Lakota Entrepreneur's

Creating a social enterprise, for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  Unemployment on the reservation hovers between 80% and 85%, and 49% of the population live below the federal poverty level.  Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewage systems.  The school drop-out rate is over 70%, and the teacher turnover rate is eight times that of the U.S. national average. With limited businesses in which to apply for jobs, creating a social enterprise will help initiate the community members to capitalize on their talents.

In October 2022, Oyate Teca Project opened the doors to a new 21,000 square foot building, with classrooms to help train the youth and community in several different entrepreneurial opportunities, couture-sewing, art, music, culinary, gardening and recreational activities. Each class offers learning opportunities for the individual to perfect their skills. The Lakota Culture is rich in many ways, like the regalia we use in our dance, the art we create in paintings, drawings, traditional crafts, bows and arrows, drum making, beading, moccasins, leather concho belts, shawls and star quilts, items which are greatly sought after throughout the year. We offer free classes to individuals who can learn how to make these items and sell for income and start their own business. 

The majority of community members are Native American (Oglala Lakota), classes are offered to middle and high school students and community members of any age, anyone interested in learning how they can start their own business. Many of the community member who may have dropped out of high school, or do not have a GED will have the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills, we all have parents, grandparents who shared their skills on how to make Lakota artifacts, regalia, and bead work. The classes not only share the art but long-time home traditions of food preservation and gathering of native plants, home remedies with natures plants. None of these skills are taught in textbooks they are passed down from generation to generation, that's what makes an impact. 

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation serves nine districts, the majority of youth and community members will be from the Medicine Root district, the unofficial number of people in our area is around 4,200, about 800 families. We do not turn anyone away, if you want to participant in the classes, then you are more than welcome to take part in the classes. We have about 6 families from each of the other districts, who attend classes. We have quarterly events in our community and during those community events we initiate community needs assessments on the type of programming they would like to see, and we create a program according to the need, or want from their responses. 

Oyate Teca Project is native led non-profit organization centrally located in Kyle, SD on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, we have been in existence since 1991, our funders have changed over the years but or mission has remained the same, Promoting the well-being of children and their families through education, health, culture and recreational programs and activities. We have grown over that past year, we went from a 2,400 square foot building to a new 21,000 square foot building, the staff increased from 4 staff to nearly 25 full-time employees, we have quadrupled in staff and the facilities. Since we opened our doors, program participation has increased, and we have gained new audiences and attention. Community members want to come to our classes, other programs are implementing similar programs in their areas, we are giving tours to potential program partners, who would like to utilize our space and collaborate with us. We host quarterly community planning events, we want feedback from the community on the programming we are doing, should we add more, cut one or two out because they are not working, etc. 

Because we are a non-profit organization, should we be seeking other legal status? for-profit? Can we still maintain our non-profit status, while trying to help others become entrepreneurs?  How do market our businesses for-profit if we are a non-profit? 

As the Executive Director of Oyate Teca Project, for the past decade I have collaborated at least a dozen times with local businesses to get them involved with what we are doing here at the center, we have asked for volunteers to help implement our programming, helped create a food sovereignty coalition, gave presentations on our gardening program, youth programs and cultural programs. Created a CERT team (community emergency response team). Created the medicine root gardening program, to now include four high tunnels, established a farmers' market to accept SNAP benefits, raised funds to purchase a mobile farmers market, double the size of the green house to now house over 10,000 seedlings, which will be available for sale in first plant nursery on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

We believe that every person has a hidden talent or skill that they learned from their family, a talent that was not taught in school, or through their schooling and we want to help bring that talent to fruition. Help guide them to pursue their dream. Help them achieve success, gain confidence to carry out their plan. 

Seek clarification on non-profit organizations vs. For-profit organizations

Create classes for individuals to help them become entrepreneurs. 

from those classes, create a least two new businesses. 

pre-posttest, community needs assessments, attendance tracking. 

Because of the high rate of high school dropouts, There are many individuals who are intimidated, by others with an education, a high school diploma, college education, I want those who, have that hidden talent to be proud of themselves, by what and how they can contribute to society, not be afraid to express their feelings, but share their knowledge, and gain the confidence to showcase their work. Provide some sort of income for their family. 

Not sure?

Oyate Teca Project will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.