Citizens from 14 Tribes Join Program 
to Strengthen Skills, Serve Native People

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Thirty-one leaders from 14 Native nations make up the newest cohort of Native Nation Rebuilders.

The Native Nation Rebuilders Program supports emerging and existing Native leaders to build their leadership skills and nation-building knowledge so they can help tribal leaders exercise and strengthen sovereignty.  

The Rebuilder of Cohort 6 are:

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Marc Benoist
Kendra Enright
R. Reid LeBeau
Michelle Moran-Walking Elk
Mona Thompson

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
Brad Hawk

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Joshua Weston

Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Vanessa Northrup
Veronica Smith

Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
William Myers

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Christina Bowstring
Nicole Buckanaga

Lower Sioux Indian Community
Cheyanne St. John

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Melissa Boyd


Oglala Sioux Tribe
Cecelia Big Crow
Robert Cook
Brandon Ecoffey
Blue Little
Anna Takes Shield

Spirit Lake Nation
Ila McKay
 
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Joe Dunn
Chad Harrison
Steven Sitting Bear
Tipiziwin Young

Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation
Lisa Casarez
Whitefishwoman

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Laurie Davis
Betty Hamley
Chelsey Luger

White Earth Nation
Barbara Fabre
Lorna LaGue

The Foundation created the Native Nation Rebuilders Program in 2010 after elected tribal leaders from 23 Native nations said they needed skilled and committed partners to help them rebuild their nations. Rebuilders attend a two-year program of learning about nation-building and strengthening their leadership skills. The program has selected 112 Rebuilders from 20 Native nations since 2010.
 
-- About the Bush Foundation
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. The Foundation was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, and today works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area. More information is available at BushFoundation.org.