Tribal Relations–Industry Training: Past, Present & Future
A First-of-its-Kind Training for Minnesota’s Mining and Natural Resource Sectors
January 20–21, 2026
Iron Trail Motors Event Center – Virginia, MN
Hosted in partnership with tribal liaisons and regional industry leaders
About the Training
Tribal Relations–Industry Training: Past, Present & Future is the first known training in the United States designed specifically for industry professionals in mining, natural resources, engineering, and associated vendor sectors to build knowledge and authentic working relationships with the tribal nations of northern Minnesota.
This two-day program echoes Minnesota’s long-standing Tribal–State Relations Training but is an independently created program developed collaboratively with cultural experts and industry tribal liaisons.
It addresses the cultural, historical, governmental, and modern issues essential to meaningful engagement, fostering stronger relationships, better communication, and improved project outcomes as our region balances development, stewardship, community priorities, and tribal sovereignty.
Training Purpose
This training is designed to support:
- Stronger working relationships between tribal nations and Minnesota’s mining industry
- Industry professionals seeking deeper cultural and historical understanding
- Improved collaboration on permitting, consultation, land, water, and treaty-resources issues
- Greater respect, awareness, and shared problem-solving
- Long-term, trust-based partnerships
Goals
Participants will gain:
Understanding the Past
- Overview of early tribal history and the Ojibwe–Dakota homelands
- Federal Indian policy and its lasting impacts
- Introduction to treaties, treaty obligations, and treaty-reserved rights
- Cultural significance of land, water, and manoomin/wild rice
- Boarding school history and intergenerational impacts
Understanding the Present
- Overview of tribal governments, sovereignty, and jurisdiction
- How tribal administration and tribal consultation processes function
- Contemporary issues affecting tribes and industry
- Perspectives from former tribal leaders
- Modern land issues, trust land topics, and regional examples
Understanding the Future
- What collaborative pathways look like going forward
- How industry can authentically build respectful and effective relationships
- Best practices from tribal liaisons across mining companies
- Opportunities to improve communication and support community outcomes
Who Should Attend
This training is highly recommended for:
- Mining company employees (U.S. Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, NewRange, Mesabi Metallics, etc.)
- Natural resource professionals
- Engineers, contractors, and consultants
- SME members and vendor partners
Speakers & Cultural Contributors
Tentative:
- Former tribal leadership from multiple nations
- Experts on treaties, river-of-time history, and federal Indian policy
- Present-day tribal liaisons
- Boarding school survivor/descendants
- Wild rice and natural resources experts
- Additional experts regarding land policy
- Drum group opening and closing the event
A complete speaker list will be provided as confirmations are received.
Why This Training Matters
Northern Minnesota is ancestral home to Anishinaabe people and to several sovereign nations whose treaty rights, cultural resources, governance structures, and community priorities intersect daily with mining natural resource development.
- Communication and consultation effectiveness
- Long-term trust between communities
- Environmental and cultural stewardship
- Project timelines and efficiencies
- Economic success shared across the region
This is an opportunity to learn, listen, and build a more collaborative future together.
Date and Time
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026 Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
January 20-21, 2026
8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location
919 6th St S, Virginia, MN 55792
Fees/Admission
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