SicanguCo hosts 2025 Sicangu Food Summit

Posted byVi WalnPosted inNews

MISSION – The 3rd Annual Sicangu Food Summit was an educational event attended by local residents to celebrate our traditional foodways and strengthen our local food system.

Attendees spent the event, held on Indigenous Peoples Day learning, connecting and celebrating with hands-on workshops and local speakers. This year’s sessions include topics like seed saving, poultry production, traditional plant teas, and soil biodiversity, with a keynote from Victor Makes Room for Them, Jr.

Participants also enjoyed a locally sourced meal of buffalo meatballs prepared by Randee’s Kitchen.

This annual event was made possible thanks to the dedication of our planning team our SicanguCo members staff including Michelle Haukaas, Echo Clairmont, Lydia Yellow Hawk, Suni Wooden Knife, Sara Fielder, Victoria Contreras, and Karen Moore. As well as the generous support of our partners: Sanford Health (returning as a sponsor for a second year), University of South Dakota Department of Sustainability and Environment (who sponsored the community meal), Farm Sanctuary and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (providing grant support for this year’s summit).

Also, you are invited to come enjoy a community meal next month as we celebrate the WoLakota Buffalo range. It’s hard to believe but the WoLakota Buffalo range is celebrating 5 years since the return of the first bison to the land and much of what we talked about five years ago is coming to be such as improved grassland health, increased biodiversity, use engagement, as well as cultural activities and community access to bison meat.

Everyone is welcome to join us for a community meal and gathering to honor this milestone we will also be offering UTV rides out to view the 1,100 herd. Bring your family, friends and appetite. Keep an eye on our Facebook page at SicanguCo for more details as the event gets closer but for now just mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8 at the WoLakota Buffalo range. Our food sovereignty team will also be on site offering free WoLakota bison meat to community members through the Relatives Feeding Relatives program. Recently, our Food Sovereignty staff distributed nearly 1000 pounds of bison meat to roughly 120 families in only one hour at a local community distribution,

Sharon Red Bear gives a demonstration on how to make Bapa or jerky. Photo courtesy of SicanguCo.
Food Sovereignty Staff helped make the Food Summit a success. Photo courtesy of SicanguCo.
Some sessions were held outdoors. Photo courtesy of SicanguCo.
The bison herd at the Wolakota buffalo ranch in southern Todd County. Photo courtesy of SicanguCo.
SicanguCo distributed nearly 1000 pounds of bison meat to roughly 120 families at a local community distribution. Photo courtesy of SicanguCo