Who we are
The vision, mission, and values behind our work
Sweet Grass is a collective of dedicated researchers and community development advocates who promote cultural preservation, social equity, and data sovereignty. We partner with tribal, nonprofit, and mission-driven organizations to deliver and measure impact.
Our mission
Sweet Grass is the impact partner strengthening communities with data services to actualize their own interests, values, and priorities.
Our vision
We envision a world where communities hold the decision-making power to dream, plan, and create their own futures, supported by allies who bring resources and partnerships to amplify long-term, catalytic change.
Our values
Our values guide how we show up in relationship with one another and with our partners. They help us prioritize what’s important and how we build trust in communities.
Visibility • Respect • Responsiveness • Flexibility • Innovation • Collaboration • Transparency
Our history
Our journey started in a tiny, cramped office at Colorado State University back in 2010. Our co-founders, Andrea Mader and Michael Brydge, met in an anthropology class and found themselves immersed in Indigenous studies, driven by the incredible mentorship of Dr. Kathy Pickering and her work with Lakota communities.
Michael, the first in his family to go to college, left the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to learn under Dr. Pickering’s tutelage, whereas Andrea learned of her work after coming back home to Colorado after a year at Portland State University. Both Andrea and Michael were drawn to Dr. Pickering’s deeply respectful approach and how it was grounded in place. They credit Dr. Pickering for teaching them how to do good work in Indian Country.
When Dr. Pickering transitioned to a new role at the university, she gave up her research. She entrusted Andrea and Michael with her grant contracts, as well the relationships she’d cultivated over many years. It was unusual for a professor to pass that kind of responsibility and funding on to two master’s degree students, but Dr. Pickering saw Andrea and Michael’s focus and dedication and believed they were the ones to carry the work forward.
Resisting pressure from the university to pursue their PhDs, Andrea and Michael chose to continue the work outside of a university setting. After graduation, they moved quickly to set up a business. They didn’t conduct a market study, have formal business training, or even create a business plan, but in 2014, they launched Sweet Grass Consulting on trust and a dream.
Today, Sweet Grass is a mission-driven company with a team of 14. We look back on those early days with gratitude for the experiences and people that set us on this path — people like Zach Ducheneux, Nick Tilson, Tanya Fiddler, Lori Pourier, Eileen Briggs, and Krystal Langholz, and our partnerships with the Pine Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures, and Thunder Valley CDC. They all played a significant role in Sweet Grass’ beginnings, and they’re the reason we’re here today. And, of course, none of this would’ve been possible without Kathy Pickering’s guidance and legacy.
The story of our name
Our name is inspired by the ceremonial use of sweetgrass and its ability to invite positive energy. After years of dedicated work in Lakota Country and with respect to sweetgrass’ cultural significance, we consulted nearly a dozen Indigenous community members for our use of the name. Nonprofit executive directors, elders, ceremony leaders, young entrepreneurs, Lakota artists, authors, and storytellers each gave us their blessing to use sweetgrass as a symbol of our commitment to creating positive change for Native organizations and communities.
The meaning behind our logo
The Sweet Grass logo was created by Native artist, Walt Pourier (Oglala Sioux Tribe), and features four key elements of our work: research, impact, strategy, and the weaving of positive energy (braided sweetgrass).
The grid pattern represents the collection of data, and the ripple illustrates impact, like tiny waves on water. The Fibonacci sequence symbolizes balance, rhythm, and growth. The elements together stand for our integrated and holistic approach to providing useful and accurate data to support communities.