Rosebud Economic Development Corporation

The Wolakota Buffalo Range utilizes Indigenous knowledge to regenerate the grassland ecosystem and economy of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate. Wolakota is set to become the largest Native-owned and managed herd and the project ensures that 28,000-acres will remain under Native control, all while creating positive economic, ecological, and cultural outcomes.

Utilizing assessments/data and existing garden/market structure, this project will create a Food Sovereignty Master Plan for the Rosebud Reservation and provide opportunities for beginning farmers/ranchers in a pilot program. Results will be leveraged for buy-in of individuals, businesses, and tribal leadership toward a Native-controlled local food system.

The ultimate purpose is to increase community control over the local food system. We will do this by creating a youth leadership program that utilizes food as a way to retain and transmit traditional Lakota ceremonies and teachings, and further increase the leadership potential of local Lakota youth. Further, this project will utilize and leverage the work of the Community Food Sovereignty Initiative, as well as the volunteer led Boys with Braids group, to mutually enhance the programming capacity and quality of both groups, as well as increase the numbers of community members involved in food sovereignty work.

This project will increase local control over data on the local food system. This project will increase data driven knowledge and create community plans based on data collected from a community food sovereignty assessment.

The ultimate purpose is to 1) create a meaningful and lasting partnership between the Community Food Sovereignty Initiative and Boys with Braids Rosebud that more deeply engages our tribal community in healthy behavior and activity, with healthy food as a catalyst, and 2) to utilize that partnership to better leverage the positive impact both are able to have, both at the family and community level, around health. Furthermore, this project will increase the participants sense of control over their families and communities health by empowering them with greater awareness of the importance of nutrition.

Ultimate purpose: 1) utilize the one-acre Keya Wakpala Community Garden we established in 2015 to substantially increase the production and distribution of healthy food for our community; 2) expand the scope of the Community Farmers' Market and increase community participation at that market; 3) involve and educate community members in the full food production cycle: from cultivation to harvest to preservation and uses of garden produce; and from hunting and gathering to preservation and incorporation of traditional (wild) Lakota foods in everyday diets. Further, this project will leverage and strengthen key partnerships that can help promote food sovereignty.

The ultimate purpose is to increase healthy eating habits/choices by (1) increasing access to fresh, locally produced food, and (2) creating educational opportunities for tribal members. The educational focus will be on food vs. nourishment, the current food system (local/national) and the impact processed and artificial food has had on our bodies and health, as well as the history of food from our Lakota history perspective. A main focus will be the utilization of our Lakota language and cultural aspects as teaching tools, including the use of traditional foods and how to apply the older traditions with today's technology.