Minnesota Tribal-State Relations e-Learning

Principal Investigator(s):

Joseph Bauerkemper, Professor, UMD-American Indian Studies

Co-Investigators:

Project summary:

Executive Order 19-24 (EO 19-24) mandates training for 26 cabinet agencies whose work impacts tribal nations. While employees of state agencies are required to consult with the tribes on matters of mutual interest, they have not been equipped with the knowledge or tools they need to implement such consultation.

Currently the State of Minnesota offers a two-day, instructor-led Tribal-State Relations Training class. However, the demand exceeds supply, making it logistically impossible to deliver classroom training to all of the targeted state employees (26,000) to comply with EO 19-24 in a reasonable timeframe.

There is a need to pursue alternate training delivery methods as well as offer approved/vetted resources for employees for reference and use.

Expanding training to online offerings is one solution toward meeting the need: specifically, a condensed online version of the two-day classroom training and supplemental modules on topic-specific subjects.

The content for the condensed version of the e-learning will consist of a PowerPoint and script incorporating key information contained in the Tribal State Relations Training class. E-learning training will cover Federal Indian law, tribal governments, and history. The PowerPoint and script delivered to MnDOT will be used to create online e-learning training, not classroom training. It's important to note that online training is not intended to replace classroom training.

Project details: