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Miigwech / Phidamáya — You Made the 2nd Annual Tribal Energy Forum Amazing! 🌿⚡
Danny Desjarlais, Lower Sioux Indian Community (Čaŋšayápi) - Industrial Hemp Construction, and Louise Miltich, Great Plains Institute
Miigwech / Phidamáya
You Made the 2nd Annual Tribal Energy Forum Amazing!
Dear Honored Guests, Speakers, Attendees, Sponsors, and Exhibitors,
Miigwech / Phidamáya!
On behalf of the Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy (TACE), Native Sun Community Power Development, and the Lower Sioux Indian Community – Čaŋšayápi, we extend our deepest gratitude for your presence, partnership, and dedication at the 2nd Annual Tribal Energy Forum.
You were truly amazing, and your active participation, insights, and engagement made a profound and lasting difference. Together under our shared theme, "Empowering Sustainable Futures Through Energy Sovereignty — Sovereign Energy for the Next Seven Generations," we exchanged vital knowledge, forged strategic regional partnerships, and collectively advanced Indigenous energy independence and leadership across our Tribal Nations.
Forum Highlights & Continued Collaboration
Outdoor Clean Energy Showcase: Experience hands-on interactive demonstrations celebrating Tribal energy sovereignty and community engagement through electric fleet vehicle walkthroughs, zero-emission solar watercraft, innovative micromobility solutions, and sustainable off-grid tiny home living designs tailored for Tribal community infrastructure.
Impactful Keynotes, Sessions & Strategic Panels: Featuring inspiring keynote presentations and engaging in-depth dialogues rooted in Tribal sovereignty and active community engagement—spanning sustainable building materials like industrial hempcrete housing applications, resilient community microgrids, geothermal heat pump technologies, workforce training pipelines, high-voltage transmission grid access, and strategies for navigating complex data center energy policies and growing power demands.
Community Connection & Networking: Facilitating meaningful relationship-building and active engagement across Tribal leadership, state regulatory agencies, regional utilities, industry exhibitors, clean tech innovators, and passionate community advocates to uphold and advance Tribal energy sovereignty.
Raffle Winners & Celebrations:
Huge congratulations and a warm shout-out to our forum raffle prize winners: Danny Desjarlais, Lower Sioux Indian Community (Čaŋšayápi) - Industrial Hemp Construction, and Louise Miltich, Great Plains Institute. Miigwech – Phidamáya for participating and bringing so much joy and enthusiasm to our gathering.
Danny Desjarlais, Lower Sioux Indian Community (Čaŋšayápi) - Industrial Hemp Construction
Help Us Shape Future Gatherings:
Complete the Forum Survey
If you haven't had a chance yet, please take a few moments to complete our overall Forum survey. Your insight is essential as we continue building long-term energy planning, coordinating policy, and advancing impactful clean energy initiatives.
Access the Survey: 2026 Tribal Energy Forum Surveys + Drawing Entry
Why Your Voice Matters: Your feedback helps us measure the forum's impact, improve future events, and ensure Indigenous priorities remain at the forefront of regional energy resilience.
Raffle Drawing: As a token of our appreciation, all survey participants this round will be automatically entered into a very cool raffle drawing!
The prize is a Jackery Solar Generator 300 v2
A compact, portable power station that provides reliable, rechargeable power wherever you need it. Features a 288Wh battery, 300W output, and multiple charging ports for phones, laptops, lights, and small electronics. Great for camping, outdoor activities, emergencies, and backup power at home. Can be recharged using a compatible solar panel or a wall outlet.
Tribal Energy Forum Resource Center
We are pleased to share key materials, presentations, photos, and post-forum resources on our Tribal Energy Forum Resource Center website. Key updates and resources include:
Presentations & Event Materials: We're adding slide decks and downloadable materials shared by our keynotes, panel speakers, and workshop leaders to the Resource Center for your review and ongoing reference.
Event Photo Gallery: High-resolution photos capturing keynotes, panel discussions, networking sessions, and the Outdoor Clean Energy Showcase are now available to view and download.
Did you capture great moments during the gathering? Upload your event photos to our website file share folder, and Native Sun will add them to the official event photo gallery. Submit your photos safely and securely via our Photo Submission Portal.
To upload photos, create a free member profile on our website using the posted instructions.
Travel & Mileage Reimbursement Requests: Eligible attendees, speakers, and Tribal representatives can submit mileage or travel expense reimbursement requests directly through the designated portal on our website.
Interactive Event & Virtual Meeting Calendar: The TACE Event Calendar is live on our platform as a central hub grounded in Indigenous energy sovereignty to connect Tribes and advance clean energy leadership. Tribal leaders, delegates, and partners can use this new tool to submit calendar events directly to the website through this flexible calendar pathway.
Calendar Pathways:
Native Sun Curated Initiatives: Key convenings, policy updates, and project milestones posted by Native Sun and TACE leadership.
Partner & Contributor Submissions: Regional gatherings, workshops, and opportunities shared by partner organizations and clean energy advocates.
Stay in Touch
To stay up to date with information on the next Tribal Energy Forum and other announcements — subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on our socials.
Miigwech – Phidamáya once again for your commitment, expertise, and leadership. We look forward to staying connected and continuing this vital work together for generations to come.
We look forward to welcoming you back next year.
Giga-waabaminigoom miinawaa — we will see you again.
In Spirit and Collaboration,
Thank you – Miigwech – Phidamáya
Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy (TACE)
Native Sun Community Power Development
Phidamáya,
Lower Sioux Indian Community – Čaŋšayápi
Miigwech – Phidamáya
Miigwech – Phidamáya to our generous sponsors for supporting the 2nd Annual Tribal Energy Forum and advancing Tribal energy sovereignty!
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Great River Energy, ITC Midwest, McKnight Foundation, QualCharge, White Earth Tribal Utility Commission, Xcel Energy, Emmons & Olivier Resources (EOR), Knobelsdorff, Lower Sioux Indian Community - Čaŋšayápi, Minnesota Power, MnSEIA, Prairie Island Indian Community, RIDE / United Bus Sales, and Solar Bear.
Photos by Nedahness Rose Greene | TACE Artwork by Sarah LittleRedfeather
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