Congratulations to Angela Koenen for being chosen as one of the members of the 10th cohort of the Native Nations Rebuilders program! Rebuilders are emerging and existing Native leaders looking to build leadership skills and nation building knowledge. Angela was one of 21 tribal citizens from 14
Lakota Funds and First National Bank of Rapid City Partner for $15,000 Strong Communities Award
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) announced that First National Bank of Rapid City has been selected as one of seven competing for $15,000 to use to further promote economic development opportunities in their community.
First National Bank, a FHLB Des Moines
Oglala Lakota Artspace to Break Ground in September
The kind of place everyone dreams of. That is how artist and First Peoples Fund staff member Bryan Parker (White Mountain Apache, Muscogee Creek, Mississippi Choctaw) describes the Oglala Lakota Artspace, a first of its kind space slated to break ground this fall on the Pine Ridge
Free Tax Service Brings Over $1 Million to Reservation, Receives Award from IRS
With tax season wrapping up, Lakota Funds and the Lakota Federal Credit Union are celebrating the success of their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site where they offer free tax preparation services to residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation and neighboring areas. By the end of tax
Nonprofit Supports Increase in Native-Owned Agri-Businesses
Although the latest USDA Census of Agriculture shows there are 3,218 agricultural operations on Indian reservations in South Dakota, only 924 – less than a third – are actually Native American-owned. Lakota Funds, a nonprofit organization, is working to increase that number by supporting Native American farmers
Family Celebrates Homeownership this Holiday Season
This holiday season, Cynthia Plenty Bull and her daughter will be celebrating in the same house they have lived in for the past six years. But this year, they will call the home their own. Cynthia is the first tenant in the 30-unit Eagle Nest Housing Development,
An Oglala Sioux Veteran’s Journey to Homeownership
In our role with the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, Lakota Funds is actively working to create homeownership opportunities for Native Americans throughout the state, and specifically for Native American veterans.
One of our first successes in this initiative was partnering with Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial to
Lakota Funds Deploys 1st Agricultural Loan
James Two Crow (Oglala Sioux), a loyal Lakota Funds client since 2002, was the first to tap into our new Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan program. He utilized this agricultural loan product to purchase 20 bred cows, which symbolize the start of his growing cattle operation just
Financial Institutions Partner to Increase Financial Capability and Assets
Lakota Funds and the Lakota Federal Credit Union announced the second year of the Increased Customer Access Partnership Program, which is designed to promote cross marketing between the two organizations in order to expand access to programs and services that support increased financial capability and asset building
Homeownership: A Path to Freedom and Stability
After nearly a five year journey, January Mathis, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, will soon be moving into a home she can call her own. January’s home is currently one of seven under construction in Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation’s regenerative community just outside of