Native Governance Center

Non-profit OrganizationsUnited States11-50 Employees

Native Governance Center is a Native American-led nonprofit organization that assists Native nations in strengthening their systems of governance and capacity to exercise sovereignty. 

We opened our doors in January 2016 in response to a need identified by Tribal leaders from the 23 Native nations that share geography with Mni Sota Makoce, North Dakota, and South Dakota. These leaders asked for an organization that would meet the increasing demand for Indigenous governance and leadership development resources in the region.

We work to meet this demand by teaching a Native nation rebuilding approach. Our on-the-ground experience and our deep understanding of academic research tell us that Native nation rebuilding is a powerful strategy for transforming lives. The rebuilding framework consists of five research-based strategies for strengthening Indigenous governance. Native nations with stronger governance systems are better able to use their sovereignty to determine their own future and improve their quality of life.

To this end, we’re working to cultivate a Native nation rebuilding movement; we envision this movement leading to a future where all Indigenous people can thrive on their own terms. We see abundance, restoration, community building, brainstorming, and centering Indigeneity as elements of this new future.

To further the movement, our organization provides Native nations with customized resources, learning experiences, and technical assistance related to Indigenous governance. We also train Indigenous changemakers through our Native Nation Rebuilders program, a program founded on Indigenous values and real-life leadership and governance success stories. Finally, we help our greater community better understand the concepts fundamental to our work; we know we won’t fully meet our goals without broad public support.

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