Media

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Media Contacts

Eric Pehle
Eric.pehle@epicassociatesllc.com
612-819-5776

Communications Department
PrairieIslandCommunications@piic.org

The Prairie Island Indian Community Fact Sheet

Federal Recognition

  • The Prairie Island Indian Community is a Native American tribe federally recognized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

  • Prairie Island Indian Community’s Constitution and by-laws were adopted by tribal members on May 23, 1936, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on June 20, 1936.

People

  • Prairie Island Tribal members are Dakota and descend from the Bdewakantunwan (Mdewakanton) Band of Eastern Dakota.

  • As of February 10, 2023 there are 1,100 enrolled members of the Prairie Island Indian Community (nearly half of which are under 18 years of age).

Governance

  • Prairie Island is governed by a five-member Community Council (referred to as the Tribal Council).

  • The Tribal Council, elected to two-year terms, consists of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and assistant secretary/treasurer.

  • The current Tribal Council includes:
    • Grant Johnson, President

    • Ronald Johnson, Vice President

    • Valentina Mgeni, Secretary

    • Michael Childs Jr., Treasurer

    • Constance Campbell, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Reservation

  • Prairie Island is located on the shores of the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers, just north of Red Wing in southeastern Minnesota’s Goodhue County.

  • The Prairie Island reservation was created in the late 1800s when approximately 120 acres of land were purchased and put into trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the landless Bdewakantunwan residing in Minnesota. Additional lands were put into trust for the Tribe following the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

  • The reservation consists of approximately 534 acres of original reservation land and 2,774 acres of other trust land.

Land

  • Prairie Island Indian Community is a land-poor Tribe because of a series of events that led to the flooding of a portion of the Tribe’s reservation and the locating of a nuclear power plant and nuclear waste storage site withing 700 yards of community homes.

  • With housing a major priority for the Tribe, Prairie Island has purchased additional lands, including more than 1,000 acres near Rochester, MN and more than 300 acres near St. Paul, MN. The Tribe is working with the Department of the Interior to put the land into trust for the Tribe.

Tribal Businesses

  • The Tribe operates a number of businesses, including Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Mount Frontenac Golf Course, Dakota Station, and Tinta Wita Tipi – a senior assisted-living community.

  • At 788 guest rooms and suites, Treasure Island Resort & Casino is the second largest hotel property in Minnesota.

  • Prairie Island is the number one employer in Goodhue County with more 1,500 employees across the government and business operations.

President Grant Johnson

Grant Johnson

President Grant Johnson is serving his first term on Tribal Council for the Prairie Island Indian Community. While new to Tribal Council for the 2023-2025 term, President Johnson has over 20 years of service to his Community in various positions. For the past five years, Johnson served as the Tribal Administrator managing government operations for the Tribe. In that role, he managed the Tribe’s employees and operating budget, and led or assisted in various significant efforts for the Tribe, including navigating government through the COVID-19 pandemic, a major strategic planning initiative, the net zero project, and economic diversification planning. Before taking on the Tribal Administrator role, President Johnson spent nine years on the Tribe’s Gaming Commission overseeing compliance and surveillance. President Johnson believes strongly in the importance of Members being involved in their government and giving back to their community, and that’s why he ran for Tribal Council. As a Council member, President Johnson’s priorities include protection of the Tribe and its members, economic development and diversification, furthering education and employment opportunities for Tribal members, and supporting the preservation and revitalization of Dakota culture and language. President Johnson has lived most of his life on, around, or working for Tinta Wita (Prairie Island), and he graduated from Red Wing High School. He currently lives in Cottage Grove with his wife and three children. Johnson enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, coaching, and watching his kid’s sporting events. He likes to hunt, fish, and stay active by playing hockey, and has played in All-Native softball tournaments around the country.
Vice President Ron Johnson

Ronald Johnson

Vice President Ronald Johnson is serving his eighth term on the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council. Johnson has previously served as president, vice president, and assistant secretary/treasurer of the Tribal Council. Johnson's goal as a Tribal Council member is to preserve the health and safety of Tribal members for the next seven generations and the Tribe's Sovereign rights. Most recently, Johnson has helped represent the Tribe as a federal-level consultant on energy and nuclear policy issues. He is an active member of the Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee and Nuclear Energy Working Group. Johnson has dedicated years to working on removing spent nuclear fuel from the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant and learning about new energy technology solutions, including SMR-Small Modular Reactors and Micro Reactors. During his past terms on Tribal Council, Johnson led important initiatives, including testifying before Congress on labor relations issues and serving as Co-Chair of the National Congress of American Indians' intergovernmental committee working with the Department of Homeland Security on matters including safety at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. He participated in inspections and air quality monitoring along with Nuclear Regulatory Commission resident inspectors and health physicists.   Johnson has an associate's degree in marketing/management from a private college in Florida. He was born in Red Wing and is an outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with his family and two grandchildren. In addition, Johnson is involved in youth activities to promote the importance of education and to support the development of future leaders within the Community.
Secretary Valentina Mgeni

Valentina Mgeni

Secretary Valentina Mgeni is serving her third term on the Prairie Island Tribal Council. Prior to being elected to Tribal Council, Mgeni worked for 12 years in the Tribe’s Finance department as a staff accountant. Mgeni’s been active in the Community, serving on the Enrollment and Pow Wow Committees, the Election Board, and the Green Team. Mgeni is excited to see increased involvement by Tribal Members in community activities and hopes that will translate into more Members seeking employment with the Tribe. Economic development, affordable housing for Members, and efforts to attract and retain employees for the government and business enterprises are among Mgeni’s top priorities on Tribal Council. Mgeni holds an associate degree in business administration from Globe University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from National American University. Mgeni grew up on St. Paul’s Eastside and lives in Maplewood with her husband. They have four daughters and two sons and are grandparents to 10 grandchildren. Mgeni likes to spend time with family, crafting, and cheering on our Minnesota sports teams.
Treasurer Michael Childs

Michael Childs Jr.

Treasurer Michael Childs Jr. is serving his third term on the Prairie Island Tribal Council. Childs previously served on the Tribe’s Business Committee, Election Board and Election Committee. Childs also represents his community on the Energy Transition Advisory Committee for the Department of Employment and Economic Development of Minnesota. Childs’ priorities on Tribal Council include improving the consistency and effectiveness of government operations and promoting healing and balance within the community. He remains a strong advocate for increasing community involvement in government and is focused on ensuring the next seven generations of Tribal Members have the best lives possible. Childs is concerned about how substance use disorders affect individuals and their families and is an active member of Al-Anon, which is for friends and family of problem drinkers. Childs had a 14-year career at Xcel Energy power plants that included Prairie Island and Red Wing, where he worked as an instrument and control specialist. He served as a technical consultant to Prairie Island during the relicensing of Xcel’s nuclear power plant starting around 2009. Childs earned an associate degree in computer and consumer electronics from Northwestern Electronics Institute, an associate of arts from Inver Hills Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology with a minor in manufacturing engineering technology from Minnesota State University Mankato, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Born in Minneapolis and living there until he was about 10, Childs finished growing up on Prairie Island. Childs’ father, the late Michael Childs, Sr., served on Prairie Island Tribal Council in the 1990s. His mother volunteered at schools by teaching Dakota culture and beading. Childs and his wife live in Welch. He has two daughters and two stepsons. Child’s loves animals and has many cats. He also has a lifelong passion for repairing cars and general fabrication and has two racecars that he will race occasionally. He enjoys volunteering, exercising, and working outdoors.
Asst Sec Treasurer Constance Tori Campbell

Constance (Tori) Campbell

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Constance (Tori) Campbell is serving her first term on the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council. Campbell believes it’s essential for Tribal Members to be involved in their government. She spent the past eight years working as a liaison in the Tribe’s education department, helping native students succeed in the classroom. She ran for Tribal Council because she wanted to take on an expanded role that could help accomplish her goal of continuing to support the growth of the Dakota language and culture within her community. Education is a passion for Campbell, especially around Dakota culture and language. She completed an immersive Dakota Language internship with the Tribe’s language department and often travels to present to various organizations and groups on Indian Education. Campbell chaired the Red Wing School District’s Native American Parent Committee for more than six years and served on committees for ethics and diversification. Her volunteer work expands beyond the Tribal Community to include the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Committee and Red Cottage Montessori. Campbell also sits on the board of directors for the Minnesota Indian Education Association. Campbell holds an associate degree from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts – Minneapolis and a bachelor’s in business from the University of Phoenix. Campbell was born in Red Wing and lives on Prairie Island. She is a foodie who enjoys traveling, watching her three children dance, attending pow wows, crafting, celebrating Halloween, and cheering on Minnesota sports teams.
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