The Lower Sioux Indian Community; in partnership with the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF), formed a community Health and Human Services Advisory Committee in March, 2015. The advisory committee was formed to serve the areas of Health, Social Services and Woniya Kini.
The long term goal of the committee is to increase community engagement to establish a sustainable Lower Sioux Indian Community food system that improves access to healthy food, connects the community to indigenous foods, and creates healthier families.
The Advisory Committee members were nominated by Lower Sioux Community member votes at the Community Sioux Chef dinner, held in January, 2015 and approved by Tribal Council. The Committee members listed below have agreed to serve on this committee, and include:
Beth O’Keefe, Committee Chairperson
Chip Watterson
Rita Goodthunder
Joey O’Brien
Andrea O’Keefe
Kathy Rhykus
Mat Pendleton
Lisa Thul
Loretta Dixon
The health committee also includes 2 Wicozani Youth Leaders to help support and strengthen the work by including the voices of our youth as part of the continued conversations and work of the LSHHSAC. The two Wicozani youth leaders are:
Anneliese Hammer
Paulina Gregg
* The Committee will not be utilized to provide direct contact, client/patient protected information or direct service to Lower Sioux Community members.
The Lower Sioux HHS Advisory Committee roles and responsibilities include:
- Providing input towards programming, grant funding use, and community needs by staff in each of these areas.
- Attending meetings every-other-month, which are co-facilitated with the American Indian Cancer Foundation. AICAF will also be providing education for the advisory committee on health and wellness topics of their interest.
- Providing input on the programming and needs of AICAF. Collaboration between AICAF and committee members will assist in meeting cancer prevention and educational needs within Indian Country.
The committee, AICAF and LSIC community health support staff have made great strides in policy, systems and environmental changes since being formed in 2015. The Honoring Little Crow with Healthy and Indigenous Foods Initiative and the Strategic Plan Report highlight the committee’s efforts to improve Wicozani (whole health & wellness) within the Lower Sioux Indian Community.
16-116 Approving and supporting the Lower Sioux Indian Communit
Please click on the link below to read the LSIC’s Healthy and Indigenous Foods for Tribally Sponsored Meetings, Gatherings and Events policy document which will be included in the LSIC employee handbook:
https://lowersiouxhhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LSIC-Handbook-Policy-12-4-v2.pdf
