From hate crimes to gas taxes, North Dakota's legislature tackles many issues that hit home with Native Americans in the state.

That's why the legislature has set up an interim committee for the past several years to discuss with tribal leaders and enrolled members how the state and tribes can work together.

The first such meeting of this off-year for legislators was held this morning in Belcourt on the campus of Turtle Mountain Community College.

The group is charged with listening to tribal members about their interaction with state government and services.

(Rep. Merle Boucher, Committee Chairman) "I think we have a full agenda, we have human service issues, we have education issues, economic development issues. The primary purpose of this is to create a forum where we can come together and talk about things."


Turtle Mountain Tribal Chairman Richard Marcellais is also a state legislator.

He says the Tribal Relations Committee is important for the state.

(Richard Marcellais, Tribal Chairman) "It's a communication we need to continue with our Native American communities in the state. Actually this committee was going to be dissolved in the last legislature but we reintroduced a bill to continue to dialogue between the reservations and the state."


The committee will hold meetings at all of the reservations in the state. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list