WhatIsMast?

The Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, (MAST), founded in 1996, represents the 35 sovereign tribal nations of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan. Altogether, MAST represents nearly 134,000 American Indian people.

MAST's mission is to "advance, protect, preserve, and enhance the mutual interests, treaty rights, sovereignty, and cultural way of life of the sovereign nations of the Midwest throughout the 21st century." The organization coordinates important public policy issues and initiatives at the state, regional and federal levels, promotes unity and cooperation among member tribes and advocates for member tribes.

MAST is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the tribal chairperson, chief president, or chief executive of each member tribe. Four officers are elected from among the board of directors; a President; Vice-President; Secretary and Treasurer.

Current MAST issues and activities include:

Protecting Indian economic opportunity Protecting Tribal sovereignty and self- government.

Protecting the rights of individual Indians and member tribes pursuant to treaties with the United States.

Protecting Indian lands, including the rights to place lands into trust, and protecting tribal environmental authorities.

Improving education for Indian children and adults, both on and off the reservation.

Improving the health and well-being of Indian people in the Midwest.

Protecting the cultural and religious resources and rights of all Indian people.

Improving reservation infrastructure, including the provision of safe and affordable homes, clean water, sound utilities and good roads.

	Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes