Wambli Ska’s Sacred Storm workforce program opens storefront, highlights tribal-led youth employment

Wambli Ska leaders presented a multi-part culturally anchored workforce program on June 3, describing a retail storefront, a buffalo processing plant and a teen drop-in center that organizers say provides mentorship, jobs and cultural programming for North Rapid youth.

Annie Bachand, speaking for Wambli Ska, said the organization runs a social enterprise they call Sacred Storm that combines cultural programming with job training in meat processing, hide and skull work, and retail sales. "When healing is at the forefront of everything, you realize that intergenerational trauma requires a lot of patience and a lot of time and a lot of unique creativity," Bachand told the commission during her presentation.

Bachand and colleagues said the program has trained more than 50 young people, operates a mobile harvest unit and has an on-site plant east of town near Highway 44. They described a grand-opening event set for June 7 at 10 a.m. at 1601 Haines Avenue (the former Loaf-N-Jug site) and said the project includes a food truck, a retail product line of buffalo-based foods and a line of tallow-based personal-care products called "Pretty Pink Buffalo."

Why it matters: Presenters said the work is intended to provide purpose-driven employment and culturally rooted prevention for youth. Commissioners and other presenters at the meeting praised the project’s community focus and cultural approach.

Details and next steps: Presenters said they have a campus location at 522 Anamosa Street, a retail location on Haines Avenue and a ranch and processing plant out east. They noted they operate housing for up to 18 "warriors" and have other housing assets they are expanding. The commission thanked the group and encouraged public attendance at the June 7 grand opening.