Indigenous Relations

Native Americans performing a traditional dances of the MHA Nation Our transparent dialogue with stakeholders is grounded in mutual respect and engagement. We acknowledge that our success hinges on gaining acceptance and support from surrounding communities, including the MHA Nation in North Dakota. As the largest landowner across our asset base and our neighbor on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, we prioritize effective engagement, transparent communication and responsible business practices.

Approach

We are constantly striving to gain a better understanding of the goals and desires of the Tribal community and we believe that fostering open and ongoing communication with the MHA Nation helps us do that. Our Indigenous Relations Policy, published in early 2021, focuses specifically on:

Graphics showing Crestwood's approach to Indigenous relations

Meaningful Engagement

Our Tribal Relations Manager, Fred Everett, a member of the MHA Nation, maintains frequent and transparent communication with MHA Nation leadership to assess the impact of our operations, address concerns and collaborate in a mutually beneficial partnership. We work closely with MHA Nation Chairman, Mark N. Fox, who has praised our engagement efforts and noted positive progress. We remain committed to building on this momentum, learning, improving and supporting the MHA Nation as a trusted partner and responsible operator.

Cultural Awareness Training

To further build our employees’ knowledge and respect for Indigenous communities, including the MHA Nation, we continued our Cultural Awareness Training in 2022 and extended it to include all Arrow employees in North Dakota and supporting corporate team members. Through the training, our employees gained insight into the historical and current experiences of the Indigenous community, which can foster better communication and relationships and improve understanding and respect.

Testimonial

Having a positive and accurate perspective of the MHA Nation—including their history, traditional values and key cultural interpretations—creates a well-established sense of awareness and sensitivity among Crestwood employees that helps minimize biases, fosters the development of strong relationships with Tribal leaders based on trust and mutual respect and allows Crestwood to become part of the community.

Taylor Keplin
Cultural Awareness Trainer

Respect for the Land

We deeply appreciate and respect the MHA Nation people and their ancestral lands, which are integral to their traditions and culture. Our commitment to valuing and respecting their land reflects our desire to help preserve their cultural heritage for future generations. During project planning and reclamation efforts, we engage with Tribal members to incorporate traditional knowledge and values from the MHA Nation, minimizing impacts on the land while enhancing habitats and landscapes, where feasible.

Our commitment to respect cultural lands is outlined in our Indigenous Relations Policy and further echoed in our Biodiversity Position Statement. For more information on our reclamation initiatives, please see the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection section.

Local Education, Employment and Business Opportunities

Crestwood endeavors to provide education, training, internships, employment, procurement and business development opportunities to MHA Nation members, with the goal to build capacity and enhance skillsets within the local current and future workforce.

For more information about our approach to working with Indigenous suppliers, please see the Supply Chain section.

Social Investment

Crestwood supports MHA Nation community initiatives through both monetary and in-kind contributions. Since 2017, we have donated approximately $3 million to various organizations that support the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and enhance access to STEM education. In addition, our employees continue to volunteer their time and participate in MHA Nation cultural activities including annual powwows.

Since 2017, we have donated approximately $3 million to various organizations that support the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and enhance access to STEM education.

Testimonial

We appreciate Crestwood’s dedication to and respect for the MHA Nation. They have shown a commitment to learning more about our culture, understanding and appreciating our values and operating their assets on the reservation in a culturally and environmentally friendly way. We value their partnership.

Councilman Fred Fox
White Shield East Segment

Councilman Fred Fox of the White Shield East Segment

Case Study

Crestwood Provides Funding for North Dakota’s Gateway to Science Building

Two Crestwood employees standing by a plague for funding North Dakota’s Gateway to Science building

Looking Ahead

In 2023, we aim to continue our ongoing work with Indigenous communities. We plan to:

Continue to focus on re-building personal relationships through face-to-face meetings following limited opportunities during the pandemic
Conduct bi-annual meetings with the MHA Nation to identify additional support opportunities
Advance upon our existing Indigenous Relations Policy to ensure it meets community needs
Continue to mature our social investment strategy by re-aligning and prioritizing our investments based on locally identified needs, including mental health awareness, domestic violence prevention and anti-human trafficking