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With Ukraine at war with Russia, a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the looming threat of China, our relationships with other nations have never been more critical. As a Marine, I always wanted other nations to see us as a reliable ally, though I know that hasn’t always been the case. Unfortunately, our failure to be a consistent ally isn’t a new problem—it goes back much further, even here at home.
By 1886, hundreds of thousands of immigrants like my Norwegian ancestors had surged onto the North Dakota prairie to claim their 160 acres under the Homestead Act. By then, the Fort Berthold Reservation and other territory granted by treaty to Native American tribes had already shrunk dramatically. In 1889, a town called Elbowoods was founded on the reservation and became the agency seat for the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation. Nestled in the wooded bottoms of a fertile plain rising from a curve in the Missouri River, Elbowoods was, by all accounts, both picturesque and aptly named. In addition to the MHA headquarters, the town had a post office, many shops, and a school whose basketball team once claimed a championship title.
No mail passes through the Elbowoods post office today. There is no basketball team or community of proud fans to support it. By the time my father graduated from high school in 1956, the vibrant town lay underwater, its people displaced, their homes lost—not to a natural disaster, but to a man-made one.
The story of Elbowoods isn’t just one of displacement; it’s a stark example of the relationship between Native tribes and the United States government—one marked by broken promises and stolen land. The Pick-Sloan Act of 1944 authorized flood control and irrigation projects by submerging vast tracts of Native land. By the time the Garrison Dam project was finished, the total land area reserved for the MHA Nation had stood at a mere four percent of what the US had agreed to in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. These were lands promised to tribes in perpetuity, wiped away by the same government that claimed to protect freedom.
This cycle is all too familiar. The Dakota Access Pipeline, initially set to pass near Bismarck, was rerouted next to the Standing Rock reservation after non-Native communities objected due to safety concerns. It’s the same pattern: protect the powerful, imperil the vulnerable. Our government has even gone out of its way to create other problems, like in 2018 when North Dakota enacted a law requiring street addresses on voter IDs. State officials knew that most tribal IDs used PO boxes. The law was a blatant attempt to disenfranchise Native communities. And yet, despite centuries of exploitation, Native communities are focused on building a better future—one that centers on sovereignty, economic self-determination, and innovation.
I saw this focus firsthand at the 2024 Tribal Leaders Summit in Bismarck. Dr. Hollie Mackey delivered a powerful keynote about Indigenous farming methods and the future of agriculture. Cody Two Bears, founder of Indigenized Energy, spoke about his organization’s $135 million Solar for All project, an effort to help Native tribes achieve energy sovereignty through solar power. While the state of North Dakota rejected participation in this program, Native leaders are embracing clean energy for a future where their communities can be self-reliant.
That’s the kind of leadership we need in Congress. But too often, Congress has been an unreliable partner. It’s one thing to acknowledge Native sovereignty with words, and quite another to support it with action. For decades, Native communities have faced significant challenges, from inadequate healthcare and education to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
I’m not running for Congress to merely name the injustices; I’m running because we can do more than acknowledge them. Tribal sovereignty is not just about recognizing the past but about powering the future. A future where Indigenous communities have the resources to rise and the respect to thrive. North Dakota’s tribes are not asking for a handout—they’re showing us a path forward, one of innovation, self-reliance, and economic empowerment.
The progress made by Native leaders gives me hope. Projects like the solar initiative are just one example of tribes building a sustainable, independent future. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are preparing the next generation to strengthen sovereignty and local economies. These efforts need not just recognition, but our full support.
Yet, much work remains. From healthcare access to law enforcement, Native communities still face significant barriers. Congress needs to step up, and I intend to be a reliable partner in this fight. When we uplift Native nations and build partnerships that honor their sovereignty, we all benefit. We’ve burned bridges in the past, but it’s never too late to build new ones — bridges that can support the weight of history and the promise of a better future.
This isn’t just a campaign; it’s a collective effort to build partnerships based on respect. The road ahead is long, but we don’t walk it alone. If you believe in a future where Congress works with Native leaders, I invite you to join us. Whether through a donation, a conversation, or simply sharing this message, your support is how we build these bridges. When we rise, we rise together.
With the U.S. House seat open, the race for North Dakota’s sole congressional district has never been more competitive.
Trygve Hammer is a Navy and Marine Corps veteran, a former public school teacher, and a freight rail conductor. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the fleet and served as a Marine helicopter pilot, forward air controller, and infantry officer. 
From bunking down in oilfield camps to engaging uninterested teenagers in the classroom, Trygve’s career has been a tour of duty in the trenches of American life. Trygve’s commitment to public service is unwavering. He lives by the ethos “Officers Eat Last” and is ready to serve as North Dakota’s next Congressman, putting the people's needs first.
Watch Trygve’s campaign launch video here [ [link removed] ].

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