leaders from tribal communities together for professional development focused on strengthening tribal governance. Cohort 8 will meet next on April 26 - 28, 2017 in Keystone, South Dakota.

More information on the Rebuilders Program and eligibility.