WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) hosted a Flag Ceremony with Tribal leaders from Tribal Nations across Minnesota in Washington, D.C. A Flag Ceremony is a formal event to honor the flags of Tribal Nations and the Tribes’ sovereignty, identity, and history. The Mille Lacs Singers sang the Flag Song to commemorate the occasion. Senator Smith will display the flags of the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota at her offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Paul in recognition of the government-to-government relationships with the Tribal Nations. This is the first time that a member of the Minnesota Congressional delegation has flown all 11 flags at once.
“It is our duty to honor our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations and protect their inherent sovereignty,” said Senator Smith. “This Flag Ceremony demonstrates my commitment to working with Tribal Nations to ensure their self-governance and self-determination, and I am deeply honored that Tribal leaders in Minnesota trust me to be a representative for them in the federal government. I will proudly display all 11 flags in my offices.”
“It was an honor to stand with our Mille Lacs Band singers as we lifted our voices to recognize Senator Tina Smith. Her respect for our Band’s flag—and the flags of the ten other sovereign Tribal Nations in Minnesota—speaks to her deep understanding of what sovereignty means to our people,” said Chief Executive Virgil Wind of the Mille Lacs Band. “Like all of us who are called to serve, she has made a commitment to uphold the laws that recognize our governments and to strengthen the trust between our Nations and the federal government.”
“I want to thank Senator Smith for inviting the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to the flag ceremony in recognition of our government to government relationship. We were proud to have our elders deliver our flag to her in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. Senator Smith is paving the way for key decision makers to recognize and uphold our sovereignty,” said Chairman Cole Miller of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
The 11 Tribes in Minnesota are Bois Forte Band, Lower Sioux Indian Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prairie Island Indian Community, Leech Lake Band, Mille Lacs Band, White Earth Nation, Fond du Lac Band, Grand Portage Band, Red Lake Nation, and Upper Sioux Community Pezihutazizi Oyate.
You can hear more from Senator Smith and Tribal leaders here.
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