NOV. 1 2024

SWO

NOV. 1 2024

EXECUTIVE

ISSUE 3

REPORTING

Hau Mitakuyapi

SWO WEBSITE

As of August 2024, SWO has updated our Tribal website!

You may register through the website to view monthly Tribal Council

sessions. We encourage all members to be active listeners for accurate

information and reporting from Executives and Managers.

MONTHLY

PRIORITY

SWO Website

Accounting

Software

USDA Rural Dev.

Meth Alarm- Pilot

Project

Grants

New items that may be reviewed on the website:

-Weekly RFP updates (Departments tab- Procurement)

-Weekly Job advertisements (Employment tab)

-Proposed Code amendments (Justice tab- Legal)

-Tribal Council sessions (Media tab)

-Executive newsletter (Newsletter tab)

Tribal Managers will be updating Department/ Program details, including

employee information in the upcoming months.

NEW ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

Over the past ten years, previous Vice-Chairpersons have reviewed many

different accounting software proposals and chose not to move forward with

Audits & Indirect

a software change for a number of reasons.

Costs

However, in FY 2023, a motion was made to accept the proposal to

Food Sovereigntypurchase our new accounting software, Sage Intacct, after many requests for

Community Garden, proposals. With this new system, SWO will have an accounting software that

Farming, Tado Tipi

will assist with many of the issues we have with our current legacy software.

Solar For All Grant

This work includes consolidating the four (4) different software components

Warming House

while also correcting past audit findings.

Managers and the Finance team continue working diligently with both

105(L) Projects

Sage Intacct and Workplace, side-by-side, while training is completed. SWO

will be 100% transferred into the new accounting software by January 2025.

Administration

WWW. SWO-NSN.GOV

PG. 1

NOV. 1 2024

SWO

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

USDA UNDER SECRETARY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

DR. BASIL GOODEN VISITS SWO HEADQUARTERS

S

Within the past few months, USDA Representatives have visited SWO Tribal Council and

Executives on four (4) different occasions. During the visit with Dr. Basil Gooden, (2nd in

command of USDA), we were able to discuss our challenges, projects, and long-term visions. Our

Rural Development SD Representative, Nikki Gronli, was also in attendance to three (3) of the

meetings regarding different needs and opportunities of our Tribal Programs.

PG. 2

SWO

NOV. 1, 2024

EXECUTIVE

ISSUE 3

REPORTING

METHAMPHETAMINE ALARM- PILOT PROJECT

SWO will be participating in a pilot project in which we will be purchasing ten (10) Methalarms devices

to detect methamphetamine use, manufacturing, and/or contamination in properties. These devices will

be placed in different buildings in community areas, which can detect approximately up to 7,000 feet. The

Methalarms monitors the air at configurable intervals and saves results to a secure portal. When the

Methalarms device senses use or manufacture of methamphetamine, above a user-defined threshold, the

device will email and text-message administrators with alert information. All alerts are silent. Sensors

are in a tamper proof case. The device has two tamper activations which will activate a silent alert and

send an email and/or text-message to Administrators. All sampling results are available to view or

download by the Administrators over time.

SUMMARY

1. Reduced risk of contamination.

2. Lowered remediation costs.

3. Reduced insurance claims.

4. Improved property or service

5. Lowered cross-contamination risk.

6. Lower risk of tenant misdemeanors.

The Methalarms device provide early warning of contamination, so properties can be assessed and

cleaned at reduced cost. There are sprays which neutralize methamphetamine particles and can be used

easily by maintenance teams.

GRANTS ADMINISTRATION

Tribal Executives recently have implemented a new process for applying for grants. Moving forward any

applicant applying for funding will now meet with our new Grants Administration Team, who consists of:

Grants Administrator, Comptroller, CFO Trainee, Planning Director, Budget Specialists, Sr. Accountant and

Executive Director.

In this process, applications will be reviewed to ensure proper information will be shared and

requirements will be practiced with the future planning of programs while ensuring reporting will be done

in timely manner from Lead Staff. This will also assist our Planning and Finance Departments in updating

reports and ensure there is no duplications of services within future plans. This process will allow Program

Managers to be as effective as they can for Tribal members when applying with no obstacles in the future

once funding is approved. The grants dashboard in the new accounting software will support this work.

PG. 3

SWO

NOV. 1 2024

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

AUDITS & INDIRECT COSTS

SWO recently completed FY2021 Financial audits. REDW has signed and committed to complete

fulfilling FY2022 and FY 2023 audit contracts, after following the Procurement and Legal processes. Our

Finance department has completed year-end closeouts and are working alongside contracted consultants.

Now that FY21 audit is completed, we may begin moving forward with FY2024 Indirect Cost negotiations.

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY & SECURITY

SWO hosted a bus Food Tour visiting SWO food sources, which

included Partnerships with Native Americans (PWNA), Ni’sto Inc.,

Feeding SD/ America, and South Dakota Representatives for USDA

Rural Development, NRCS, and RCPP to better understand how they

can align with our needs and possibly fund more SWO Food projects.

Places that were visited: Buffalo Herd, Tado Tipi, Fish Hatchery,

Orchards (open to the public at all times), and Farmland. A huge

thank you to Tiospa Zina School and Natural Resources for the

assistance of the tour.

With that, PWNA invited our SWO team to an Indigenous Food Tour

to discuss resources from Dreams of Wild Farms, Indigenous Food lab,

and Sioux Chef Sean Sherman of Indigenous Food Systems to assist in

improving the nutrition, health and food education of Tribal members.

All resources collected will be shared through our new Food

Sovereignty & Security Program with booklets and classes. Open

house, renaming of program, and monthly classes will be announced

within upcoming weeks with the assistance of community members

as collaborators.

PG. 4

SWO

NOV. 1, 2024

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

SWO Orchards are maintained by our

Natural Resources Department and we

encourage SWO members to take full

advantage of free apples. The orchard is

typically opened in early fall to pick your

own apples and will be advertised.

SWO FARMING PILOT

PROJECT

YEAR 1 - 40 ACRES+

YEAR 2 - 500 ACRES+

YEAR 3 - 1,100 ACRES+

FY2023 was Year 1 for the Farming Pilot Project under the

Realty Department with an increase of 2x the lease amount

that would have been received. Realty is harvesting for Year 2.

Tribal Council recently approved new farming equipment that

will better assist Year 3 inputs for additional acres. The

increased revenue will be used towards priorities of Natural

Resources/ Fish & Wildlife, Realty, and the Buffalo Farm. such

as:

land

purchases,

land

improvement,

or

conservating/growing healthy environments.

SWO’s new meat processing facility, Tado Tipi, is currently under construction and will begin

advertising for new positions in the weeks ahead. Under the supervision of our Natural Resources/

Fish & Wildlife Manager, Charlene Miller, we are grateful to be nearly ready for the opening of our

new facility. Tado Tipi will also have the opportunity to become a For-Profit entity in the future,

once operational with compliance milestones fully obtained. With the opening of Tado Tipi, we are

supporting our tribal members with new job opportunities, educational training, and more options

for food security. This unique facility has already assisted SWC and Dakota Language Institute with

their recent Buffalo Harvest, open to community members and students to attend and assist.

PG. 5

NOV. 1 2024

SWO

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

SWO REPRESENTS AT THE SOLAR FOR ALL 14-TRIBE FLAG CEREMONY

AND INAUGURAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING AT UNITED TRIBES

The EPA Northern Plains Tribal Coalition, composed of fourteen (14) Tribes, received $135.6 million. The Group

partnered with Indigenized Energy to develop a solar program for Tribal communities. SWO is finalizing the

funding agreement and will begin design of SFA program for SWO.

SWO Executive Director, Tina Jennen, was Lead Staff for the SWO application. Once SWO was named a

recipient, Indigenized Energy invited Executive Director Jennen to speak on behalf of this Tribal collaboration at

the UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit as part of an Opening Flag Ceremony for the Inaugural Steering Committee

Meeting. During the Tribal Leaders Summit, Tribal Chairman Renville also gave remarks for the opening of the

conference.

Post event, the Solar For All Project will be led by the Housing and Planning Departments, as the SWO

Council-appointed Steering Committee Delegates, to support solar for residential homes.

PG. 6

SWO

NOV. 1 2024

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

Please join in the renaming of the

Warming House and placement of new

sign in honor of Russell Smith. A

dinner will be provided by the family.

We are at the beginning stages of

planning for the Wellness Center.

Anticipated designs of the future building.

105 (L) PROJECTS: POLICE STATION/

WELLNESS CENTER/ TREATMENT

CENTER

The 105(l) lease program is an important mechanism that

allows federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations to

lease their facilities to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and

Indian Health Service (IHS) to support services that would

otherwise be provided by federal facilities. Named after

Section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and

Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), this program aims to

empower tribes to operate facilities that provide essential

services, such as healthcare, education, and social services

on their own lands.

Leases are typically negotiated based on fair market value,

including expenses like operation and maintenance,

property insurance, and other related costs, making it

financially feasible for tribes to sustain these facilities.

This funding enables tribes to cover the costs of running

their facilities, such as building maintenance, utilities,

security, and staffing needs associated with the program.

105(l) leases give tribes greater control over the operations

of their facilities, enabling them to tailor services more

effectively to meet community needs.

The program provides financial resources that contribute to

sustaining tribal economies by funding locally managed

facilities and potentially creating jobs.

PG. 7

NOV. 1 2024

SWO

ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE

REPORTING

Progress is being made on the new SWO Police

Station with renderings of the front entry, staff

entry and interior design pictured here.

Anticipated budget: $ $19,809,434

With Tax Credit Savings of $700,000

Planning will begin the bidding process within this

month.

Anticipated Construction Duration:

15 month April 2025- June 2026

PG. 7