The aroma of sage, a unified drum beat and Dakota prayer resonated throughout the Upper Sioux Community Recreation Center during a ceremony held to honor an occasion deemed a momentous first.
Represent-atives of the Upper Sioux and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stood across from one another during Thursday’s event, where dual signatures enacted an agreement that permits the tribe to seek disaster assistance directly from the federal government.
“Initially we didn’t understand that it would be such a big event, but as we have undertaken the process we have come to understand its significance,” said Upper Sioux Community Tribal Chairman Kevin Jensvold. “We’re honored to do our part to administer services to our people and to represent them as our ancestors had intended us to be represented, on a nation-to-nation basis.”
The disaster assistance is only available to the tribe when the need for resources exceeds that of the tribe’s capabilities, but it also makes them eligible to receive flood mitigation grants. Previously, the Upper Sioux would have had to seek disaster assistance funds as a sub-grantee to the state.
The agreement was the first established between the government and any tribe from within FEMA‘s Region V, which is a six-state area that includes Minnesota. According to Upper Sioux Community Member at Large Scott Larsen, of the well over 500 other sovereign tribal nations across the country, only two others have made like accords.
FEMA Region V Regional Administrator Andrew Velasquez III said that it is the intent of FEMA to establish additional partnerships, which have become a greater focus in the wake of recent changes in United States’ policy.
“The President is committed to a nation-to-nation relationship,” Velasquez said. “This truly demonstrates our commitment to working with our tribal partners – because the administration is committed to this you will see more of this in the futures.”
The Upper Sioux was first informed of the opportunity when a regional FEMA representative contacted the tribe following the relatively minor flood event that impacted the community earlier this year.
“Growing up on the reservation we listened to phrases like self-determination and self-sufficiency,” recalled Jensvold. “[The tribal board] initially said, we can take care of ourselves.”
The board eventually decided to sign the accord when they recognized that the tribe would be in a better position to control its own fate with the agreement in place.
“If we build a trusting relationship at this time when the need is not so great, or if there comes a time when the need is great and we ask for help, the relationship will be there,” said Jensvold.
The tribal chair said he was honored and greatful for the opportunity to partner with FEMA under the circumstances. He said he hoped that the community youth would come to recognize the significance of the day.
“For these young people out there we thought it was very appropriate to demonstrate our commitment to what our ancestors had hoped for us,” Jensvold said. “Through the treaties that were signed, through the treaties that were broken, the core principle of being acknowledged as a nation is very important to us ... It may be a small step and maybe it’s just a moment in time, but there again I’m proud to say that each of us are here, and we are honored to do our part.”
