Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, delivered the tribal and state relationship address to the North Dakota House of Representatives, urging state lawmakers to support infrastructure, public safety, health-care access and a study of tribal economic impact.

Alkire told the chamber that Standing Rock and the four other tribal nations in the state — the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate — need coordinated support for schools, health care, law enforcement and economic development. "My people are resilient, innovative, vibrant, educated, and persistent," Alkire said.

Why it matters: Alkire framed infrastructure projects and joint planning as foundational to tribal and statewide prosperity. She asked legislators to back work that would better connect reservation communities to services and to press the federal delegation for funding decisions that benefit all residents.

Alkire highlighted three specific areas:
- Infrastructure and connectivity: Alkire said Standing Rock seeks improved east–west connectivity across the Missouri River and described a "bridge to the future" as both a physical link and a symbol of collaboration. She reported the tribe has secured a planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation of approximately $1,450,000 to advance planning for a new bridge.
- Public safety and law enforcement: Alkire called attention to underfunding of tribal law enforcement and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP). She praised mutual agreements between some tribes and state law-enforcement agencies and asked the state to support efforts to expand local officer training, including a proposed regional Bureau of Indian Affairs training center at Camp Grafton.
- Education, health and economic development: Alkire commended the Legislature for passing SB 2304, which she said improves Native American history and culture instruction in classrooms, and noted benefits tribes have seen from federal funds such as the American Rescue Plan. She asked the state to conduct an objective study of how the five tribal nations contribute to North Dakota's economy, including the gaming market and other shared revenue opportunities.

Alkire provided historical context for Standing Rock, saying the tribe's homelands are now roughly 2,300,000 acres and stressing tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation. She also thanked former Governor Doug Burgum for prior outreach to tribal leaders and congratulated Governor Kelly Armstrong on his inauguration and nomination to a federal post.

The House conducted several routine motions during the event. Representative Bosch moved and the House carried committee appointments to escort Governor Kelly Armstrong, Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden and tribal chairwoman Janet Alkire to the chamber, accepted Alkire's address for printing in the House journal and recessed until 11 a.m. for the next order of business. The motions were announced as carried by the presiding officer with votes recorded as "aye." No roll-call vote tallies or recorded individual votes were provided in the transcript.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to appoint a committee of two to escort Governor Kelly Armstrong to a seat in the chamber — moved by Representative Bosch; carried (ayes recorded). Provenance: transcript lines at 00:06:05–00:06:14.
- Motion to appoint a committee of two to escort Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden to a seat in the chamber — moved by Representative Bosch; carried (ayes recorded). Provenance: transcript lines at 00:07:53–00:08:00.
- Motion to appoint a committee of two to escort tribal chairwoman Janet Alkire to the podium — moved by Representative Bosch; carried (ayes recorded). Provenance: transcript lines at 00:14:47–00:14:54.
- Motion that Alkire's address be printed in the House journal as submitted to the front desk — moved by Representative Bosch; carried (ayes recorded). Provenance: transcript lines at 00:39:32–00:39:40.
- Motion that the chamber stand in recess until 11 a.m. — moved by Representative Bosch, second not named in the transcript; carried (ayes recorded). Provenance: transcript lines at 00:44:48–00:44:58.

Attributions and quotes in this article are drawn from the address and the legislative proceedings as recorded in the meeting transcript. Selected direct quotes: "My people are resilient, innovative, vibrant, educated, and persistent," and "We must work together with our federal delegation to stress what is best for all our citizens, not just a few," both attributed to Janet Alkire.

Ending: Alkire closed by thanking tribal leaders, state officials and citizens and called for continued collaboration. The House recessed following the address and scheduled the next order of business for 11 a.m.