We were honored to be included in this in-depth profile from Northwest Area Foundation of Native-led nonprofits that “are shining through the shadows of the pandemic and injustice to restrengthen communities in Indian County.”

Standing Rock CDC was featured alongside American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) and Siċaŋġu Co. The article highlights our Food Sovereignty Initiative and our work to bring affordable housing to our community:

Its fully owned and operated real estate subsidiary company has purchased 24 acres where it will build desperately needed affordable housing, says Standing Rock CDC’s executive director Brian Thunder Hawk (Cheyenne River Sioux/Standing Rock Sioux). The organization plans to develop even more housing in the future, continuing to drive economic growth overall.

Additionally, Standing Rock CDC is slated to acquire off-reservation investment properties, “so that we can realize our dream of a self-sustainable future,” says Brian, whose background is in public housing management and real estate. “We’ve hit the ground running really hard. We are building out this huge master plan to build a mini-metropolis on grounds of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. It’s a big dream. We can make it happen.”

The work of CDCs is a gamechanger on several fronts, says the Foundation’s John Fetzer, and housing development, in particular, is critical. Research shows that housing quality is linked to people’s overall health.

Far too many Native Americans, he says, live in substandard homes that the federal government built back in the 1970s: “Often they’re living in small ramblers with poor insulation. These CDCs are building homes that are sustainable and better meet people’s needs.”

We are very grateful for the support and recognition of the Northwest Area Foundation and honored to be featured alongside others who are making a truly transformative impact across Indian County. Click here to read the full article and learn more.