Food Systems Study: Exploring the Local Food Economy of the Oglála Lakhóta Oyáte

Projects

All photos courtesy of Makoce Agriculture Development.

South Dakota

2022–2023

Agriculture & food systems, food sovereignty, research

Partner profile

Makoce Agriculture Development is a Native nonprofit on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation focused on developing a community-led food system grounded in Indigenous values and regenerative agricultural practices. Their aim is to regenerate healthy communities, economies, and homelands for their people.

From food desert to food sovereignty

The area known as the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is a federally designated food desert. Almost all food and basic goods are brought to the Oglala Lakota Nation by truck, primarily as processed and low-nutrient food for their nine local convenience stores. Many families must travel over 75 miles one way to access fresh produce and affordable food. With roughly 42% of residents living in poverty, the road to healthy eating is not only physically demanding, it’s economically untenable. Many working on the ground, though, see a rich history, abundant ethnobotanical knowledge, and a “food oasis” just below the surface.

In 2022, Makoce Agriculture Development was awarded a $2.5 million Community Innovation Grant from the Bush Foundation to build a thriving local food system on Pine Ridge through their five initiatives: Oceti Sakowin Food Systems Alliance, a regenerative production farm, the Food Systems Institute, a Makoce Food Hub, and hemp production infrastructure. At the core of these efforts was a local food systems study to examine the Oglala Lakota’s food economy and investigate the deeper factors behind the “food desert” label. The findings and recommendations from the study assist Makoce Ag in identifying opportunities and challenges in their local food ecosystem and advance their goal of reconnecting their community to a community-based food network rooted in Lakota culture and Indigenous ecology.

The overarching objectives for the study were to: 1) develop a clear understanding of current food market demand and supply; 2) identify ways to increase access to healthier, local food products in the region; 3) provide strategies to align Makoce’s core initiatives; and 4) assess new market opportunities for Native ranching and farming operations to serve local and regional markets.

Key opinion leaders

Black Hills Farmers' Market
Charging Buffalo Meat House
Hometown Pork and Poultry
KLJ Engineering & Planning Services
Kyle Early Head Start
Meade County School District
Meeks Ranch
Native American Natural Foods
Oglala Lakota County Schools
Oglala Sioux Tribe Buffalo Program
Oglala Sioux Tribe Credit and Finance Program
Oglala Sioux Tribe Transportation
One Spirit
Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce
Pine Ridge Elderly Nutrition Program
Rapid City Area Schools
Red Cloud Indian School
Regenerative Agriculture Alliance
Tanka Fund
Wall School District
World Wildlife Fund

The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as the wild sunflowers; he belongs just as the buffalo belonged.”

– Luther Standing Bear

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To gather research for the study, we collected stories, ideas, and information from food producers, farmers, ranchers, restaurant owners, grocers, convenience store owners, local leaders, Head Start and educational leaders, nutritional counselors, and community members. We analyzed this and other data through:

Key opinion leader interviews
Federal agriculture data analysis
Literature review
Community surveys
Case studies
Native Land Information System review
Agricultural land mapping
Capacity assessments

Our findings

To understand the current food ecosystem surrounding Pine Ridge, we must first acknowledge the legacy of land theft and discriminatory policies that disrupted traditional food systems and drastically reduced local food access. Through systematic, colonial displacement, the Lakota people lost vast amounts of natural resources that had sustained them for centuries. Fragmented land and barriers to capital further destroyed Indigenous economies, and this left Native producers structurally disadvantaged compared to non-Native producers, despite deep agricultural knowledge and cultural ties to the land.

Most of the food producers on Oglala Lakota land are non-Native, even though about 95% of Pine Ridge residents are Native. According to the USDA, less than half of the farm and ranch operators are American Indian — a common pattern on many reservations.

Makoce Ag and other organizations like Tanka Fund and Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation are using their resources and networks to rebuild what was taken and regain Indigenous food sovereignty. This study reveals just how strong the growing demand for local food is — from community members who want access to it, to producers who want to provide it. Results from the study show there’s widespread interest in healthy, culturally relevant foods like buffalo, local produce, and traditional dishes, and when prices are affordable, people actively and consistently choose local foods.

Significant investment is needed to match supply with that demand, however. There are a limited number of local producers operating at scale, and many can’t obtain the certification and infrastructure needed to meet government requirements. Right now there is limited coordination among producers to process and distribute products to the region, but if these issues are addressed, the area could support a thriving local food economy.

To improve access to healthier, local foods in the region, we identified five key strategies. First, expanding institutional purchasing through Farm to School programs and micro-procurement can create reliable markets for local producers. Second, building facilities such as food hubs, cold storage, and certified processing facilities will enable producers to scale. Third, providing producer support like GAP (Good Agriculture Practices) training, season extension tools, and value-added production like ready-to-eat meals and buffalo jerky, can increase supply and quality. Fourth, investing in community education and incentives can help shift consumption away from low-quality convenience foods to healthier, traditional options. Lastly, implementing effective tribal policies and partnerships will drive systemic change and improve coordination across sectors.

Results from the study align closely with Makoce Agriculture Development’s five core initiatives by supporting integrated, place-based efforts. Establishing a community food hub and Food Systems Institute that provide aggregation, processing, education, and retail space to local businesses and community members would increase collaboration and expand market access. Makoce’s leadership role in the Oceti Sakowin Food Systems Alliance would promote policy advocacy and the sharing of crucial data. Developing hemp production infrastructure would create new partnerships to scale hemp for fiber, food, and construction. Collectively, these initiatives would establish a unified, community-driven system that advances food sovereignty, sustainability, and Indigenous economic empowerment.

In assessing new market opportunities for Native ranching and farming, we examined trends, infrastructure gaps, and producer readiness. We found that Native producers face barriers such as limited USDA-inspected processing facilities and inadequate cold storage, which restrict access to these markets. To address these challenges, the study recommends investing in mobile processing units and regional aggregation hubs. It also identifies opportunities in agritourism and hemp production as emerging market sectors. A major finding of the study is the identification of over 60 current and potential partners, 19 potential funders, 22 organic meat producers, 19 food markets, 29 organic vegetable growers, and 300+ potential wholesale customers in the region — all who can help producers scale operations, access training, and expand into new markets. These partnerships could form a critical support network for building a sustainable, Indigenous-led food economy.

While the Oglala Lakota region meets the criteria of a food desert, that label alone oversimplifies a much deeper story. The loss of traditional foods and resources has significantly impacted access to healthy, culturally relevant food. Yet, beneath this narrative lies resilience: a network of local producers, food knowledge, and practices still thrives across the plains. Recognizing and investing in these community-rooted strengths is essential in moving from scarcity to sovereignty. Supporting local food systems, reclaiming traditional practices, and addressing structural barriers are key steps toward a more just and nourishing future for the Oglala Lakota.