Stephan Cheney

Background

About Stephan Cheney

Hello! I am Lakota of the Kul Wicasa Oyate out of Lower Brule South Dakota. I graduated from the University of South Dakota and moved on to work as a wildland firefighter for 7 years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Forest Service and several tribally operated fire programs. I established the Bear River Youth Program at the Bear River Rancheria and landed in philanthropy at Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples as the Special Assistant to the President and eventually served as the organization’s executive manager. I am the interim Executive Director of Wichapi Koyaka Tiyospaye, a Lakota organization dedicated to nurturing spiritual sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples. I also serve as the Senior Program Coordinator of NFGs Integrated Rural Strategies Group. I am very audacious, especially when given the opportunity to work things that are close to my heart. When I look at the level of work and commitment it took from my ancestors for me to be able to say proudly who I am and where I come from, there is nothing about this time then that signifies a time of fear. I am deeply committed to my ceremonial and cultural practices which spill over into every facet of my life grounding me as I move forward in this world. I also enjoy pottery, woodworking, and interior design, creating all sorts of things out of a personal body of work called High Rez Designs. Let’s connect! Let’s build!