Developing a food hub and grocery store for the Oglala Lakota Oyáte
Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation
Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is a holistic organization that works for the liberation of the Lakota people. Its mission is to empower Lakota youth and families to improve the health, culture, and environment of its communities through the healing and strengthening of cultural identity.
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Thunder Valley aims to create a scalable food system that enhances food sovereignty and cultural self-determination for Oglala Lakota Oyáte. This study assessed the community's environmental, agricultural, economic, and cultural assets that could contribute to a viable food system centered on local decision-making, sustainable practices, and overall well-being. Our role was to gain as much information as we could to determine the feasibility of a grocery store and food-processing hub for the nation.
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Complete a market analysis of local restaurants, grocery stores, and schools to identify sufficient demand for a local food hub and grocery store.
Conduct surveys, interviews, budget assessments, and agricultural land mapping.
Provide actionable steps and recommendations to make the initiative successful.
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Our findings showed there was strong demand for a local food hub and grocery store, and that Thunder Valley was positioned to bring about its success. We provided 30 recommendations for how to regain control of local land and resource use, enhance political sovereignty, create and strengthen food-based policy, and form strategic partnerships. Thunder Valley used the study to acquire funding from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to support their initiative.
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Apr 2018–Mar 2019
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Michael Brydge — Project supervisor, tool design, data collection and analysis, secondary research, financials, market analysis, environmental scan, and report writing
Andrea Mader — Data collection and market analysis
“The contribution Sweet Grass is making will lead to transformative change for many.” —Nick Tilsen, Thunder Valley CDC
