History of the United Sioux Tribes Development Corporation

In 1952, the nine Indian Reservations in SD formed a coalition to work as a political entity and to form a united front to speak out against mutual issues affecting the Indian People. The State of SD in 1963, put to referendum vote, a jurisdiction bill designated eventually at terminating the Indian Reservations. This bill was defeated, largely due to the concentrated effort of the United Sioux Tribes in their first major political confrontation.

By this victory, the UST proved that they were able to weld a cohesive unit of power together by working as a unit against issues that adversely affect Indian people and their progress.

Since that time, the 9 Indian Reservations have continued to speak out with one voice to promote, encourage, inspire and bring about the economic and social development of the Indian people. The Devils Lake Sioux Tribe of North Dakota was admitted in 1975 to bring the total tribes to ten.

In 1970, the nine tribal chairmen voted to formulate the United Sioux Tribes Development Corporation and the tribes were chartered in May 1970, as a non-profit corporation to provide a central organization for development and assistance to all the Indian people of South Dakota.

A contract was signed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in November of 1970 and staff and field offices are initiated at three locations in the state to begin the actual administration of the USTDC.

From that beginning, the corporation has grown substantially and now operates numerous programs that provide services to the Indian people. The Board of Directors meet quarterly with other special meetings at the discretion of the board. A joint Inter-Tribal Council Meeting comprising all ten tribal councils of the ten tribes will be held annually beginning with an initial meeting July 1976.

The USTDC is administered by the same board, but a tribal chairman other than the one elected for the Chairmanship for UST will be chosen by the board. This is due to the separation of the two divisions.

The USTDC's goals and objectives are to serve all SD Indians on and off the reservation by wise usage of existing programs, the development and implementation of new programs, and to actively promote the Native American into the State's economic climate through utilization of all available resources. This will enable our Indian people to become more effective members of society.

The USTDC in the seven years since its incorporation, has successfully initiated numerous programs and is currently administering six programs, all of which are directed towards the betterment of the economic and social stability of the Indian people it serves.

Accomplishments:

The United Sioux Tribes of South Dakota Development Corporation is proud to have accomplished many goals since our inception...

Over the years, we have made opportunities available to Tribes and our Tribal members through programs such as these:

Neighborhood Youth Corps
Promotion of TV and Movie production
Direct Employment Contract
United Sioux Tribes Newsletter
Emergency Employment Act
Tourism
Public Relations
Manpower Programs
New Careers Program
Reservation Master Plan
Minority Business Enterprise
Rosebud Electronics Factory
Schmit Aviation
Human Resource Grant
Housing and Urban Development
Indian Compliance Office
Indian Athletic Foundation
Food for Hunger
Lutheran Social Services
Cultural Arts Building
Cultural Arts Council
Claims and Legislation
Indian Offender Program
Treaty Council Grant
Environmental Protection
Health Coordinator Contract
Health Evaluations Contract

To Learn More about these Accomplishments Click Here

Fund Raising:

New Hope for our Indian people...

Since 1970, UST has provided New Hope for a Better Life for American Indian People needing education, life skills, employment assistance, economic development, inspiration, and confidence building experiences. We reach out to all people who have experienced conflict in family, school and community.

Donation Information

United Sioux Tribes is a private, non-profit organization with a staff dedicated and committed to assuring that each person's needs are met.

Here are some of the projects that need your help:

Nemo Project
Cottage Industry
Emergency Services
Youth Home
Legal Assistance
Education
Land Research
National Youth Conference
Wakpa Sica Cultural Center
Exchange Program
Tutor Program
Career Exchange

Sioux Tribes:

Cheyenne River
Dewey, and Ziebach counties,
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Eagle Butte,
South Dakota 57625

Crow Creek
Buffalo, Hyde, and Hughes Counties
South Dakota Tribal Headquarter: Fort Thompson,
South Dakota 57339

Flandreau
Moody County,
South Dakota Tribal Headquarter: Flandreau, South
Dakota 57028

Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe
Benson, Nelson, and Eddy Counties
North Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Fort Totten,
North Dakota 58335

Lower Brule
Lyman, and Stanley Counties,
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Lower Brule,
South Dakota

Pine Ridge
Sheridan County, Nebraska, Bennett, Shannon, and
Washabaugh Counties
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Pine Ridge,
South Dakota 57770

Rosebud
Portions of Lyman County, also Todd County
South Dakota Tribal Headquearters: Rosebud, South
Dakota 57570

Santee
Knox County
Nabraska Tribal Headquarters: Niobrara,
Nebraska 68760

Sisseton
Roberts, Day, Codington, Marshall, and Grant
Counties
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Sisseton, South
Dakota

Standing Rock
Sioux County, North Dakota Corson, Dewey, and
Ziebach Counties
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Fort Yates,
North Dakota 58538

Yankton
Charles Mix County
South Dakota Tribal Headquarters: Wagner, South
Dakota 57380

To learn more about the nations click here

Contact

United Sioux Tribes Development Corporation

Special thanks to Seasioux for the lead.

Contents

March 2006 Reports

Last updated on March 2, 2006