MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has determined that Wings Credit Union violated state anti-discrimination laws by repeatedly refusing to accept a Native American member’s tribal identification card, denying her access to her account and requiring documentation not demanded of other customers.
The finding was one of two announced Friday by the department involving businesses that refused to recognize tribal identification cards. In a separate investigation, the state determined that the Office Pub & Grill in Minneapolis discriminated against a Native American customer by refusing to serve him when he presented his tribal ID.
The findings were reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune and CBS Minnesota, citing the state agency’s investigations.
Credit Union Denied Account Access Six Times
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the investigation involving Apple Valley-based Wings Credit Union centered on a woman who visited its Coon Rapids branch and attempted to use identification issued by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation.
The woman reported being denied teller assistance and access to her account on six occasions because she did not present another form of identification.
State investigators determined that the credit union imposed additional identification requirements that were not applied to other customers, treated the woman with hostility and prevented her from fully accessing banking services.
The department concluded that the credit union’s actions constituted unlawful discrimination.
In a statement to the Star Tribune, Wings spokeswoman Vanessa Zink said the credit union was reviewing and updating its identification policies.
“We take identity verification seriously because of the very real risk of fraud,” Zink said.
She added that Wings regularly reviews its policies to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and said the credit union had identified the need for a policy update before the state’s findings were released.
According to Zink, the credit union is taking steps to make those changes.
Second Complaint Involved Minneapolis Bar
In the separate case, the Department of Human Rights determined that the Office Pub & Grill in Minneapolis discriminated against a member of the Red Lake Nation who attempted to use his tribal identification card to establish his age.
According to CBS Minnesota, the customer was refused service on three occasions.
The Star Tribune reported that the bar is appealing the finding.
Dennis Johnson, an attorney representing the business, told the newspaper that employees were confused about tribal identification cards and had not intended to discriminate.
Johnson said the establishment had served the same customer during a visit when he presented a Minnesota driver’s license.
The attorney argued that employees’ uncertainty about recognizing tribal identification should not be interpreted as discrimination against Native Americans.
State Law Requires Recognition of Tribal IDs
Under Minnesota Statute 171.072, an eligible tribal identification card must be accepted in circumstances where a Minnesota identification card is considered an acceptable form of identification.
The law establishes requirements for tribal identification cards, including that they be unexpired, issued by a federally recognized tribal government and contain identifying information and security features.
The Minnesota Human Rights Act also prohibits discrimination in areas including credit, business transactions and public accommodations on the basis of race, national origin and other
Businesses Have ‘Responsibility’
Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said businesses and other organizations have a responsibility to recognize valid tribal identification.
“Tribal identification is an integral part of a Tribe’s sovereignty, right to self-determination, and self-governance,” Lucero said in a statement reported by CBS Minnesota.
Minnesota is home to 11 sovereign tribal nations and an estimated 167,000 Native Americans with tribal affiliations, the newspaper reported.
State Working with Businesses on Corrective Actions
The Department of Human Rights said it is working with both businesses to develop changes intended to prevent similar discrimination in the future. The Star Tribune reported that failure to comply with Minnesota’s anti-discrimination laws can result in civil and punitive penalties.
