November is Native American Heritage Month. Rachel Morin joined Extension in January and currently serves as director of tribal engagement and outreach. Throughout her career, she has developed and expanded relationships across tribal nations, government entities and academic institutions. Rachel was the Native American community engagement coordinator for Hennepin County before joining Extension.
Q: For those who may be unfamiliar, explain how your role works and why it’s important.
A: As the director of tribal engagement and outreach, I serve as a bridge between University of Minnesota Extension and the 11 tribal nations within the state. My role is to ensure that Extension’s work reflects authentic partnerships, not just with tribal communities, but in true collaboration with them.
Another aspect of my role is serving as an internal resource for our teams in Extension by offering support and guidance on engaging tribal partners. This includes co-developing programs and projects that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and aligning Extension’s initiatives with the priorities of each tribal nation. I’m currently working to build relationships with each nation to identify their priorities and form more cohesive and lasting partnerships.
This work is important because it recognizes the sovereignty, cultural values, and unique governance structures of tribal nations and actively seeks opportunities to connect Extension with tribal partners. It’s exciting to work within a large university system that values and respects traditional knowledge while creating pathways where research, education, and service can be mutually beneficial.
Q. What goals are you proudest of achieving in your role so far?
A. There are many highlights from this last year, but I would start by saying that helping to create a more intentional and culturally grounded framework for tribal relations within Extension has been a success. People across Extension are very eager to do more work with tribal nations. They usually just don’t know where to start. That enthusiasm has really helped me do my job more effectively.
Specific achievements include serving as a board member and member of the Resilient Communities Workgroup for RSDP’s southeast region. In addition, I have led efforts to educate Extension staff on traditional knowledge systems such as the Seven Grandfather Teachings and Dakota Values, and how these principles connect to Extension’s mission of community wellbeing. I also launched the Tribal Relations in Action E-News column, which includes updates, information, and events happening within the Native community, as well as highlights of Native community-specific work happening within Extension.
Q: What are your priorities for the next six months?
A: My priorities include deepening our partnerships with tribal governments as well as Native-led community organizations, schools, and community-based groups, and ensuring that they are included in department-level and Extension-wide decision-making. I am currently exploring different ways we can do this. I also plan to launch new website content that will offer project updates, list contacts, and helpful resources for faculty, staff and community members.
Ultimately, there is a lot of work that began before I joined Extension earlier this year, and I have many ideas for growing this work. I’m excited to help build a future where we work more closely with all of Minnesota’s tribal nations, and do so in true partnership.
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