South Dakota Secretary of Tribal Relations J.R. LaPlante says it is important to create opportunities for people to talk with one another.

LaPlante says, "What we like to do is engage the public as much as we can and to provide opportunities for open dialogue and keep the doors of communication open, so we better understand each other. We better understand each other, the more likelihood we're going to have of being able to work together and make some positive changes in our community."

LaPlante says it's important to take advantages of town hall meetings, having the chance to learn about different cultures and government.

Tessa Thomas