Sacred Storm Buffalo celebrates Grand Opening of retail shop

RAPID CITY – Hundreds of people showed up to celebrate the Grand Opening of Sacred Storm Buffalo Companies new retail outlet on Haines Avenue on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The celebration began with a special ceremony at 10:00 a.m. and continued until 4:00 p.m., welcoming the community to support Native food sovereignty, local business, and cultural revitalization.

The event featured opportunities for guests to learn about Sacred Storm Buffalo’s mission to promote economic sustainability through workforce development, particularly by training Native youth in buffalo butchery, processing, and entrepreneurship— revitalizing Indigenous traditions and fostering food sovereignty.

Attendees also enjoyed delicious buffalo dishes from the Iron Hoof Grill, Sacred Storm’s food truck, and explored the new retail store, Sacred Storm Meats and Treats. The store offers a variety of premium buffalo meat products sourced locally, along with the newly launched buffalo tallow skin care line, Pretty Pink Buffalo.

According to a press release from Sacred Storm, Chris White Eagle, Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Storm Buffalo, expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to open our doors to the community and celebrate a movement that began with a prayer and a buffalo. Sacred Storm Meats & Treats is more than a store—it’s a dream realized. It’s about restoring economic power, cultural pride, and opportunity for our youth.”

The press release explained that Sacred Storm Buffalo was established in partnership with Wambli Ska Okolakiciye, Tanka Fund, and Makoce Agriculture Development, with support from NDN Collective. The harvesting of buffalo creates jobs for producers and distributors, provides sustenance and fosters food sovereignty for the people, and weaves a vital thread of resilience and empowerment into the fabric of the community.

Thanks to the NDN Collective’s Regenerative Agriculture/Landback grant and loan program, Sacred Storm was able to purchase a processing plant from Wild Idea Buffalo Company, acquire a mobile harvest trailer, and start a self-sustaining herd with 50 Wind Cave bison calves, symbolizing the renewal of traditional buffalo stewardship. The recent purchase of 41.74 acres for a permanent buffalo ranch will further support herd growth, training, and workforce development.

“Within just six months of receiving their braided capital, Sacred Storm Buffalo has trained and mentored a new workforce and distributed over 50,000 pounds of buffalo meat products. In a short time, Sacred Storm Buffalo has seen tremendous growth, proving that investments in restoring and stewarding land, revitalizing a traditional food way and providing workforce empowerment can have tangible results,” said Kim Pate, Managing Director of NDN Fund, the lending and impact investing arm of NDN Collective. “Every milestone achieved is a step toward ensuring Indigenous communities in South Dakota have food sovereignty through healthy protein and economic self-sufficiency through good jobs.”

“The developing buffalo economy, one that preserves wildlife and open spaces, is critical to the region and creates well paying jobs and economic security,” said Wizipan Garriot, president of NDN Collective. “New buffalo-based economies also support healthy food, and ensure that animals are harvested in humane, culturally appropriate ways that honor the iconic status of the American Buffalo.”

Sacred Storm has also set up a large tent adjacent to their retail outlet, creating a vibrant marketplace space for community members to showcase and sell their arts, crafts, and other goods. This new initiative aims to foster economic opportunity and cultural expression within the community.

Tara White Eagle, wife of Chris White Eagle, explained that the tent isn’t limited to artists and craft-makers alone. It’s designed to be inclusive, welcoming anyone from the community who has items to sell.

“Oh, absolutely,” Tara said with enthusiasm. “We want it to feel just like the old bazaars we used to have at Mother Butler, where the Unci’s and aunties could come and sell their collectibles, handmade items, or whatever treasures they have. It’s a chance to reconnect, share traditions, and support each other through shopping local and celebrating our culture.”

(Contact ErnestineAnunksan Hopa at editor@nativesunnew.today)

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