Kenny Lyson MHA Energy, EmPower Commissioners David Straley, Mike Rud, Wade Boeshans, Ron Ness, Josh Tiegan Katherine Everett MHA Energy Liaison, MHA Chairman Mark Fox, ND Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, and James Leiman
By Logan J. Davis
The MHA Nation hosted several members of the EmPower Commission last week at the MHA Interpretive Center. The commissioners who made the trip to MHA Nation came away with a better understanding of the tribal history and culture and a feeling of friendship.
In 2007, the North Dakota Legislature formalized energy policy and created the 16-member EmPower Commission. This group is charged with developing comprehensive energy policy recommendations for the state’s diverse and growing energy industry. The commission is made up of representatives from all the state’s energy industries and is a model of how differing interests can come together for the good of an industry. The commission has representatives from all energy sectors such as oil and gas, petroleum, coal, lignite, solar, and wind energy.
The group of EmPower commissioners that included Lieutenant Governor Brett Sanford, were given an hour-long tour by Chairman Mark Fox and MHA Interpretive Center staff members, Mykal Drosdal and Micheal Barthelemy. The histories and cultures of the three tribes of MHA Nation were presented in an interesting series of stories and historical facts by the three MHA tribal members.
James Leiman is the Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Commerce and he felt great after the tour indicating that he could have listened all day to the presenters. Leiman emphasized that he is grateful for the opportunity to meet with MHA Tribal Chairman Fox and others in the tribal energy sector.
“We visited the MHA Nation because we want to explore all of the energy opportunities and find out where MHA wants to go,” said Leiman. “It was a visit for our commission to learn more about our important partners. I was in awe during the tour at the interpretive center presented by such experts on the tribes great histories and cultures. For all of us in the commission, it was very enlightening. That is why I have always seen it in my heart to help native tribes in any way that I can. We need to include them in policy or strategies we come up with as the EmPower Commission.”
