Robert Lilligren (he/him/his)

Met Council Member - District 6
Metropolitan Council
St. Paul, Minnesota

Robert Lilligren became President and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) in May of 2016, after serving as the chair of the organization’s board of directors since its founding in 2007. Robert is enrolled in the White Earth Ojibwe Nation. He served for 12 years as the Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council, the first Tribal member elected to public office in the City of Minneapolis.

In his professional, political and activist work, Robert emphasizes empowering historically disenfranchised people. Robert lives the asset-based community development vision of NACDI. He sees true community development as building individuals' capacity.

Robert was appointed to the Metropolitan Council in March of 2019. He is Chair of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID), a regional leadership forum comprised of the executives of some three dozen Native organizations. He serves on a number of civic and public sector bodies, including the City of Minneapolis Truth and Reconciliation Workgroup, and Meet Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association, and the Walker Art Center Board of Trustees.

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presentation(s):

• Still Here and Planning for the Future

  Sunday, April 26, 2026
  4:00 PM - 4:45 PM CT