Native American Professionals in Minnesota

Little Earth Residents Association represents a unique model of Native American self-determination and community resilience in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since its founding in 1973, Little Earth has served as the only Indigenous preference project-based Section 8 rental assistance community in the United States, providing a cultural home for nearly 1,000 residents representing 38 different tribal affiliations. Born from grassroots activism in response to housing discrimination and the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, Little Earth was designed to reconnect urban Native peoples with their cultural and tribal identities while building pathways toward economic stability. The Little Earth Residents Association emerged from this foundation to serve as both a representative voice with HUD and a community center committed to empowering residents through culturally strong, supportive, and unified programming. What sets Little Earth apart is its authentic community governance—the Board of Directors has been 100% Native American since 1983, and the organization is led by residents who understand the lived experiences of the community. The 60 elders within Little Earth serve as cultural mentors, preserving intergenerational knowledge that was threatened by forced assimilation policies. Today, LERA continues the legacy of community organizing around environmental and social justice issues while providing family-centered services that honor traditional Indigenous values. Located in Minneapolis's East Phillips neighborhood, Little Earth demonstrates how community-driven organizations can create lasting systems change and serve as a beacon of self-determination for all Native peoples.

Native Governance Center is a Native-led nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, dedicated to empowering tribal nations through governance strengthening and institutional capacity development. Founded in January 2016, the organization emerged from direct conversations with tribal leaders representing the 23 Native nations sharing geography with Mni Sota Makoce, North Dakota, and South Dakota—leaders who identified a critical gap in available Indigenous governance resources and called for an organization to address it. Rooted in the principle that Native nations deserve governance support designed by and for Indigenous peoples, Native Governance Center bridges the gap between tribal leadership aspirations and the practical tools needed to exercise sovereignty effectively. The organization's founding reflects a community-centered approach: tribal leaders identified the need, articulated their priorities, and Native Governance Center responded by creating a dedicated resource specifically for the region's Native communities. Operating in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Native Governance Center maintains deep connections to the tribal nations throughout the Upper Midwest region it serves. The organization recognizes that effective governance is foundational to tribal self-determination and community wellbeing. By providing specialized leadership development and governance resources grounded in Indigenous values and contexts, Native Governance Center supports tribal nations in building the strong institutional foundations necessary for long-term sovereignty and self-governance. The organization's work reflects a commitment to honoring tribal leaders' vision and supporting Native nations in their ongoing journey toward stronger, more resilient governance systems.

Born from a 1990 national gathering of tribal grassroots youth and Indigenous leadership in response to environmental assaults on Indigenous lands and waters, the Indigenous Environmental Network represents a powerful movement rooted in love for Mother Earth and commitment to protecting all living things. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, IEN emerged from communities facing toxic waste dumps, nuclear waste storage facilities, and industrial contamination—challenges that sparked a vision for collective action and healing. What sets IEN apart is its foundation in Indigenous traditional knowledge, spiritual practices, and original instructions that guide sustainable community development. The organization honors both youth and elders, recognizing their essential roles in creating environmental and economic justice. Since hiring its first staff in 1995, IEN has grown into the oldest Indigenous-based and grassroots environmental network in North America, serving as the eyes and ears of tribal grassroots communities, traditional leadership, and disenfranchised tribes and Alaska villages. IEN's commitment extends beyond environmental protection to affirming cultural and spiritual rights, promoting healthy Indigenous lifestyles, and building economically sustainable communities. The organization's work encompasses education, empowerment, and strategy development that respects natural laws and the Circle of Life. Through decades of dedicated service from its Bemidji headquarters, IEN continues to inspire hope and courage among Indigenous peoples, demonstrating that meaningful environmental and economic justice is achievable when communities unite around a common vision of restoration and harmony with the natural world.