Insights from an Intern! How SGU students get involved in the workplace.
Han mitakuyepi Lashaya emaciyapi ksto!
Hello everyone, my name is Lashaya and I am currently an SGU intern for Sicangu Co, interning for the development team. With the help of Jessica and Alexis (more about them below), and the development team, especially Aaron Epps and Brandi Charging Eagle, I have been able to reach new professional heights. I have been able to learn about the development of a company, and also our Sicangu Nation and how to be a better community member. This includes introducing me to opportunities that I normally would not have been offered in other internships- such as writing this newsletter.
Through the Learning and Development program, Sicangu Co has been able to welcome four interns that attend our local tribal college, Sinte Gleska University. As you read on, you will read about how Sicangu Co is helping them to reach their goals!
Jessica Larson
Learning and Development Director
Alexis White Hat
Youth Internship Coordinator
Jessica Larson has worked at Sicangu Co since 2017, and has since worked and developed the L&D department to better encapsulate their vision statement on the official Sicangu Co website which says, “Siċaŋġu Learning & Development aims to develop talent and strengthen the workforce by seeing and encountering each individual’s intellectual, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual potential. We collaborate with tribal, public, and private organizations to offer personalized training and education on multiple topics”.
This shows up for the SGU interns with the introduction of SEI (social, emotional, intelligence) practices, the Rebuilding Native Nations Course, and finally with the introduction of many new people in the workplace!
Jessica and Alexis — who works as the youth internship coordinator — strive to develop stronger work forces within the community, thus developing our reservation entirely. With the internship programs offered through the summer such as 7Gen internship, Sicangu Co Changemakers internship, as well as internships such as the Seven Generation Food Agriculture- offered to students and teachers to better place the roots of agriculture, the L&D program is able to recognize an individual’s strengths, and also offer training and programs where they can improve themselves. Within these internships, there were many things to be offered such as Financial Literacy Classes, beading and sewing classes, involvement in the Food Sovereignty initiative with building the Gardens, and delivering seeds + supplies, and finally Rebuilding Native Nations course.
The Rebuilding Native Nations Course educates and begins a structure of thinking more deeply about our nations and how we, as youth entering the workforce, can make a difference.
Meet some of the SGU interns!
Questions we asked the interns:
What have you been working on in this internship?
What is something new that you are learning?
What are your goals for the future and how do you believe this internship is helping you?
Ava Schmidt
Intern for Marketing Department
Han Mitakuyepi, Ava Schmidt emaciyapi ksto. Rosebud Sioux Tribe ematanhan na lehal nigesanla oyanke el wati. Hi my name is Ava Schmidt. I am from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and reside in the Antelope community. I am a graduate from Todd County High School and am currently seeking my associates degree in Marketing at Sinte Gleska University (SGU).
I have been blessed with the opportunity to work in the Marketing Department within Sicangu Co. This internship has given me hands-on experience that has been helpful with my career of choice. With the department I have done small tasks around the office such as taking pictures for social media posts and am currently working on a podcast based around indigenous lands agriculture called “Our Sacred Roots.”
Also through the internship myself, and the other interns have been learning about the different economic development within various Indigenous communities through a public course with The University of Arizona called “Rebuilding Native Nations.” This has been insightful as it has challenged us to evaluate our own community’s economic development and discuss what could help our tribe grow. We believe here at Sicangu Co we are growing and creating a better economy for our people step by step. My goal for the future is to be a part of a thriving community in which we are self-sufficient and culturally oriented.
LaShaya LaPointe Whipple
Intern for Development Department
Han Mitakuyepi Lashaya Lapointe Whipple Emaciyapi ksto na sicangu Lakota ematanhan na lehan rosebud el wati nahan iyuha cante wasteya na pe ciyuzapi. Hello, my name is Lashaya Lapointe Whipple and I am Sicangu Lakota, from Rosebud, and I greet you with a good heart! I graduated from Todd County High School, and I am hoping to become a nurse to advocate for Native women's health.
During the Sicangu Co internship, not only have I been pushed to pursue new and different types of projects then what I am used to, but I have also been gaining a lot of work skills such as accountability, keeping to deadlines, and learning to grow myself + converse professionally. I intern for the development branch of Sicangu Co where I was able to participate in Donor calls, where we have been able to call and personally thank and update people who have donated to Sicangu Co, and the wonderful projects that came from those donations. Not only was that exciting, but I have had the opportunity to work on a Facebook/Instagram reel project where I have been filming employees, community members, students, about questions pertaining to Native American Heritage month!
In conjunction with this, I have been open to other opportunities like writing newsletters, and press releases, but one amazing part about this internship that I would like to highlight is the Rebuilding Native Nations Course. Throughout this internship, we have been taking this course where we learn about long term and short term development in regards to Native Nations and it really made me think more about how our community can develop, and what we need to begin that growth and largely, what we lack as well. Being younger but able to have these discussions is all thanks to the opportunities (such as Rebuilding native nations) that are offered throughout different internships in Sicangu Co, and it is something that everyone who has a vision for Sicangu Oyate should definitely take a look into.
Working with us, Jada Nakai has been interning with Arrow Financial services and Kathryn Clairmont interns with SDSU/Forage association. They have also been involved in the Rebuilding Native Nations course and SEI practices.
If you visit the Sicangu Co website, you will see a vision that talks about becoming grounded in our spiritual ways and needs and strengthening the indigenous community. The website talks about the 7gen Vision, and living and building for our youth 175 years in the future. Sicangu Co is working for “Wicozani” or the good way of life, while also confronting and addressing indigenous challenges so we can learn to overcome them. Holistic health, economic self sufficiency, sustainable housing, and shared lasting prosperity are just some of the goals Sicangu Co is striving for.
A phrase Sicangu Co emphasizes in their vision is “Nake Nula Waun” which means I am always prepared, anytime, anywhere. This is meant to inspire us, as it draws encouragement and strength from a phrase that so many powerful indigenous people used before to overcome, meaning we too can overcome.
This internship is helping each of us gain the skills so that we can live up to the phrase “Nake Nula Waun” and build a stronger community for future generations.