Our Annual Update Webinar Recap and Recordings
Pilamayaye (thank you) to everyone who registered and joined us for this week’s Sicangu Co webinar update series (and a special thanks to a few people who tuned in all three days — you know who you are)!⭐
This week was a great opportunity for our team to step back reflect on the past year (or more) and look at the year ahead.
Each session was recorded and linked below, so you can watch on your own schedule.
Even if you are watching the recorded sessions, we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Please use the form below to let us know what you think, or to indicate if you’re interested in connecting directly with any of the teams.
📈 Session 1: Economic Development, Energy, and Housing
We started the week off just like Sicangu Co started: with a focus on economic development. For those who may not know the full origin story of Sicangu Co, we started way back in 1999 as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s economic development arm, and have expanded our work and vision overtime.
Our origin story informs our legal structure, which is truly unique among place-based organizations. As CEO Clay Colombe highlighted, the profits earned from our economic development and business ventures are reinvested into our community development efforts. The primary way we do this is by paying our “Central Services” staff (HR, finance, marketing, development) using business revenue, which allows our nonprofit community development teams to focus on their initiatives.
You can learn more about that history and Sicangu Co’s underlying legal structure on our website.
We also heard from Michael LaPointe, Sicangu Co’s Chief Economic Development Officer. With the support of a global consulting firm, Michael has spearheaded efforts to develop a 10 year economic development roadmap that will help the Sicangu Oyate move closer to full employment. The plan focuses on three key culturally-aligned sectors: bison processing; wind energy; and construction (with a focus on residential units).
Next, Shere Wright gave a heartfelt overview of Tatanka Funds and their work as an emerging Native CDFI. She shared some of the history behind why Rosebud — and many Native communities — face high rates of poverty and what can be done to restore the once-thriving Sicangu economy.
Finally, Michael Prate gave an update on the Keya Wakpala Woicageyapi. The 590-acre mixed use development has built some major momentum in the past few years and 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the project. Mike highlighted the current need for infrastructure funding to ready the ground and infrastructure for the construction of more homes.
The site plan for Keya Wakpala, with the first 10-home wicoti (housing community) is indicated with the red circle.
📚 Session 2: Learning, Language, and Culture
On Tuesday, the focus shifted to our efforts within language and cultural revitalization, as well as related efforts in holistic growth (more on that below).
Jillian Waln got us started once again with a beautiful opening and overview, and Mike Prate shared some framing for the conversation. One of the things he highlighted was the “innovative” approach that many Native-led organizations are built around. We often think of innovation as having to do with western technology, but the interconnected approach to change and wellbeing that Indigenous organizations are taking is pushing “new” ways of thinking. “New” in a western context and something the rest of the world can learn from.
Sage Fast Dog provided an update for the Wakanyeja Tokeyahci immersion school, which now serves grades K-4 and is on track to serve K-5 next school year. Sage spoke about one of the greatest challenges the school has faced to date: finding teachers. There are teacher shortages across the country, but those challenges are even greater in rural areas, and exacerbated even further when considering the decades-long failure of the reservations’ education system. Then stack on top of that the Lakota immersion element and you see what Sage and his team are up against!
But Sage isn’t one to lose hope. Instead, he and his team have created a two-year teacher assistant program which is providing a pathway for aspiring teachers to get both classroom experience, teaching certification, and build their Lakota fluency. Tate Wakan Win Haukaas, one of the school’s lead teachers, also spoke about the impact of the TA program and what it has been like for her to join the WT team after teaching at both public and private schools on Rosebud.
Next up, Henry Quick Bear provided an update on the Lakolya Waoniya program — which pays Sicangu citizens a full time wage to learn the language and culture. The first cohort recently graduated its first class of five learners — and all five are currently employed in jobs related to language revitalization.
Three of the learners also shared their perspective and experience. Natalie Bordeaux shared how the program has helped her build her confidence and reconnect with her roots. Haylee Quick Bear talked about how she is now able to speak Lakota with community elders and have a better understanding and appreciation for Lakota ceremonies. Colin Whirlwind Soldier talked about his desire to get more youth involved in language efforts and also what it was like to be the voice actor for Thor in the Lakota dub of The Avengers movie.
The two learners who were not on the call are Chauncina Poor Bear (now working at a pre-K immersion program at Saint Francis Indian School) and Delmer Forgets Nothing (teaches Lakota language classes at Sinte Gleska University).
The first cohort was an incredible learning experience for everyone, and LW is planning to launch its second cohort later this year, and is currently seeking gap funding to ensure participants will have the full experience.
Lastly we heard from the Learning and Development team, led by Jessica Larson. Jessica shared the incredible growth of their program, having hired 4 full-time employees over the past year. Additionally, she talked about the desire for many external partners to paint their work at “workforce development.” In many ways it is similar, but the work of the learning and development team goes beyond that. Lydia Yellow Hawk, Alexis White Hat, and Jewel Bordeaux each spoke briefly about the programs that they oversee — which include a collaboration with NASA, teacher trainings, internships, and support programs aimed at emerging professionals.
🌱 Session 3: Food, Land, and Health
The third and final day featured our work in food sovereignty, land and bison stewardship, and holistic wellbeing.
The first team to share was the Wolakota Buffalo Range. Bud Colombe provided highlights from 2024 which included gaining a better understanding of the herd demographics to plan for the future. Additionally, he spoke about an emerging partnership with Sacred Storm — a Native-owned meat processing company based out of Rapid City. He also shared an updated on a recent effort to tag bison with GPS monitors to better manage the herd and the glassland that they rely on.
Next, Craig Valandra and Tony Lucero — Ranch Hands at Wolakota — provided their personal accounts of what it is like to work on the ranch and be around the buffalo each day. The Wolakota team certainly brought their heart and passion to the session!
Next up we heard from the Food Sovereignty team. They started off with some exciting staff news: Matte Wilson has been promoted to Sicangu CDC Deputy Director and Karen Moore will serve as the Food Sovereignty Manager. We’re grateful for Matte’s leadership of the program and the way that he’s been able to expand it during his tenure and are excited for both his and FSI’s next chapter.
Karen provided an update for FSI programs across the board, from garden production and expansion, to seed saving efforts and a new program called Relatives Feeding Relatives. RFR is a win/win in that it will provide local producers with a reliable market for their product and it will also increase access to locally grown products for families facing food insecurity. RFR is a federally funded program, so we are preparing for scenarios where that funding is cut and are seeking financial support to continue that program beyond a single federal grant. Echo Clairmont also joined Karen in the presentation.
Next up we heard from Matte Wilson and what the year ahead will look like for the Sicangu Health Initiative. Last year, Katrina Fuller — who had previously been the health director — moved into a role within the Sicangu Co leadership team and Matte has been serving as the Interim Director. Two core programs that will be continuing and expanding are the home garden program and health coaching programs.
As you may have seen in our last newsletter, we had planned to expand our home garden program by providing fruit trees and berry bushes, but that grant was terminated by the Trump administration. Despite that, we will continue to provide at-home garden plots for Sicangu families.
Additionally, the Health initiative will launch a new program for middle schoolers with a focus on outdoor recreation. The team will also be gathering data and hosting community listening sessions to better understand the need for culturally-grounded maternal and birthing support. We know this is a great need in the community and want to ensure a new program aligns with the need and expectation.
Next we heard from Koby Hagen, who serves as Sicangu Co’s Director of Food Systems. Koby talked about the current state of the organic acreage owned by Rosebud Farm Company, and the vision to bring that land under direct management. RFC aims to implement regenerative growing practices and leverage their operation to support the local food sovereignty movement.
Finally, Shar Colombe spoke about the ways that Tatanka Funds support local ag producers. Historically, it is difficult for ranchers on tribal lands to access capital, and Native CDFI’s are filling that gap. Additionally, Tatanka Funds has convened a “Sicangu Ag Coalition” to support local producers with everything from financial literacy and business planning, to understanding the Farm Bill and the impact of tribal, state, and national policies.
Please help us spread the word by forwarding this invite to others who may be interested.
We look forward to connecting with you!
