Leadership

Our Staff

Alayna Eagle Shield

Alayna- Mitákuyapi, Alayna Eagle Shield emáčiyapi. Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ Akíčita Háŋska-ta imáčaǧe. Húŋkpapȟa Malákȟóta, Isáŋyathi na Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ Damákȟota, na Pȟaláni hemáčha.

Hello my relatives, my name is Alayna Eagle Shield. I grew up in the Long Soldier District on the Standing Rock Nation. I am Tip of the Horn Lakota, Lives on Knives and Dwellers of the Sacred Lake Dakota, and Arikara.

I am first and foremost Iná (mother) of three beautiful children, Tȟá Oníya Wakȟáŋ Wiŋ (Her Sacred Breath Woman)and Waaruxti Nataree’ux Tawisa (Blue Thunder Returns). I am married to a prayerful partner because it’s important that my partner agrees that our traditional life ways are always leading in our lives and the work we do together. I have a rez education from home and an education in a mix of Tribal community college, state college and university settings.

I am a reactivated language warrior and health promotion worker. Working as a Language Specialist for my tribe and as a Language Activities Instructor for our language immersion school has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to create language videos and training materials to better share teachings and language with my people all over the world through social media and training settings. This has also impacted how I did work as the director for the Health Education Program on Standing Rock. I used language and traditions to guide my health promotion work.

I am currently a Doctoral Student at the College of Education and a Research Assistant at the Banks Center for Educational Justice at the University of Washington. I serve on multiple boards and committees. Mitákuye Owás’iŋ! (We’re all related)

Memorie White Mountain - Executive Director

Memorie is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe but resides on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation with her husband, children, & grandchildren. She graduated with a Associates of Science degree in 2018 and a Bachelors of Early Education in 2020 at Sitting Bull College. She is also the Co-founder of Iyuha Acu Youth Services. Her passion is to help create a better place for our youth to succeed in a safe and cultural environment within our community.

Sunshine Rose (Claymore)

Sunshine is a mother from Standing Rock Reservation. A graduate from Sitting Bull College with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, there has been a drive to better understand natural processes on our planet. As an Earth Activist she most recently is following the path to better understanding Regenerative Land Management. Environmental Education has also been a long time passion while stepping into a permaculture design focus. She is a current board member of the Mni Wiconi Integrated Health Clinic, that was also seeded by the Standing Rock water protector camp, which is set to open Fall 2021.

Sunshine wants our impact to be one that encourages growth and abundance for future lives to have healthy, loving and harmonizing relationships as we work toward the restoration of our Earth, and ourselves.

Kimimila Locke

Kimimila is Lakota from the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota and Ahtna Dené from Tazlina, Alaska. She has her MA in Teaching and has been in education since 2001 as both a middle and high school English teacher, and a Lakota language teacher. Currently, Kimimila is co-creating and continuing to expand and develop the Mní Wičhóni Nakíčižiŋ Woúŋspe, the Defenders of the Water School, that was started during the NoDAPL Prayer Camps.

In addition, Kimimila has several projects and activities that keep her busy with her home community such as issues surrounding environmental racism, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, birth work, lactation consultation. and middle school sexual health education.

Hoksila White Mountain

Hoksila has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. He understands that the next generation will carry our traditions, ceremonies, and language to the 7 generations after us. He is dedicating his life's work to our youth as the future. Hoksila was raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe but is enrolled in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe where he currently resides with his wife, children, & grandchildren. Hoksila spends a lot of time with the youth and playing a huge roll in the wounspe from maintenance man, social worker, bus driver, to teacher.

Active in his community, Hoksila is also a Co-founder of Iyuha Acu Youth Services.

Teresa Dzieglewicz

Teresa is a poet, educator, and lover of rivers and prairies. She is grateful to have been one of the teachers at Mni Wichoni Nakicizin at the Oceti Sakowin Water Protector Camp. She is a fellow with Black Earth Institute and a Poet-in-Residence at the Chicago Poetry Center. Her first book of poetry, "Something Small of How to See a River" was selected by Tyehimba Jess for the Dorset Prize and is forthcoming from Tupelo Press in 2023. She collaborated with Kimimila Locke on a children's book, "Belonging," which is forthcoming from Chronicle Books in 2025. She lives in Chicago, on Potawatomi land, with her husband and son.

Lacey Weishaar

I am Lakota and Dakota, enrolled with Wakpá-Wašté-Oyáŋke Cheyenne River. I was born and raised on the Ȟaŋté Ožú-Wakpá Cedar River on Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ Standing Rock. I was raised in the country learning about the importance of nature conservation from my parents. My mother was raised in the traditional Lakota way of life and passed those values and teachings on to me. I gained knowledge through the way of life we lived: green agricultural practices, plant identification/uses, gardening, canning, fishing, hunting, preserving, and land stewardship.

I have 14 years of experience in the field of education, Associates in Arts from Bismarck State College. I have been working towards my double major in Native American Studies and Education. I am certified with the United Nations Development Programme to advocate on Indigenous issues at the UN. Former Native American Art and Culture instructor for grades K-12. I served as the Indigenous Education Committee Chair for six years at our local school district, advocating for Lakota language and culture, educational rights, and community involvement in our public school.

Our Board

Jennifer Weston

Jonathan Santos Silva

Helene Gaddie

Wanahca Waste’ Win (Pretty Flower Woman), Helene Gaddie, is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. She comes from the Quiver/Romero tiyospaye and the Bear Runner/Rock tiyospaye. Helene strives to bring positive opportunities that will improve life for the youth to the Lakota homelands, and help build a better future for the generations yet to be born. She is a lifelong learner of her Lakota ways with respect to the Unci Maka, and is a catalyst for community organizing and positive change for the future.

Helene is Co-Founder and Director of Generations Indigenous Ways (GIW), an Informal Science Educational program that integrates Lakota Culture and Western Science. In March 2020, Helene helped form a grassroots effort in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, “Indigenous Response-Lakota Response to Covid-19.”