West Cohort Participants
Chance Renville
Chance comes from the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation. He is the project manager at Thunder Valley CDC. His passion is creating a sustainable, connected way of living through hunting and fishing. His favorite things are being with his family and the outdoors.
Dakota Eagle
I am Dakota Eagle. I am Arikara and Dakota and was raised by my grandparents and auntie. I am a licensed educator in my first official year of homeschooling. I live in Cannonball, ND with my husband and our four boys. Together, we own a commercial and residential construction company and like to joke about being our here building America. We raise chickens and love working the land around us. I believe in building an environment my children can thrive in and are free to express their feelings and explore their interests. I know they're the future and I hope to continue growing with them. FUN FACT: I'm also a nail artist and love the ability to create tiny, walking pieces of art that makes people feel beautiful!
Danny Grassrope
Danny Grassrope is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. He currently resides within the boundaries of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, where he is a student working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Lakota Studies with an Indian Law Emphasis at the Oglala Lakota College - Cheyenne River College Center. Danny is a community organizer and works on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Social Injustices, Environmental Injustices, Treaty Rights, and any entities that disrupt the peace of nations and the Lakota ways of life. He is also a trainer in Non-Violent Direct Action. Danny also enjoys cooking for his friends and family when they get to stop in and visit him and his pet birds.
Dawn Moves Camp
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Gusti Rattling Hawk
Augusta "Gusti" Rattling Hawk is Oglala Lakota from Wambli, SD. They graduated from Dartmouth College in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Studies and Native American Studies and are currently pursuing their Master's in Ecosystem Science and Management (Conservation ecology) at the University of Michigan. Their research work consists of incorporating Lakota Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Human-being interconnectedness to dissect stagnant colonial sciences, environment and climate change. Their art is inspired by graphic novels, storytelling, and the natural world in which they live. Gusti enjoys spending time with their dogs Heppi and Chonky, playing video games, and eating soup.
Jaida Grey Eagle
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Josie Green
Josie Green, Oglala Lakota, is a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a lifelong learner and designer. Now, an Ina (mother) of 2, she is dedicated to the self-determined futures of Native youth and has worked with educators to build upon and strengthen their own learning and teaching, rooted in radical kinships and critical hope. She is also the VP, Waawanglake of Teach For America South Dakota, where she hopes to continue to unearth the sustainable and abundant visions of her peoples. "Walking back to ourselves and each other."
Kyle Mesteth
Kyle Mesteth is an Entrepreneur, He is a local leader/mentor to the youth . He founded a company called Ground Control where he aims to make it a safe space for Lakota Skateboarders and all artists of his community to foster their minds and creativity in whatever form of art they choose . He also organizes local events for the people and is Proud to represent The Pine Ridge Rez.
Kolette Medicine
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Lora Catches
Lora started her education career as a para-professional in two of the five schools for the Oglala Lakota County School District. Lora attended college classes full time to become a teacher as well as summer classes learning Lakota language.
Marie "Shasha" Zephier
Marie Zephier, or Shash Marie, is the owner of Red Day Woman Consulting and expresses creativity in writing and program development as well artistry in Lakota jewelry and accessory design and making. Marie believes culture is the solution to healing & artistic expression is a practice of our ancestors. As a trainer and facilitator Marie uses cultural reconnection as the foundation that drives her momentum - and with her own healing journey as an ikce Lakota win (common Lakota woman). Marie has been called "Shash" by family and friends since she was a little girl. The nickname derives from her grandfather teasingly calling her "shasha- red, red in Lakota- due to her brunette hair color.
Melanie Moniz (Mapaakookoohka'Miihe - Butterfly Woman)
Melanie Moniz (MHA Nation - Nueta/Hidatsa/Sahnish) is a direct descendant of Paints-Up, Woman-Goes-Out, and BearGhost. She is a mother of four, a grassroots leader, organizer, activist, and artist. After being withdrawn from her love of art and expression for over a decade, Melanie unexpectedly reconnected as she explored new self care techniques to balance the emotional toll that comes with taking your place in the work for Indigenous liberation. After piloting ARTwarness for Orange Shirt Day and heARTwork for MMIWG2S she continues to explore creative community leadership that centers art and it's ability to provide a pathway to healing, influences change, and most importantly empowers Indigenous abundance. Her commitment to creating change is motivated by the love she has for her children and the future of her people. Fun fact: Melanie and her mother, Cheryl, are TikToker's! their motherly daughterly love and ndn humor will bring tears to your eyes from laughing so hard #MomsOfTikTok #NdnHumor @Butterfly_Miihe
Ramona Herrington
Ramona is an Oglala Lakota Veteran who enjoys making star quilts. She likes to include four direction colors and designs that represent her cultural background.
Randy Hughes
Headshot and bio coming soon!
Robert Bordeaux
Robert Harold Bordeaux is a Siċaƞġu Lak̇ot̄a writer and activist who lives on the Rosebud Reservation. Growing up disconnected from his Lak̇ot̄a roots, his life has been a journey to find his way home to share space and grow in relationship with his tiwahe (family). In his writing, he touches on this journey connecting with his Lak̇ot̄a roots as he learns from Uŋc̄i Mak̇a what it means to be a good relative and ancestor. He shares openly about his life through his books, content shared online, and speaking. Outside of writing, Bordeaux is active in carrying on his ancestors' legacy of fighting for sovereignty through his activism around abolition of colonial systems.
Santana Young Man Afraid Of His Horses
Santana Young Man is an Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation. She is a student at Oglala Lakota College, seeking her Masters degree in Lakota Leadership and Management. She is also an artist; beading and making regalia. She loves to go to school and learn her culture so that she can pass on the knowledge to other and all generations. Santana also dances fancy shawl and loves to encourage others to dance.
Selena Olvera
Selena Olvera is Dakota from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Big Coulee District. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies from the University of South Dakota in Spring 2020. During her undergrad, Selena participated in multiple museum fellowships and was an Andrew W. Mellon fellow with the Minnesota Historical Society's(MNHS) Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellowship. She currently serves as the Program Coordinator at the American Indian Student Center at South Dakota State University(SDSU). In her position, she mentors Native students attending SDSU and provides programming that helps her students grow academically and culturally.
Zintkalamahpiyawin, Skybird Woman Black Owl
I am a mother, helper, knowledge sharer, learner and artist. I work in my community to support relatives during their journey through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and loss. I am passionate about women’s autonomy in birth, family and all of life’s cycles because settler colonialism has worked so hard to erase us. I encourage women, femmes to take up space.
Tatanka maza
Tatanka maza is very active, basketball is his favorite sport and he pretty much plays it everyday. He is finishing his generals at Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota and plans to move on to a bigger college for a degree in agricultural business. Tatanka maza is his lakota name and he honors it with pride and respect, his culture and family are everything to him.
Teri Bauerly
Teri Bauerly is a dog mom, auntie, wife, geek, and educator. She is a Student Success Coach at Western Dakota Technical Community College. Teri seeks to participate in and co-create learning spaces and opportunities that are accessible to everyone, welcoming, equitable, safe, and nurturing. A fun fact about Teri is that (thinking of a fun fact about herself gives her anxiety) she can type 120 wpm.
Thomasina TopBear
TopBear is a self taught artist, muralist, published illustrator and organizer from the Oglala Lakota & Santee Dakota Nations. She is a board member of the international all female crew Few & Far Women and co-founded City Mischief Murals, centered on healing through art. Specializing in large-scale murals her work can be seen on the sides of buildings throughout the country. She draws influences from her culture while using art to express thoughts on community, social justice, spirituality and togetherness. Thomasina has worked with numerous institutes and organizations including, Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, Hennepin Theatre Trust and Saint Paul College.
Viola Waln
Headshot and bio coming soon!