The new “Tribal Relations Director” for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) once told the Minnesota Legislature that the state would be “met with violence” if it approved the construction of Enbridge’s Line 3 oil pipeline replacement.
Hired by Gov. Tim Walz’s administration earlier this month, Irene Folstrom is the new Tribal Relations Director for one of Minnesota’s most important government agencies. In a press release, DPS said Folstrom would “help guide DPS’ efforts to learn from and connect with the 11 Tribal nations in Minnesota.”
Folstrom, who once claimed to have dated Tiger Woods in college, is a Native American and a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Prior to her hiring at DPS, Folstrom worked in government relations focusing on tribal and Native American issues. Among her work was her opposition to the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project.
In 2018, Folstrom testified in a Minnesota House of Representatives committee against a bill that would have authorized the construction of the pipeline by allowing “Enbridge Energy, a Canadian company, to construct the pipeline ‘at its sole discretion’ along the route first proposed in its application.” Folstrom opposed the pipeline in part because it crossed into Native American land. Further, Folstrom stated “we just don’t need any more pipelines.”
While speaking to the committee, Folstrom got into a heated argument with State Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, involving the pipeline and the Public Utilities Commission’s approval process for the project.
In her testimony, Folstrom told the committee that it was unclear to a lot of “citizens of Minnesota and tribal members why a bill like this” was being considered. Folstrom added, “We’ve made it incredibly clear that if you try to build a pipeline in our treaty territory, there will be a response. We won’t let it happen.”
Folstrom proceeded to suggest that the Line 3 replacement wouldn’t be built even if it was approved through the Public Utilities Commission’s process.
She said the proposed legislation was “inviting more violence,” adding, “If you think that Standing Rock was a big problem for the State of North Dakota … if you think that that was horrible and had a negative impact, approve this pipeline, or keep introducing bills like this because then we’ll see.”
Rep. Garofalo asked, “Ms. Folstrom, did I hear you right, you said that if the PUC approves it, the pipeline won’t be built?”
Folstrom answered, “Not through our treaty territory, it will not be. We will not allow it.”
Rep. Garofalo then asked Folstrom, “How do you propose to not allow it?” In response, Folstrom only stared at the state legislator. Rep. Garofalo followed up by noting that “we live under a rule of law,” then the state legislator questioned whether Folstrom was appealing to something other than the law in opposing the pipeline’s construction. Folstrom responded without directly answering Garofalo’s question.
Eventually, Rep. Garofalo again asked Folstrom if she was saying that the Line 3 replacement wouldn’t be built even if the Public Utilities Commission approved it.
“I’m saying that you can go ahead and try … we worked hard on this to try to convey the message and to plead with you, please don’t approve this pipeline because you’ll be met with violence, and we just have been trying to prevent that from happening. We know it’s gonna happen,” Folstrom answered in part.
Near the end of the exchange, Rep. Garofalo addressed Folstrom and said, “I don’t hear a plea to listen to not build a pipeline. I hear someone trying to instigate violence.”
Folstrom then accused Rep. Garofalo of “instigating the violence.” Shen then claimed that she was not “instigating the violence” and instead was trying to “prevent that.” The exchange between the two ended soon after.
Despite Folstrom’s opposition, the Line 3 replacement pipeline was eventually constructed and began operating in 2021. Line 3 transports hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil from Canada, across Minnesota, and into Wisconsin every day. As such, the pipeline is a major economic boost and helps provide dependable energy to millions of Americans.
Alpha News reached out to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to ask if the agency was aware of this 2018 exchange when Folstrom was hired. Additionally, Alpha News asked whether DPS condones the language expressed by Folstrom.
DPS answered neither question. Instead, an agency spokesperson stated that the position of Tribal Relations Director is a full-time job, and Folstrom “earned the position following a competitive process.”
The Walz administration has faced scrutiny for some of its recent hires, including its short-lived cannabis director whose hiring was the subject of a legislative audit and a task force member who was accused of abusing his wife.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
