Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation

Transcription

Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation
A PATH FOR OUR PEOPLE
inclusiveness
THE PEOPLE’S PLAN - INCLUSIVENESS
The poverty reduction plan is a plan of the people. The Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF) brought the word
“inclusiveness” to Cheyenne River. This means that the people who are most impacted by decisions and plans be
included; for people in poverty, recipients of programs and services, to be included. By being inclusive we are open to
getting ideas, feedback and opinions from participants and we respect and value what they know and experience.
This booklet is a summary of the over 300 page Poverty Reduction Plan, which will be implemented between 2006-2016.
This booklet holds us all accountable to our plan to reduce poverty. This is the people’s plan.
DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING BUSINESS
It is important to know that this is not a federally funded program. The Poverty Reduction Plan is about partnerships and
will be a working plan. Each year we should see an improvement. The plan isn’t dependent on staff to make it happen.
The partners, the people, the communities and our Tribe will work together and use this plan to make a better future.
LIVING PLAN
This Poverty Reduction Plan is a guide for us and a reminder of our commitment to our people and to the NWAF. It must
not be just words on a page collecting dust. It must be made alive by turning our dreams and hopes into actions that
make life better for our families and children in poverty. It must be made alive by our willingness to make changes, by
being honest with ourselves and each other, by a commitment to understanding and respecting each other and by taking
responsibility for our actions or inactions.
At the end of the ten years this plan will continue to be alive and a guide. What we will learn in the coming years about
the benefits of strategic planning, inclusiveness and incorporating our Lakota values into our everyday lives that will be
important lessons passed on to future generations. We must never stop reaching for prosperity.
THE PEOPLE AND THE PARTNERS
For the plan to be successful, people need to get involved in the projects the Partners will be implementing over the next
ten years. These are Cheyenne River’s ideas made into reality. Now it is up to us to take advantage of this once-in-alifetime opportunity to change the future for our families.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interpreting Poverty ................................................................................................................................................page 3
Vision for Prosperity ................................................................................................................................................page 5
How was the Plan Developed? ............................................................................................................................page 6-7
Historic Ten-Year Partnership/CRST & NWAF ..................................................................................................page 10-11
Final Strategy Areas ........................................................................................................................................page 12-14
NWAF Investment in Strategies ............................................................................................................................page 16
Sources of Leveraging for the Poverty Reduction Plan ..........................................................................................page 17
Work Force Development ................................................................................................................................page 18-20
Partnerships for Youth Internships ........................................................................................................................page 21
Lakota Cultural Consortium ............................................................................................................................page 22-24
Lakota Immersion Day Care ..................................................................................................................................page 25
Healing of Communities, Families and Individuals ..........................................................................................page 26-28
Communication System ..................................................................................................................................page 29-30
Community Learning Centers ..........................................................................................................................page 31-32
Financial Literacy and Youth Individual Development Accounts ......................................................................page 33-34
Community Leadership Development ..............................................................................................................page 35-36
Reservation Partnership Development Fund ....................................................................................................page 37-38
Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce ..........................................................................................................page 39-40
Community Development Fund ......................................................................................................................page 41-42
Managing the Plan ..........................................................................................................................................page 43-45
How Will the Plan be Managed? ..........................................................................................................................page 46
Evaluating the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................page 47
What We Can Do to Reduce Poverty ....................................................................................................................page 48
CREDITS:
Writers: Sharon K. Vogel and D. Eileen Briggs
Photo Credits: Jerry Peacock, LeAnne High Bear, Larry Alley, Roger Lawien, Edward Norris,
Phil Knife, Kimberly Claymore, Mona Brings Horse, Tony Genia and Eileen Briggs
Design and Artwork: Nakota Designs Inc.
CONTACT INFO:
Tribal Ventures
P.O. Box 590, Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Phone: (606) 964-2016
email: tribalventures@lakotanetwork.com
“The partners, the people, the communities and our Tribe will
work together and use this plan to make a better future.”
— From the CRST Poverty Reduction Plan
A PATH FOR OUR PEOPLE - page 1
page 2 - A PATH FOR OUR PEOPLE
INTERPRETING POVERTY
Decades of poverty conditions have adversely affected all areas of Lakota life; culture,
economics, social, mental, spiritual and physical well being. Poverty is influenced
by cultural values, reservation economics and lack of opportunities resulting in multiple
generations living in poverty with no vision for a better future.
WAHPANICA
Lakota Oyate Kin Lakota wicohan nahan wowicala eya sutaya glu hapi nahan oyate
takukciyab hena iyokpiya unpi honahan nakun zaniya unpi yunkan lehanl wicowicage eya
el wokakije ota akipapi hoca hetan Wiconi wan el Lakota Oyate kin wahpanicanpi na
iyotiyekiya unpi lena un ca tanyan unpisni.
Lakota wicohan eya tehilapi na sutaya gluhapi Honahan makoce wan el unpi cunke
tokaktakiya igloayapikete yunkan wo okihi yikesni hoca ake Wicoweicage eya el
wahpanicapi nahan tokatakkiya owanyanke wan isum waste sni.
VISION FOR PROSPERITY
The Mnicoujou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa and Oohenumpa Oyate and their relatives are
beginning a healing journey of mind, body and spirit that will strengthen the Oyate,
so our families and future generations will be nurtured and secure with their cultural
values; ready to connect to economic, social and educational opportunities.
The Oyate will emerge from this journey with collective wisdom that supports individual
and community wellness; in unity we will take on life’s challenges and strive to create and
sustain a stable, diverse and prosperous economy.
UNKI TA WOWANKYANKE
Mnicoujou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa nahan Oohenumpa Oyate nahan isum takuwicayapi eya
icimani pi wan el yueitaya opapi yunka hetanjan wotawacin nahan wicatancan na
woniya lena zanipi hanhan oyate kin sakapikte honkakun tewahe unkitawapi nahan
isamya tokata wicowicage eya Lakota wicohan gluha icagapi nahan lena wounspe na
wowasi etkiya yuha iglunwenyapi hantanas wookihi yuhowkte.
Honahan Oyate kin yuwitaya icimanipi wan etanhan woksape yuha glicupi yunka oyate
lena wanjigji la na isamya oyanke etanpi hena tanyan unpi kta can oyate wiconi wan el
woakipa eya yuwitaya atayapi huntuns ounye wan suta ca tuwe keyas el unpikta
ca letan ecaginkte.
HOW WAS THE PLAN DEVELOPED?
• From June 2004 through September 2005 the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe implemented an inclusive strategic planning
process across the entire reservation encouraging all reservation residents to participate in the development of realistic
poverty reduction strategies.
• The Tribal Ventures planning process had to start with the people. The story of the planning partnership between the
Northwest Area Foundation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe was brought to the people. Circles of people came
together to bring our best thoughts and vision for our people. The circles were Employee Conversations, Community
Conversations, Family Conversations, Strategic Thinking Work Groups, Young Voices Interviews and Tribal Council
Retreats. These planning activities built upon one another with each providing an important story to our journey from
poverty to prosperity.
• The process captured the voices and the spirit of the reservation people. They have expressed their expectations for the
strategies:
- incorporate Lakota values so we can stand tall as Lakota people;
- ensure that the primary beneficiaries are people who are most impacted by poverty conditions;
- honor the history of our traditional communities by investing in community development; and
- prepare a better future for our children and future generations.
Our intention for the people of Cheyenne River: To promote strategic thinking, to look at topics from a new perspective
for creating new energy and visualizing new images and to be forward thinkers.
The first set of community
meetings produced multiple
conversations which were
categorized into the following
topic areas:
1. Community
Development
2. Cultural Preservation
3. Economic Development
4. Education
5. Health Care
6. Housing
7. Individual Development
8. Infrastructure
Development
9. Natural Resources/Land
10. Poverty
11. Social Problems
12. Spirituality
13. Tourism
The ten themes that
emerged were:
1. Promoting Life Long
Learning and Training
Three strategy areas are:
12 Projects of the Plan are:
1. Individual, Social and
Cultural Strategy
1. Work Force Development
2. Restoring Individual and
Community Wellness
2. Community and
Capacity Development
Strategy
3. Preserving Cultural
Teachings and Values
3. Economic Development
Strategy
4. Creating Economic
Engines
5. Improving Community
Relations
6. Maintaining Community
Safety
7. Building Reservation
Infrastructure
8. Strengthening Families
9. Enhancing Agricultural
Resources
10. Valuing Education on
Cheyenne River
2. Youth Internships
3. Lakota Immersion Day
Care
4. Cultural Consortium
5. Healing Project
6. Community Radio
7. Community Learning
Centers
8. Financial Literacy
& Youth Individual
Development Plan (IDA)
9. Community Leadership
10. Reservation Partnership
Fund
11. Chamber of Commerce
12. Community Leadership
Development Fund
14. Transportation/Roads
15. Tribal Government
16. Other
encouragement
Lakota Values
Woc’ekiya — Praying
Wa o’ hola — Respect
Wa on’ sila — Caring
Wowijake — Honesty
Wacantognka — Generosity
Wah’wala — Humility
Woksape — Wisdom
Wowacintnka — Fortitude
Woohitika — Bravery
TRIBAL VENTURES PLANNING STAFF: MAY 2004 - SEPTEMBER 2006
Sharon Vogel – Administrator
Eileen Briggs – Coordinator / Researcher
Monalisa Brings Horse – Administrative Assistant
Majel Del Rio – Secretary
Interns: Edward Norris and Jill Kessler
Acknowledgements
Lakota people believe that in one’s life there are helpers who come to you at different times; their purpose is to help you
through a difficult time or to finish a challenging task; they bring to you knowledge, messages, encouragement, talents
or gifts that are needed at that particular time. This belief is shared by the Tribal Ventures staff. We give wopila (thanks)
for the following:
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
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tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
Bear Creek
Blackfoot
Bridger
Cherry Creek
Dupree
Green Grass
Eagle Butte
Isabel
Iron Lightning
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
families,
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
tiospayepi
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
community
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
Lantry
LaPlant
Promise
Red Scaffold
Ridgeview
Swiftbird
Takini
Thunder Butte
White Horse
The Young Voices of Cheyenne River
Our Strategic Thinking Teams
Promoting Life Long Learning and Training, Restoring Individual and Community Wellness, Preserving Cultural Teachings and
Values, Creating Economic Engines, Improving Community Relations, Maintaining Community Safety, Building Reservation
Infrastructure, Strengthening Families, Enhancing Agricultural Resources, and Valuing Education on Cheyenne River.
Our Reservation Partners
• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Departments and Programs
• Pte Hca Ka, Inc.
• Cheyenne River Housing Authority
• Maza Ska Board
• Cheyenne River Telephone Authority
• Sacred Heart Center
• Four Bands Community Development Fund, Inc.
• Community First Credit Union
• Horizons Communities (Dupree, Isabel and Timber Lake)
• Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce
• Indian Health Service – Eagle Butte Service Unit
• Bureau of Indian Affairs – Cheyenne Agency – Land
Management
• Presentation College Lakota Campus
• Si Tanka University
• Cheyenne River Youth Project – The Main
• Sioux YMCA
• Bureau of Indian Affairs – Cheyenne Agency – Social
Services
• State of South Dakota Social Services
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Cheyenne River
• The Northwest Area Foundation – Board, Executives,
Staff and Consultants
• Takini School
• The Lummni Nation. Lummni, Washington
• Tiospaye Topa School
• The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Belcourt, ND
• Cheyenne-Eagle Butte Schools
HISTORIC TEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has begun a ten year partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation to implement the
Poverty Reduction Plan. Our reservation is among ten Ventures Communities in the eight states that the NWAF serves,
and within that, one of three reservation-based Ventures Communities.
WHO IS THE NORTHWEST AREA FOUNDATION?
The Northwest Area Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, MN and is dedicated to helping communities
reduce poverty for the long term. It does this by sharing lessons learned from its programs and from the work of
other communities and organizations. The Foundation provides financial resources and technical assistance that help
communities create a climate and build the capabilities to achieve: asset identification and development; expanded
economic opportunities that create living-wage jobs; increased community skills for planning, teaching, leading and
implementing poverty reduction initiatives; and decision making that incorporates the voice and vote of broad segments
of the community, including those of people in poverty.
The Foundation works on strategic efforts with a small number of rural, urban, and American Indian reservation
communities, and organizations supporting these efforts, in its eight-state region: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded
by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill’s son, Louis W. Hill established the foundation. Foundation assets were approximately $452.5
million as of March 31, 2005.
Find out more about the Northwest Area Foundation at their website: www.nwaf.org
“I
knew that this plan is going to be successful,
because this came from the people.”
— Harold Frazier, CRST Chairman
NWAF INVESTS $9.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN
From 2006 to 2016 the Northwest Area Foundation will invest a total of $9.5 Million dollars into our Poverty Reduction Plan.
All of this money will be used to fund twelve (12) specific projects that make up the poverty reduction plan. The NWAF
will make payments every two years but only if we show them we are following the strategies and are making progress
toward reducing poverty.
NORTHWEST AREA FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE PLAN
Six criteria
• Significant focus on reducing poverty
• Substantially involve diverse interests
• Do no harm
• Develop thoughtful and realistic strategies
• Develop local abilities to achieve long-term goals
• Learn, adapt and share knowledge
These translate into achieving four community level outcomes:
1. Asset Identification and Development
• The community is able to identify assets and take strategic action to increase them.
• Increasing the assets of low-income people is a fundamental indicator of progress toward poverty reduction.
2. Expanded Economic Opportunities
• Creating new and/or expanded economic strategies will produce living wage jobs.
• Economic opportunity is realized by skills development, connecting people to jobs and civic engagement.
3. Increased Community Capacity
• Communities develop the skills, resources, and knowledge to develop and implement strategic approaches
to long-term poverty reduction.
4. Inclusive Decision Making
• Inclusiveness is crucial to decision making that yields common vision goals and ownership of sustainable strategies.
• It demands diversity – participation of low-income as well as civic and business leaders, education and religious
leaders, service providers, and policy makers.
THEMES OUR PLAN WAS BUILT UPON
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Promoting Life Long Learning and Training
Restoring Individual and Community Wellness
Preserving Cultural Teachings and Values
Creating Economic Engines
Improving Community Relations
Maintaining Community Safety
Building Reservation Infrastructure
Strengthening Families
Enhancing Agricultural Resources
Valuing Education on Cheyenne River
FINAL STRATEGY AREAS
The Poverty Reduction Plan focuses on three poverty reduction strategies:
STRATEGY 1:
social, cultural and
individual development strategy
IMPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND INCREASE RESOURCE SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE BY FOCUSING
ON INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE.
Sub-strategy 1A. Prepare individuals and families to transition from poverty to prosperity through culturally appropriate
individual development, job readiness, job training, job placement and support services. Increase the number of certified
child care providers throughout the reservation communities and townships. Develop opportunities for our low-income
high school youth to explore career interests by serving as an intern in the work place. Provide low-income families with
services which are tribally designed to ensure a positive self cultural identity is promoted throughout their participation in
program services. This strategy will contribute to the local and regional economy by increasing the number of low-income
people who are ready to enter the labor force.
Redesign the CRST’s 477 Plan
a. Workforce Investment Program
b. Partnerships for High School Internships
Sub-strategy 1B. Promote a positive, cultural self-identification for all Tribal membership to engage holistically, socially,
economically, physically, spiritually and mentally within the family and community. This strategy will promote a healthy
and balanced Lakota lifestyle that honors the traditional values and teachings of our ancestors; our families will carry
forward our Lakota heritage and protect it for future generations.
Cultural Teaching and Values Consortium
Lakota Immersion Day Care Services
Sub-strategy 1C. Help our people understand the historical influences on our Lakota lifestyle and culture to assist in
healing so we can show our children and future generations how to live a healthy and balanced Lakota lifestyle. This strategy
will create gatherings for families to participate in activities, services and ceremonies which promote healing as part of
one’s journey to prosperity.
Healing Communities, Families and Individuals Initiative
(continued)
STRATEGY 2:
community and
capacity development strategy
IMPROVE THE RESERVATION INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS SO THESE SYSTEMS CAN SUPPORT A STABLE ECONOMIC
BASE WHICH PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES TO BUILD ASSETS.
Sub-strategy 2A. Develop strategic planning and implementation process to ensure the CRST reservation
infrastructure system has the capacity to support and sustain economic, community and social development projects. This
strategy will promote a stable economic base on which Tribal membership, businesses and government services and future
development projects can be developed in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Communication System – Community Radio
Sub strategy 2B. Develop a set of comprehensive community-based services that build connections and capacity for
low-income people. Provide opportunities for low-income people to be actively engaged in the decision making process
for local community planning. Provide low-income youth with positive experiences that will develop their capacity to
build life skills. This strategy will ensure that families residing throughout the reservation have equal access to educational,
employment, social and individual development services and opportunities by creating community learning centers.
Community Learning Centers
Sub strategy 2C. Investing in Asset Building for Individuals. This strategy will provide opportunities for low-income
families, adults and youth, to begin building financial literacy and personal wealth by participating in an Individual
Development Account (IDA) Program. Prepare low income youth for the future by investing in leadership development
and financial literacy skills.
Financial Literacy Program and Youth Individual Development Account (IDA)
Community Leadership Program
(continued)
STRATEGY 3:
economic
development strategy
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL STIMULATE THE RESERVATION ECONOMY
THROUGH COORDINATED ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
Sub-strategy 3A. Investing in the reservation economy through collaboration, legislation, utilization of tribal resources
and partnerships the CRST will create a cooperative environment to stimulate new economic engines, enhance existing
businesses and promote opportunities for entrepreneurship. This strategy will stimulate the economy and create new jobs
for low income people.
Reservation Partnership Development Fund
Sub-strategy 3B. Support the Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to expand local economic opportunities
for existing business, encourage new businesses and promote a collaborative approach among key stakeholders and promote local consumerism. Promote a viable tourism industry on Cheyenne River so our communities and families will have
a new venue to market their goods and services and promote their community attractions.
Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce
Sub-strategy 3C. Create leveraging opportunities for communities to pursue community development projects that will
improve the local infrastructure. This strategy will create opportunities for establishing community-owned businesses,
community infrastructure projects, and promote entrepreneurship which will provide affordable goods and services and
employment opportunities. Support low income people’s active participation in community decision making process and
contribute to the development of community infrastructure and local economy.
Community Development Funds
Community Development Funds
“Today we have poverty as Lakota people, but we still have our
pride, we involve ourselves in our language, culture, and ceremonial
duties. We are encouraged by our parents and grandparents to
carry on these duties and be alcohol and drug free. I say wopila
for the tremendous amount that the Northwest Area Foundation
has done to contribute to our future.”
— Carmen Iron Hawk, CRST Tribal Member
and student at Takini School
NWAF INVESTMENT IN STRATEGIES
STRATEGY 1: INDIVIDUAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
TOTAL TEN-YEAR FUNDING FROM NWAF: $9,550,000.00
Work Force Development
Youth Internship
Lakota Immersion Day Care
Cultural Consortium
Healing Cheyenne River
10 years
3 years
3 years
4 years
3 years
$3,000,000.00
$75,000.00
$200,000.00
$125,000.00
$150,000.00
Partner: CRST Oyate
Connections
Partner: Cheyenne
River Youth Project
Coordination Partner:
Presentation College
Partner: Takini School
STRATEGY 2: COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
TOTAL TEN-YEAR NWAF FUNDING: $2,100,000.00
Community Radio
Financial Literacy & Youth IDA
Community Leadership
1 year
10 years
10 years
10 years
$200,000.00
$750,000.00
$900,000.00
$250,000.00
Coordinating Partner: KLND
Partner: CRST Oyate Connections
Partner: Four Bands Community
Fund, Inc.
STRATEGY 3: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TOTAL TEN-YEAR NWAF FUNDING : $2,100,000.00
Reservation Partnership Fund
Chamber of Commerce
Community Development Fund
10 years
3 years
10 years
$1,000,000.00
$100,000.00
$1,200,000.00
Management: Tribal Ventures Partnership Board
Partner: CR Chamber of Commerce
Management: Tribal Ventures Partnership Board
MANAGEMENT GOVERNANCE AND EVALUATION
TOTAL TEN-YEAR NWAF FUNDING: $1,550,000.00
Management & Governance
Evaluation
10 years
10 years
$1,550,000
$300,000.00
SOURCES OF LEVERAGING FOR THE POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN
CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBAL VENTURES
SOURCES OF LEVERAGING FOR THE POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN - CONSOLIDATED BUDGET FOR TEN YEAR PERIOD
Initiative
Matching Funds
NWAF
Investment
Total
CRST Cash CRST In Kind
Contribution Contribution
Partners In-Kind
Contribution
$300,000
$2,900,000
$3,000,000
$6,200,000
$7,500
$75,000
$82,500
$200,000
$500,000
1
Work Force
Development
2
Youth Internship
3
Lakota Immersion
Day Care
4
Cultural Consortium
$208,000
$20,000
$125,000
$353,000
5
Healing Project
$215,500
$30,000
$150,000
$395,000
6
Community Radio
$50,000
$95,000
$200,000
$345,000
7
Community Learning
Centers
$560,000
$350,000
$750,000
$1,660,000
8
Financial Literacy &
Youth IDA
$100,000
$90,000
$900,000
$1,390,000
9
Community
Leadership
$142,000
$25,000
$250,000
$417,000
10
Reservation
Partnership Fund
$100,000
$1,000,000
$2,525,000
11
Chamber of
Commerce
$100,000
$110,000
12
Community
Development Fund
$1,200,000
$1,200,000
13
Management,
Governance &
Evaluation
$1,550,000
$1,750,000
$ 9,500,000
$17,827,500
Total Amounts
$50,000
$250,000
$300,000
$1,000,000
$10,000
$125,000
$1,200,000
$200,000
$1,500,000
$500,000
$3,577,500
$2,750,000
Work Force Development
10 years
$3 Million
Partner: CRST Oyate Connection
The Partner for this initiative is the Tribe’s job training program – Oyate Connections. The Oyate Connections goals and
objectives are aimed at poverty reduction activities by targeting low income people for job training services. Tribal Ventures
dollars will be invested into Oyate Connections so that there is twelve month training program for participants.
This initiative will enhance, not supplement, the job training services by allowing the Oyate Connections to be more
effective through additional resources that will increase the number of individuals participating in the job training
programs and increase the number of staff available to provide direct services.
The training components of the expanded twelve month Oyate Connection training program will provide fifty (50)
individuals per year to participate (we expect this number to increase each year with referrals from welfare programs
as their clients can participate in the program under the welfare-to-work requirements).
• Phase One: This is the first step toward job readiness. This is also the classroom time which will begin with an assessment
of one’s education needs. Those needing their GED will begin a daily study plan. Participants will be provided training
to develop life skills such as financial literacy, decision making, cultural history, Lakota values, alcohol and drug awareness,
consumer education to avoid predatory lending, introduction to computers, etc. Instructors will come from resource
agencies who provide community education classes.
• Phase Two: This component will introduce basic principals of work ethic and build on a Lakota value of generosity
“helping each other.” The participants will be assigned to different community improvement projects which will allow
them to experience a diversity of work settings and work projects.
• Phase Three: This component will provide the participants with an opportunity to select a career interest and experience
on-the-job training at a training site. Participants will also receive support services such as specialized work clothing or
tools, etc. The supervisor at the job training site will participate in supervisory training seminars to ensure the work
experience mimics an actual work environment.
• Phase Four: This component will provide participants with actual job placement experience as an employee of the entity
participating in the job placement activity.
“When I went to school, it was like, I was 40 years old and I thought
‘oh my god how am I going to do this?’ I have five kids, I was scared.
Fear, yeah you talk fear, yeah there was fear. And I’ll tell you right now
that if I can do it, anybody can do it. I believe that we can do it, all
things that come to us are gift from above and everybody
can do if they just believe.”
— Ella Meeter, CRST Tribal Member
A Workforce Advisory Group will be established to build relationships and links between participants and employers.
The membership will include representatives from the communities who will be recipients of the services and representatives
from the reservation employers.
The Workforce Advisory Group will provide guidance to the Oyate Connections staff in the development of a training
curriculum that will produce trained and skilled workers who are ready to enter the reservation job market in addition to
be able to compete in the off reservation regional job market. The participation of the reservation employers will also help
educate employers they are eligible to participate as a training site and receive subsidized job training dollars.
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
The availability of a trained and skilled work force will have a long lasting impact on the local and regional economy,
community development and increase social capital.
• Employers will have a pool of qualified applicants and they will have had a positive experience with the job training
program.
• Existing economic engines will have a direct connection to the training program and they can begin exploring expansion
or diversification knowing the training program can respond to the economic growth.
• A trained and skilled work force will help the Tribe market a complete package to developers.
• Individual asset building will be realized as new skills, knowledge and household incomes are increased.
• Communities will begin to take on a new appearance with the completion of each community improvement project.
• The collaborative approach will develop new relationships with resource agencies; their participation will promote
an awareness of their program and services which will lead to increased utilization of resource agencies.
WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE
12 MONTH PROGRAM
in 4 Phases - with 50 participants in each phase
PHASE 1 - Job Readiness
Classroom Time (3 months)
Classroom Time and Training
Local resource agency to
provide training
$300 monthly stipend
$100 bonus for completion
PHASE 2 - Work Ethic
Development and Community
Improvement Projects (3 months)
Practicing basic principals of work
travel to different parts of the
reservation to complete
community improvement projects
$400 monthly stipend
$100 bonus for completion
STAFFING
Leveraging 477 monies with
Tribal Ventures monies
WORKFORCE ADVISORY GROUP
PHASE 3 - On-The-Job
Training (3 months)
Work Force Adivsory Group
will help to coordinate
traing placements
PHASE 4 - Job Placement
(3 months)
Full employee of their job
training enity
$5.50/hr or higher wage
$5.50 per hr wage for
40hr/ work week
Support service
Partnerships for Youth Internships
3 year pilot project
$75,000.00
Partner: Cheyenne River Youth Project
It is our desire for our Lakota children to have as many positive experiences during their childhood and as young adults so
they have a good outlook on life and treat people in a good way. This initiative is a result of members of our Valuing
Education on Cheyenne River responding to the Community Conversations comments about helping our children learn
new experiences that will help motivate and prepare them for college. There are so few opportunities for our youth, especially those who are very low and low income, to interact with professionals who have college experience.
The Partnerships for Youth Internships will partner with the Cheyenne River Youth Project to pilot an internship program
for our high school students. The students will have an opportunity to explore their career choices and gain work experience and training in specialized jobs. These opportunities will empower our young people to embrace new attitudes and
help them understand the value of education as a means to improve their own economic well-being and future choices.
This will be a three-year initiative. The first year will be planning and recruitment activities, the second year will provide
ten stipends and in year three another ten stipends will be made available for high students from low-income families. In
the third year an evaluation report will be produced.
The following will be done during the three years:
• Develop a pilot project
• Provide high school students from low-income families with options for exploring a career choice.
• Recruit partners and sponsors both on and off the reservation
The Partnerships for High School Students will:
• Create opportunities for high school students to gain knowledge, education, skills and attitudes to be successful in
their career choices.
• Provide opportunities for high school students to gain work
experience and training in specialized jobs.
• Promote a positive attitude toward the value of education
for participating students.
“We have to build a nation of healthy
Lakota people - one way is to focus on
saving and preparing our youth.”
— Community member
Lakota Cultural Consortium
4 years
$125,000.00
Culturally, we are in a critical time as Lakota people. After decades of poverty, oppression and negative stereotyping, many
of our people don’t know what it means to be Lakota.
We must guide one another into a positive cultural self-identity; we must guide ourselves to knowing who we are, what is
important and what we want to be. The thinking of the people is: If you know who you are and where you come from,
you will be more likely to reach out to economic, social and educational opportunities.
If our people have an understanding of the history of their family, of how their relationships connect them to their
relatives, and of the values of Lakota people they will reconnect with the traditional idea of taking care of one’s relatives.
In awakening our positive cultural identity and reclaiming the value of generosity we will provide an impetus for our youth
to reach out to economic, social and educational opportunities.
Lakota people have unique barriers that may not be seen as relevant to poverty reduction work. Barriers such as not knowing
who you are collectively, and the grief carried from generation to generation – both of which must be acknowledge and
healed in order to move forward. We are creating strategies that are addressing the obvious barriers that go across
cultural lines, but we must also address these distinctive barriers that are unique to us. Our strategies and initiatives
address these barriers that entangle our growth. Our plan reflects the voices of the people. They were heard and understood. It is their wisdom and hope that has been shared so that this plan will truly move us to a better place.
Our people told us, “We are wealthy, wealthy in our Lakota culture.” We must build on this strength and invest in our
people in more definite ways. Through establishing a Lakota Cultural Consortium we will create opportunities, initiatives,
activities and events. The work will coordinate, articulate and promote strategic development and promotion of Lakota
culture among the Mniconjou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa and Oohenumpa Bands of the Titonwan Lakota.
The uniqueness of this Consortium is the vision to cross boundaries, to be inclusive and to build consensus.
It is also important to note the work of the Lakota Cultural Consortium will have a role in many of Cheyenne River’s poverty
reduction strategies. Projects such as the Healing Communities, Families and Individuals Project, Community Learning
Centers, Lakota Immersion Day Care will gain momentum and be enhanced by the work of the Lakota Cultural
Consortium.
“We need to light the fires of our tiospayes
(extended families); when you do this they
become wakan (sacred) and we can
become strong again.”
— Manny Iron Hawk, CRST Tribal Member
The Cultural Consortium will gather Lakota people together to have purposeful conversations. With the strategic gathering
of our thoughts, we will determine where we want to go, what success means to us and what will economic development
look like for Lakota people.
We believe this initiative will be a valuable resource for the people. The concerted effort to center our Lakota cultural
consciousness through the work of the Cultural Consortium will also focus on building consensus on economic development
and its relation to Lakota philosophy, historically and in modern times. Essentially, we have two major tasks, 1) to renew
our identity as Lakota; and 2) to build consensus on cultural issues especially as it relates to preparing our Lakota people
for prosperity. In investing resources in a concerted effort to gather our Lakota people to counsel on these issues we
will be better positioned to collectively and individually capitalize on the economic development opportunities, such
as tourism and art markets. We must gather and discuss important questions about what works for Lakota people
economically (for example, we must discuss a capitalist context in relation to a Lakota collective context). These decisions
must be determined, must be worked out and implemented on our own terms. We believe this is a wise investment
enabling the Cultural Consortium to serve as a cultural compass for our journey to prosperity.
The Lakota Cultural Consortium will strive to:
• Promote unity
• Remap the shared cultural consciousness of the Lakota
• Renew identification and relationships among the Four Bands of Lakota
• Develop consistent standards in regards to cultural teachings and values
• Find commonality and engage individuals, families and communities in healing which will lead to promotion and positive
identification with Lakota culture.
• Share knowledge, experiences
• Share Lakota histories – individual, family, community and CRST
• Coordinate and communicate regarding other culturally focused efforts on Cheyenne River (schools, cultural preservation,
Cultural Center, etc.)
• Develop Lakota wellness curriculum for use in schools and programs
This Cultural Consortium will be conducted in the manner in which Lakota have conducted business for centuries – based
on consensus, inclusiveness and mutual respect.
Participating in the Lakota Cultural Consortium is voluntary and open to all the people who know the culture and/or want
to know the culture. Its is a chance for representatives from tiospayes across the reservation to come and participate.
Community Outreach activities will be carried out to identify and recruit cultural leaders, spiritual leaders, cultural language
instructors and community people to volunteer to serve on the Consortium.
The Lakota Cultural Consortium can begin the mending, the recovering and the reclaiming of our Lakota culture.
This investment to gather our people to be of one mind, is where we will find strength and wisdom to define and move
collectively toward Lakota prosperity.
Lakota Immersion Day Care
3 year planning project
$200,000.00
Coordinating Partner: Presentation College-Lakota Campus: Wakanheja
Owicakanhnigapi - Understanding Children Program
To the Lakota, children are sacred. This value is reflected clearly in our Lakota language, the Lakota word for children,
wakanyeja, holds within it the word wakan (sacred). They are sacred spirits who have come to be with us and who have
a strong connection to the Spirit world. This understanding makes caring for our children one of the most important
responsibilities for our people. Yet today, generations of poverty has weakened our Lakota language and culture, and we
see the quality of care for our wakanyeja deteriorating. Regaining our strength as Lakota is paramount to our future; so,
restoring our Lakota language and culture in the care of our wakanyeja is a fitting direction for us to take.
Our elders remind us that the language is also wakan. We use it to communicate with the other nations, we talk to
wamakaskan, “living beings of the earth,” through spiritual communication. It has been said language is vital to Lakota
culture; that it is our bloodline. History has demonstrated that how we handle our language and how we develop it can
cause the Lakota people to grow or it can destroy us. We are warned that if we lose the Lakota language we lose our
Lakota culture as well. During the community conversations this fear was voiced time and time again.
The establishment of Lakota Immersion Day Care services for parents and children on Cheyenne River will not only
provide additional options to meet the critical shortage of day care services, but also help to retain Lakota language and
culture among our families. Through a partnership with Presentation College Lakota Campus Wakanheja Owicakanhnigapi
- Understanding Children Program this planning project will be implemented.
The funding for this project will help the Wakanheja Owicakanhnigapi - Understanding Children Program take the
necessary research and preparation steps for major fundraising to make the Lakota Immersion Daycare facility on
Cheyenne River a reality within the next five years. This work will include:
• Research and Curriculum Development
• Funding Research and Grant Writing
• Implementation Planning
Activities will include to:
• Establish planning and working groups to develop curriculum and day care operating principals
• Conduct reservation-wide assessment of child care services and parental surveys to identify levels of interest across the
reservation communities
• Funding research: Identify several private and public funding opportunities and research application cycles
• Finalize the program design and training curriculum
• Prepare and submit multiple grant applications to identified funding entities
“To the Lakota, children are sacred... they are
sacred spirits who have come to be with us
and who have a strong connection
to the Spirit world.”
Healing of Communities, Families and Individuals
3 years
$150,000.00
We believe improving our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness will be a major factor in our ability to reduce
poverty on Cheyenne River. Lakota world-view looks at the world holistically and interconnectedly. The health of the
mind, body and spirit contribute to and affect our capacity to take advantage of opportunities to get out of poverty.
We have to reconnect with our spirits and heal.
We want to help each other. Our community members, strategic thinking groups, and Tribal officials agree that investment
in the healing of our people is a crucial step. The Healing of Communities, Families and Individuals Initiative is
a comprehensive and holistic process that to date no funding agencies have been willing to undertake. With the help of
NWAF we believe Lakota people can improve the conditions necessary for individuals, families and communities to step
out of poverty and embrace prosperity.
Poverty has taken its toll – the people must be restored – healed through ceremonies, services, initiatives and dialogue.
Healing (be it collective or individual) is a process, not a project with timelines and objectives to be met. Healing cannot
be legislated, purchased or forced. Healing must be a choice. It restores the dignity of individuals, families and communities.
Yet, it is not achieved without some discomfort. Healing is the challenging emotional, mental, spiritual and sometimes
physical work that we must do to move to a better future. Our willingness to reflect and examine ourselves (individually
and collectively) is the first step to healing the wounds that are festering in our families and communities. Removing
obstacles to healing such as shame, fears, and not knowing how to heal; as well as a lack of access to healing process
including role models and healing stories are among our challenges.
We also see that our individual states of wellness and healing have affected our problem solving abilities, resulting in
skewed answers to the question, “How do we solve our problems?” There are realities which are not easy to hear, but it
is with honesty, humility and openness that changes will happen.
Within our Lakota culture we have processes to heal ourselves. Our traditional Lakota Societies were the social structures
which came together to help the people; each with its own purpose and place among the people. Today, our people
hunger for this kind of purpose and connection. The primary work of the Healing Initiative will be to gather people together with common interests, talents and gifts. In using resources to bring people together to share and learn from another,
we will build bridges to healing.
“Healing cannot be legislated, purchased or forced.
Healing must be a choice. It restores the dignity of
individuals, families and communities.”
Throughout the first three years, the project will engage in public education efforts and work to raise the collective understanding of healing and wellness. People will know more about how to access healing, the issues that healing work can
address, the ways to heal, and the benefits of healing. In addition, the project will facilitate discussions to address
community healing including using resources to co-host community and family healing, gatherings, ceremonies and services.
In subsequent years we will host annual Cheyenne River Healing Gatherings, providing an opportunity to celebrate, to
think strategically about our healing needs, and coordinate our pursuit of funding. We will also coordinate the resources
allocated to healing through a communication network established in the first three years of the process.
The project will be carried out through a partnership with Takini School.
The Cultural Consortium will also participate in the planning and hosting of seasonal healing gatherings; as well as preparing
recommendations for incorporating healing events into the lives of families and their communities.
The Healing of Communities, Families and Individuals Initiative will work to:
• Acknowledge the pain and encourage forgiveness for transgressions among our people;
• Increase access to and engagement in healing;
• Develop strong and healthy individuals, families, communities, organizations and institutions ready to take advantage of
opportunities to prosper culturally appropriate ways;
• Decrease the abuse of our bodies, our sprits, our relatives, our culture and our society
• Strengthen and stabilize the workforce;
• Promote Lakota culturally influenced standards for behavior, expectations for job performance and economic
development; and
• Build relationships between communities – Native and non-Native.
How do we return to be the strong Lakota people again – overcoming oppression and powerlessness that has persisted
decade after decade? How do we move beyond mire survival and into thriving and prosperous people? For us, money
and personal assets are not enough. Healing will create a depth of prosperity that leaves a legacy of understanding for
our families and our communities – so that future generations don’t have to heal old wounds but can truly live.
Communication System
1 year
$200,000.00
Coordinating Partner: KLND Radio
Community radio is normally an existing asset that is utilized as an effective communication tool. But Cheyenne River does
not have an effective and consistent communication system; this is a barrier for very-low-income and low-income people
living in social and geographic isolation. Community Radio can be accessed at no charge to the listener. They don’t have
to purchase a newspaper to read about opportunities, community events or local news.
This initiative is a one-time investment into a communication system by building a KLND booster-tower to carry the KLND
signal throughout the Cheyenne River Reservation. In addition, the tower and related regulations allow for eight-hours of
community radio programming each day that originates from Cheyenne River. The local programming opportunities are
broad and would allow for Cheyenne River programs and individuals to take on greater ownership of the community radio
resource.
The KLND booster tower will help to build unity among our people and trigger connectivity on the reservation. It will
build a communication and information network for opportunities, jobs and education. It will connect communities and
individuals via the airwaves increasing inclusiveness, building community and pride reservation wide.
There are several benefits of community radio which are directly connected to poverty reduction work.
Asset identification and development can be accomplished through public service announcements designed for a target
population, recruitment and outreach activities, and public awareness and education programs can be reached through
radio programming.
Economic Opportunities can be enhanced by programming sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, New businesses can
be profiled through radio programming, existing businesses can advertise their services through sponsorship of local programming; community job bulletins can be broadcast every day, and best business practices can be shared by
interviewing successful business owners.
“Prosperity to me is increasing the assets
of the community and developing
economic opportunities.”
Community Capacity can be increased by broadcasting community activities and meetings. Community leaders will have
a forum to address community concerns, and community people connected to regional and national news/issues through
national programming.
Inclusive decision-making requires forums for voices can be heard. Community radio offers many options for voices to be
heard: Live Call-In talk shows; regular programming with interviews and testimonials from a target group, engaging
in community and government affairs by listening to public meetings, notification of public events are broadcasted
so community people are informed thereby increasing the chances that attendance will be increased.
Economic, Social and Community Impact of Cheyenne River programming will include an increase in economic
opportunities through access and awareness of issues related to our local and regional economy. The communication
system will provide employment opportunities. We anticipate there will be part-time employment for the program hosts
and one full-time Community Radio Coordinator to oversee the Cheyenne River community programming.
Future employment can occur with expanded programming and services.
The social and community impact will promote bonding across the reservation. Cultural events will be broadcasted,
elders and youth can be taped to provide storytelling, Lakota language will be heard, local school sporting events will be
broadcasted, public meetings like the tribal council sessions can be broadcasted and local programming can be developed
to meet the needs of our people.
“Storytelling was a way of sharing
- we can still use this to tell about
our history and to teach our youth
about wrong doings and encourage
them to live a different life not to be quarrelsome and
disrespectful to adults.”
10 years
$750,000.00
Coordinating Partner: CRST Oyate Connections
The initiative will be effective in reducing poverty because of its direct and immediate impact on the community residents,
especially those who are isolated both geographically and socially.
The design of the Community Learning Centers (CLC’s) is based upon multi-purpose and multi-function. In the past the
communities have had fragments of services which were utilized but not integrated or expanded to meet other needs.
The CLC’s will offer services to all community members. The CLC’s will be available during school hours for the adult learners
and also function as field or satellite offices for the tribal government. Adults can conduct routine business via telephone,
fax or internet. The CLC’s will serve as job training sites and job placement sites for welfare-to-work recipients. Family
and youth learning activities will be developed for the evening hours.
Economic, Social and Community Impact
The CLC’s will have the most impact at the community level. The availability of resources (technology center, GED
software, fax machine, telephone, video library, etc.) will promote individual asset building. The community-based
services by the tribal government and its resource agencies will promote community development through increased
community capacity by providing new leadership opportunities, equal access to tribal assets and development of the
community’s infrastructure. Community outreach services by resource agencies will promote individual development
(entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, etc.). The CLC’s will be job training and job placement sites which will help
individuals gain work experience.
The success of the CLC’s will help organize and bond the community which will help them develop and leverage their
social capital. Together with the community improvement projects realized through the Work Force Development
Initiative the community will began to see immediate change in their environment. As formal groups organize they will
be encouraged to apply to the Community Development Fund to finance community and economic development projects.
Economic impact will occur through the Tribe’s investment into infrastructure development (roads, water, housing,
community buildings, etc.). The emerging economic engines (Lakota Thrifty Mart’s community stores in Dupree,
Cherry Creek and LaPlant, Aquatic Farming in Cherry Creek, Red Scaffold and White Horse, etc.) will provide jobs in the
communities. Tribal Tourism development will market the historic sites as points of destination and provide opportunities
for local artists to market their crafts. The Tribal Transit System will remove transportation barriers and connect people to
jobs and resources. The communities can explore community owned businesses which will have a direct impact on their
local economy. Positive growth in the communities will encourage business ownership which will create new jobs.
“How do we come together to create one
community - we need to understand
each other and work toward
helping each other.”
— Community Member
The Community Learning Centers project will benefit low-income people residing in the outlying communities by:
• Establishing sixteen community learning centers in the communities that will also serve as satellite offices for the tribal
government;
• Hiring a coordinator to oversee the establishment of the centers; monitor center operations and advocate for communitybased learning and services;
• Promoting community-based services from within the Tribe’s fourteen departments;
• Providing access to the internet by furnishing the Centers with technology rooms that will be available to community
residents; and
• Building capacity of community residents through learning opportunities.
The centers will remove the barriers of economic and social isolation and lack of transportation and provide access to
governmental services and program services via tribal government satellite offices, so that the people are connected
to learning opportunities, services, jobs and resources.
We expect the sixteen Community Learning Centers to improve the lives of low-income people and their families in
a number of ways:
• Adults can pursue their GED studies through computer based programs that allow them to study at their own pace;
• Children of low-income people increase their academic performance by having access to computers after school hours
to complete their homework; computer games will help them improve their reading and math skills;
• Families can participate in family oriented events and activities;
• Tribal departments and programs will have access to program space to provide outreach activities and community-based
services;
• Create a sense of community among community residents by taking pride in the success of their community
centers; and
• Connect community people to tribal government services through the satellite offices.
Financial Literacy and Youth Individual
Development Accounts
10 years
$900,000.00
Partner: Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
This initiative will provide financial literacy training to very low income and low income people. The Youth Individual
Development Account (IDA) Program is an initiative to help young adults begin a pathway toward prosperity.
The project will use a national curriculum material for Native American families and communities. Nationally there
has been collaboration between the Fannie Mae Foundation and the First Nations Development Institute to develop an
intertribal financial literacy curriculum. They produced teaching material Building Native Communities (participant
workbook and instructor manual). There are six sessions that help participants build financial skills by learning about:
building a healthy economy, developing a spending plan, working with checking and savings accounts, understanding
credit and credit reports and accessing credit. The goal is to help individuals gain personal financial literacy skills that will
help them save money that they might have lost because of poor planning or insufficient information about financial
management. The information on credit will better prepare an individual to learn how to develop and protect their
credit including recognizing predatory lending practices. The participant will also learn how their everyday decisions
and actions can help to support our local reservation economy.
By engaging the youth there is an opportunity to educate them about financial matters and introduce and promote
a savings attitude at an earlier age thereby promoting a positive attitude and behavior toward savings accounts.
The IDA Program will improve the youths’ outlook toward their future and provides them with important, lifelong
financial management skills and knowledge to help them secure a better economic future.
KEY ROLE
PLAYER-PARTNER
ACTIVITIES
Sponsoring Organization
Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
Program design, program administration, outreach
and recruitment, enrollment, data collection,
account monitoring and counseling
Funding Provider
NWAF/Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures Plan
Provider of Matching Funds
Financial Institution
Community First Federal Credit Union
Maintain accounts, provide related financial services
and products
Training Provider
Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
Administer financial literacy education classes,
provide asset specific training
Accountholder
Low-income people and High School Students
from low income households
Open accounts, attend education and training
classes, deposit funds, withdraw funds and purchase
assets.
Youth IDA Community Partners
Cheyenne River Youth Services, Inc.; Cheyenne
River Boys & Girls Club and Sioux YMCA and
representatives from the reservation’s seven
high schools.
Provide leadership education
There will be a matching ratio of 1.5 to 1 for the youth IDA program. We are budgeting for 150 youth each year at a cost
of $300.00 per student x 4 years. With the matching from the youth/family their account will achieve a minimum
savings balance of $500.00. For a student enrolling in the IDA Program in their freshman year they have the potential to
save $2,000 for their college expenses.
Youth Individual Development Account (IDA) Program will:
• Build financial literacy capacity of low income people making them less vulnerable to predatory lending practices;
• Build financial literacy capacity of high school students from low income households so they learn important, lifelong
financial management skills and knowledge; and
• Provide opportunities for high school students from low income households to build assets through participation in the
Youth Individual Development Account (IDA) Program.
Youth Individual Development Account (IDA) Program will provide opportunities for high school students from low income
households to create assets through developing a positive attitude toward responsible financial management behaviors.
This is important for our younger generations to know so they can build a better future for themselves, families,
communities and tribe.
“Financial literacy is another skill
that our families need to have to
survive. Because we don’t know
about financial management It’s like taking candy from a baby
- people don’t know how to protect
themselves from being ripped off.”
Community Leadership Development
10 years
$250,000.00
Poverty has interrupted our natural leadership development. From our largest to smallest community the dissension and
divisions are apparent; we have become segmented into “Us’es” (sic) and “Them’s.” In our history, we have stories of how
societies developed leaders; there are stories of how individuals within our tiospaye were nurtured to carry leadership
responsibilities on behalf of their relatives. When Lakota culture and the people were in balance their dreams and visions
guided the future. As part of our vision for the future of our people, we see that investing in individuals and developing
them as Lakota leaders will strengthen our human capital on Cheyenne River.
Developing a strategic Lakota leadership development plan will be among the outcomes of this initiative. Through
facilitated leadership dialogues, convocations, storytelling, skill building seminars, mentoring and networking we expect
to increase the assets of individuals, and in turn, communities on Cheyenne River.
The Community Leadership Development project will focus on the communities and their reality, developing community
leadership skills necessary to maneuver and make changes in their communities. Understanding and pulling together
collective wisdom about Tribal systems and funding realities will be among topic focus. The project will explore the
qualities of Lakota leadership and examine the attitudes, world view, context and choices that nurture Lakota leadership.
Leaders who participate will also have grounding in poverty reduction and explore what strategies they wish to pursue to
reduce poverty in their community. In addition to community specific leadership development, this project will also
facilitate cross community learning and understanding opportunities to encourage partnerships and promote unity
on Cheyenne River.
It is crucial that leadership training be available and focused on important skills, knowledge and explorations for those who
are pursuing leadership on Cheyenne River. The project will seek to influence reservation policies to best encourage
and ensure that those selected to serve on boards, committees, advisory groups and governing bodies have access to leadership training. Once stabilized, the Lakota Community Leadership Project could propose implementation of a
formal certificate program and possibility of granting course credit toward an AA degree in conjunction with tribal
officials, local community colleges, non-profit and local school boards.
Through a partnership with Takini School the Lakota Community Leadership will staff and implement the project
reservation wide. All community residents will have the opportunity to be involved in the leadership development
project. The primary target group for this leadership will be at the community level, increasing the collective knowledge
and building consensus around leadership.
“Cheyenne Rivers’ ideas made into reality and
now it is up to us to take advantage of this
once in a lifetime opportunity to change
the future for our families.”
The Community Leadership Development will:
• Provide for leadership renewal, increased effectiveness and positive perception of leaders across Cheyenne River;
• Model progressive and dynamic Lakota leadership at all levels;
• Work to transform leadership with better accountability to, communication with and treatment of the people – fitting
the raised expectations of Lakota leadership;
• Improve attitudes and confidence of the people in their leadership – from communities, districts, boards, committees
and governing bodies;
• Provide opportunities for culturally-based leadership practice, consensus and methods for selecting, nurturing and
assuming leadership;
• Advance projects, initiatives and ideas originating at community levels;
• Increase confidence, sophistication and esteem in leaders on Cheyenne River;
• Increase partnerships, coordination, collaboration and communication across all systems and entities; and
• Improve skills in meeting management, group facilitation, communication (specifically presentation, interpersonal and
discussion) and administration.
With this investment we will see a return of natural leadership occurring in our communities. This investment will bring
resources that will develop knowledge and skills in these leaders. Cheyenne River leaders will grow.
Reservation Partnership Development Fund
10 years
$1 Million
Management: Tribal Ventures Management Board
Tribal Ventures will fund community and/or economic development projects that strive primarily to reduce poverty
through enhancing economic opportunities and building community infrastructure for the residents of the Cheyenne River
Sioux Indian Reservation. Tribal Ventures believes that systemic change cannot be achieved unless groups from all levels
come together to create meaningful dialogue around economic development. Tribal Ventures strategies will encourage
collaboration between public and private sectors to ensure long-term economic for the reservation and its residents.
The Reservation Partnership Fund will support economic development projects that will revitalize the reservation
economy and have a significant and positive effect on the economic health of the community. Entities receiving funds
must demonstrate a shared vision with the Tribal Ventures Partnership Fund and must be engaged in poverty
reduction work.
Types of economic development projects that will be considered
Commercial Revitalization:
Investments and or improvement of the reservation commercial areas through rehabilitation or construction of industrial,
retail or office space will help revitalize the economy.
Economic Development:
Creation of permanent, private sector jobs and strengthening of the reservation’s economic base; projects that are
designed to stimulate private sector investment, economic growth and job creation.
Tourism Industry:
Development of tourism attraction or expansion of existing tourism business; the project is expected to draw tourists from
outside a 100-mile radius.
Business Investment:
To encourage the creation, retention and/or expansion of new or existing businesses and jobs within the boundaries of
the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation; businesses and or companies from the following business growth clusters
who are relocating or expanding to the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation are eligible to be considered eligible to
participate in this grant fund;
• Manufacturing
• Tourism
• Information Related Services
• Agricultural
• Transportation/Distribution
• Technology
Note: This list of business growth clusters may be expanded as needed
“We need to address the economy
through cooperation.”
The Reservation Partnership Fund will:
• Create a ten year development fund for economic and community development projects to benefit the reservation
population
• Promote collaboration among reservation partners to develop projects to benefit the entire reservation
• Build capacity within the reservation partners in the areas of economic and community development projects
The Reservation Partnership Development Fund will be managed by the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board. The eligibility
and selection criteria will be developed in year one. Year two will start annual grant acceptance and awards. This infusion
of grant funds to the entities will enable them to begin planning long-term economic development projects either within
their own entity or in collaboration with other reservation partners.
The Reservation Partnership Fund will provide Reservation Partners with leverage funds (grants are limited to a maximum
of $50,000 per applicant) for short-term and long-term economic development projects which will lead to economic
growth and job creation, in order to promote economic revitalization and community development through the
reservation.
“When we look at our children, we
see stars. Because our children are
the stars and our future and we
are earth. We have to help
them shoot for the stars.”
Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce
3 year investment
$100,000.00
The emergence of the Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce is a missing link in stimulating our reservation’s economic
development. The CR Chamber of Commerce has the potential to become one of our strongest assets in economic
development on Cheyenne River. With nurturing, this organization will flourish, providing leadership and contributing
greatly to our economic future.
This initiative will help launch the Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce. Underwriting the operations of the Chamber
for the first three years will stabilize the organization and improve the likelihood that the organization will be sustained
through memberships and development funds (private, foundation, federal, state).
The success of the organization will not only encourage economic development but also provide a forum for greater
understanding among Indians and Non-Indians. The relationship building among entrepreneurs and business owners will
create strong marketing of the reservation resources/opportunities – especially in the area of tourism development.
Networking opportunities will help increase understandings and dialogue on economic, social and political issues of
reservation businesses. In building relationships among business owners we can improve mutual respect and
appreciation, impacting the pride individuals has about the reservation.
Additional development work the Chamber will do includes providing workshops pertaining to business development.
It will also serve as a central information source for the business community regarding trends on Cheyenne River. Investing
the Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce will create a strong voice for business interests on Cheyenne River.
Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce will:
• Increase reservation based businesses – meet the goods and service market opportunities;
• Provide for a collective voice for business owners on Cheyenne River;
• Develop and nurture a flourishing tourism market throughout the reservation;
• Establish more experienced business ownership; and
• Create affordable shopping options for consumers within the reservation.
Collectively we can develop a regional plan to market our area as a place of destination, collectively we can implement
the plan and capture a piece of the multi-million dollar tourism industry that flows through the state of South Dakota.
But alone, whether it is the Tribe, a single business or a economic development entity, it would be very difficult and overwhelming to accomplish this.
The Chamber can help make connections between Lakota artists and businesses which will open new markets for both
groups. Because the Chamber of Commerce is regional there will be connections across the reservation. The work done
by the Chamber on behalf of its membership will be especially helpful to our small and new businesses, they will benefit
from the cooperative approach to marketing.
We propose to provide annual contributions of $33,000.00 for three years to invest in the early development and
organizing work of the Chamber of Commerce which will help advance their social, community and economic impact for
our reservation and the region.
“Tribal community and non-Indian
community need to work together
to make our community
a better place to live.”
Community Development Fund
10 years
$1.2 Million
The Community Development Fund will benefit low-income people and provide an avenue for them to participate by
fostering the development of a community supported vision: A community visioning/planning process gets people
talking, building social capital (i.e., mutual support, trust, cooperation) and thinking about their future. It will take time
but can be done one project at a time. Successful projects culminate with inventories of community needs, assets and
desires. During the community visioning process community members accept responsibility for the management of
specific projects. The formation of committees tasked with accomplishing specific objectives increases organizational
capacity to manage economic development investments.
Another benefit is enhanced local leadership: One of the distinguishing characteristics of thriving communities is the
presence of dynamic local leadership. By encouraging local development, communities will regain pride in their
communities, engage in more community activities, become open to learning new ideas; including learning how they
support local businesses, see the emergence of more social and cultural activities, and create more livable communities.
Very low income and low income people will benefit from the inclusive planning and decision making process that will be
nurtured and required to be documented to demonstrate that this process is occurring. Inclusive participation at all stages
of project developmental work will allow the community to understand the benefits and adequately and properly utilize
these local services.
The Community Development Fund is an initiative in response to the need to create viable economic hubs through the
reservation communities and towns. Community development has been an ongoing goal of the tribal government.
However, our dependency upon federal funding impacts the type of community development projects implemented.
The decades of trends of federal departments and agencies are reflected in our tribal history.
Community people came forward with a frank recommendation for community development. The Work Groups also
looked at community development and how we can create economic engines at the community level.
This initiative will provide our communities with the opportunity to access development funds to leverage toward building
a financing package for community infrastructure and/or community owned businesses. Over ten years the fund will make
available for grants $1,200,000.00 which if conservatively matched one-to-one we would have $2,400,000.00 invested
toward building community assets.
“Dominant society considers wealth
accumulation as successful which conflicts
with Lakota values - so we need to ask
ourselves - What is success?”
Community Development Fund will:
• Provide leverage funds for financing community development projects for outlying communities;
• Explore community owned enterprises as a option for community development projects; and
• Promote collaboration among communities to develop projects that provide mutual benefits.
Community Development Fund grant making strategies will fund community and/or economic development projects that
strive primarily to reduce poverty through enhancing economic opportunities and building community infrastructure for
the residents of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Tribal Ventures believes that systemic change cannot be
achieved unless groups from all levels come together across the reservation.
Tribal Ventures will support community development projects that promote inclusive planning and decision making of all
community residents, especially those who are very low and low income households and organizations that engage in
ongoing community development. This includes ensuring the democratic participation of residents in the organizing and
planning process; training grassroots leaders and giving them increasing responsibility and authority; and empowering
disenfranchised people to collectively identify issues and overcome systemic barriers and inequalities.
Tribal Ventures believes that strong accountability mechanisms and clear performance standards are essential elements of
a quality community and/or economic development project. Grantees will be expected to perform at high standards and
to demonstrate clear economic and community development outcomes from their project.
Tribal Ventures grant funds (grants are limited to a maximum of $50,000 per applicant) are meant to be used as leveraging
funds which will require applicants to demonstrate collaborative leveraging with other private and public funding sources.
Grant funds will not be disbursed until the applicant has furnished documentation that their primary funds have been
awarded to their organization or business.
The Community Development Fund will be managed by the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board. The eligibility and selection
criteria will be developed in year one. Year two will start annual grant acceptance and awards. This infusion of grant funds
to the entities will enable them to begin planning long-term economic development projects either within their own entity
or in collaboration with other reservation partners.
MANAGING THE PLAN
The management of the Ten Year Poverty Reduction Plan is developed to have a cooperative approach to implementation,
monitoring and evaluation activities between the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe who is the primary recipient and an appointed
Board of Directors who will have delegated decision making authority regarding the management of the Plan, the
strategies and initiatives.
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Primary Recipient
Tribal Ventures Partnership Board of
Directors
Decision Making Board
Tribal Venture Director
and Office Manager
Sub-Recipients
Community Partners implementing
initiatives
Primary Beneficiaries
Low income People
Increased Capacity, Knowledge
& Assets
Beneficiaries: Communities
& Reservation
Increased capacity, improved
infrastructure and growth
in the economy
This cooperative approach will ensure that the strategic planning process continues to be inclusive and representative of
the diverse interests of the reservation population. It will ensure that the relationship that the Tribe has with the reservation
partners is strengthened as well as strengthening the relationships among the partners. The combined expertise of the
partners will be used to throughout the management of the Plan. This cooperative approach is designed to remove any
concerns (internal or external) that tribal politics will interfere in the management of the plan.
The CRST Council has appointed individuals to be on the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board which will have delegated
authority to administer and manage the plan. This board will remain consistent throughout the ten years. The money is
deposited in a separate investment account that is managed by the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board. The Partnership
Board will meet monthly initially, quarterly in the later stages and will host an annual gathering to share progress
on the plan.
Partnership Board Members include:
• Community Members (2)
• CRST Tribal Council Member
• CRST Economic Development Planner – Attorney
• CRST Oyate Connections
• Executive Director of the Four Bands Community Fund
• Executive Director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project
• Cheyenne River Chamber of Commerce Director
• Takini School – Business Manager
• Horizon Communities (Dupree, Isabel and Timber Lake) Representative
“All of us maybe conditioned to believe that we are inadequate or
limited in our reservation life. The only way to challenge
these absurdities is go towards it; to know what you
are here for and let success chase after you.”
— Harold Condon, CRST Tribal Member
tribalventures
young voices familyconversations strategicthinking communityconversations
POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN
GOVERNACE
TRIBAL COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
FIDUCIARY
RESERVATION DEVELOPMENT FUND
RESPONSIBILITY
PARTNERSHIP BOARD
MEMBERS
STAFF
CRST Council Representative
Community Representatives (2)
CR Youth Project
Four Band Community Fund
Horizons Communities Representative
CRST Economic Planner
CR Chamber of Coomerce
CRST Oyate Connection
Takini School
SUB RECIPIENTS
Takini School
Lakota
Cultural
Consortium
Community
Leadership
Development
Cheyenne River
Youth Project
Partnership
for High School
Internships
CRST 477 Plan
Workforce
Development
Community
Learning
Centers
Cheyenne River
Chamber
of Commerce
CR Chamber
of Commerce
Four Bands
Community Fund
Presentation
College
Financial Literacy
and Youth IDA
Understanding
Children Program
KLND
Commuinication
System
Lakota
Immersion
Daycare
Healing
Communities,
Families &
Individuals
HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE MANAGED?
Tribal Ventures Partnership Board has delegated authority to manage the funds. The Tribal Council by resolution
no. 164-06-CR authorized the establishment of investment accounts with Morgan Stanley Investors.
“The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council approves the investment of these forward payments in the following accounts
with investment firm Morgan Stanley of Rapid City, SD; Tribal Ventures Poverty Reduction Plan Account; Tribal Ventures
Evaluation and Interest Account; and that the Tribal Council approves the withdrawals from these investments accounts
shall be authorized by the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board Members named Tracey Fischer and Harold Condon and
Benita Clark; and that the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council approves the establishment of a checking account for annual
operations of the Plan activities and the management of this account shall be the responsibility of the Tribal Ventures
Partnership Board; and that the Tribal Ventures Partnership Board shall provide monthly financial reports as stipulated in
the Tribal Ventures Partnership Agreement including these two investment accounts to Tribal Council.”
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s General Fund will make annual contributions of $150,000 to assist in the implementation
of the poverty reduction strategies. These Tribal funds will be deposited into the Tribal Ventures operating account.
The memorandum of agreement between NWAF and CRST requires monthly financial reports to be submitted for
monitoring and compliance purposes.
ADMINSTRATIVE COST TO MANAGE THE PLAN
The management of the plan will be administered by the Eileen Briggs, Tribal Ventures Executive Director. Support staff to
include Monalisa Brings Horse, Office Manager. The administrative operating budget will be $155,000 per year x 10 years
= $1,550,000.
EVALUATING THE PLAN
The evaluation of the plan will consist of the following activities:
quarterly data and financial reports from the sub-recipients: Each sub-recipient memorandum of agreement will include
a scope of work, implementation timeline, budget and minimum set of indicators for which data is to be collected
and reported.
LEARNING AND SHARING
The NWAF wants to learn and share from what is done to reduce poverty. We have agreed to share what we are learning
in carrying out the plan. Other communities and tribes are paying attention to what we are doing – so it is important that
communities, families and individuals step forward to participate in the plan – we are making a path for others out
of poverty.
We will use quotes, feedback and recorded notes from facilitated discussions with the Partners and Partnership Board to
capture these important evaluative comments. We will formalize this process by asking Partners to include a “Lessons
Learned” section in their monthly reports. These will prove invaluable in sharing with others poverty reduction efforts,
local programs and community organizations; as well as letting the public hear the revelations.
In addition, the Tribal Ventures Partners, Board and staff will be involved in creating portfolios to chronicle and archive
milestones, stories, quotes, photos, videos and development of each initiative. These portfolios will help to document in
creative ways our process and outcomes – they will be available for community meetings and gatherings to help our people
see and hear the stories of what is being done to make a things better and help our people. This will also help by making
the story of Tribal Ventures more tangible, making connections between initiatives and the larger scope of the work of the
Tribe and of the Northwest Area Foundation.
“We hope that this is the next stage in the journey for the Cheyenne River
Lakota people. You’ve chosen to take another path and it’s a path that
leads to prosperity and it’s a path based on your plans and your ideas.
We are here to make an investment in the future that you have articulated
in this plan. This is one of the largest investments a private organization
has ever made in a tribe anywhere in the United States.
What we want back is knowledge; we want to learn from you. We are
investing so that you will become not just our teachers but teachers for
communities throughout the United States on how to move from
poverty to prosperity as you have laid out in this plan.”
— Karl Stauber, President of the Northwest Area Foundation
WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE POVERTY:
Listen to the voices of people living in poverty
• We need to understand their concerns and issues so we can work toward changing our attitudes and judgments
about the causes and conditions of poverty.
Advocate for changes in the systems that provide services to families living in poverty
• Encourage program directors to find ways to bring services to the communities and families. Let them know
what’s working and what isn’t.
• Help tribal leaders identify barriers that kept families in poverty from making improvements in their lives
Attend your community and district meetings
• Voice your concerns and recommendations to the tribal leaders
• These meetings can be used to begin discussions about how we can work together to make our communities a
better place to live. We need to promote positive discussions and take responsibility to help each other change
for the better.
Help our children see and understand that being a Lakota is something to be proud of; lead them back
to our Tiosapayes so all of us can heal and become strong and healthy in mind, body and spirit
• Participate in cultural activities and encourage others who want to learn about more about their culture
• As Lakota people we are spiritual people, our children need our help and guidance to understand that being
spiritual and prayful is a good thing.
Support our children’s education and work toward achieving your own educational goals
• Education is a way out of poverty. Our adults and children must have a good education so they can have
a better future
Ask for help if you are living in poverty
• There are programs that are ready to help you and your families make the changes needed to prepare for
a better future
• Don’t give up. Keep asking - there are relatives, friends and employees who want to help you and are they are
willing to work with you and your families to improve your life
Shop locally this will show our support for local reservation businesses. We have a weak economy because
we spend our money off the reservation.
• Together the families of Cheyenne River have millions of dollars to spend on groceries, gas, utilities, etc. If we
spend the majority of our money here it will help local businesses to grow and offer more goods and services.
This also leads to new businesses opening which leads to new jobs available on our reservation. Jobs are needed
to get out of poverty.
• Without local businesses there would be no jobs. We want to see more businesses started here so there will be
new jobs.
tribalventures
young voices familyconversations strategicthinking communityconversations
A PATH FOR OUR PEOPLE
prosperity
“Together we will become the
buffalo people again.”

Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation

Transcription

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