After decades of campaigning by Upper Sioux Indian Community Chairman Kevin Jensvold, the State of Minnesota finally returned the land formerly known as Upper Sioux Agency State Park to its rightful Dakota stewards in March 2024. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Director of Tribal Relations Bradley Harrington (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) sat down with Native Nations Institute (NNI) staff in 2024 during "January in Tucson" (JIT), The University of Arizona's annual Indigenous governance, law and policy education event, to discuss the return of 1200 acres of Minnesota State Park land to the Upper Sioux Indian Community. Harrington is a multiple JIT attendee and NNI Tribal Professionals Cohort alumnus. 

Jump to the 12:35 mark to see a cameo by 2024 Vice Presidential nominee, Governor Tim Walz! 

Learn more and register for January in Tucson 2025. Special thanks to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Historical Society and CURE MN for materials and their support of this project.