Tribal Council Voices Support

Sept. 17, 2008

Ronda Hawk (Boys & Girls Club of Three Districts Director) introduced Dustin Miller and Jason Yates to the Crow Creek Tribal Council on Tuesday, September 16th 2008 at the Crow Creek Tribal Hall in Fort Thompson. She described the ongoing assistance with her work and her excitement over the potential for the Harvest Initiative’s work before turning it over to the South Dakota staff.

Miller and Yates then shared the purpose of the organization which is to invest locally in native grown ideas and support socially responsible business development to move Crow Creek Sioux Reservation toward a commercially viable, self-sustaining economic environment. The Council expressed their appreciation for our project and desire to work together with the Harvest Initiative to develop the local economy. The development of a Native Community Development Financial Institution was approved, including the execution of a household survey regarding local financial literacy and access to capital.

We understand that many projects have come to the Reservation without accounting for the expressed needs of the Crow Creek tribal members. The Harvest Initiative wants to see the Native CDFI identify and meet the needs as perceived by tribal members themselves.

The Harvest Initiative is appreciative of the Council’s support and understanding that the task of economic development is difficult without direction. We look forward to their continued support and potential collaborations in the future.