Lower Sioux Indian Community

The Lower Sioux Indian Community (LSIC) seeks to re‑establish a tribally managed bison herd as a means of restoring food sovereignty, strengthening cultural identity, and improving long‑term environmental resilience.

This grant will support The Hopi School's mission and efforts to preserve and promote traditional Native arts and cultural assets, knowledge systems, and lifeways in your community for the benefit of future generations as well as increase organizational sustainability.

General Operating Support

Increase quality and access of internet for community members at Lower Sioux.

Increase capacity of at least 12 Dakota language teachers so they can expand Dakota language instruction from a total of 25 to 50 hours per week for their students--54 children ages birth to 5 years--in the Cansayapi Wakanyeza Owayawa Ti, Children Are Sacred School at Lower Sioux

COVID-19 Response

The Gathering- Tanyan Unspepi project will strengthen relationships with families and artists to begin establishing a process of gathering our cultural arts for a community archive to preserve and transmit the artistic and cultural traditions at Cansa'yapi and the Oceti Sakowin.

To create a departmental foundation rooted in growth, structure and innovation for new and existing Tribal THPO/ Historic Site employees. Ongoing trainings and staff development to expand the existing capacity of the department by streamlining a focus on both the LSIC vision and LSA mission statement.

The ultimate purpose is 1) to create and cultivate the Community youth to make connections between Native artists and priorities that include economic development, art, culture, education and 2) retain the knowledge by creating, promoting an apprentice program to build capacity and interest in Native Arts among our young artists. Furthermore, this project will help utilize, even leverage and expand existing senior master quilters; potters and cradle makers to train our youth apprentice develop and enhance their skills.