Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations

(Credit: https://www.miwrc.org/blog/2019/12/19/governor-walz-announces-action-to-address-homeless)

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan & Patina Park: Two MN Leaders Speak About Leading During the Pandemic

COVID-19 Community Conversations

Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

Today on the show, Host Leah Lemm explores the question: what have we learned? As we cross the six-month milestone of this pandemic. We hear from two Minnesota Leaders about some of the topics the pandemic has brought to the surface, including health inequities, injustice, and the resiliency of our communities.

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation) speaks with Leah about her time in office, what it takes to lead through a major health crisis, the importance of the Native Vote, and her reflections on Justice Ginsburg’s legacy. 

Reporter Melissa Townsend shares her conversation with Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota), the Director of Tribal State Relations for the Walz Flanagan administration, and we learn more about the partnership between the tribes and state during these challenging times.

Plus, a timeless message from the nonpartisan campaign called Native Vote, initiated from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) about the history of overcoming barriers to voting for Native peoples in the United States.