About
Wakpamni Lake Community (WLC) – Government
Our story
We are Oglala, meaning “to scatter one's own,” the Oglala are one of the seven Titowan Lakota bands which comprise the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires).
Our values
Core Values of the Wakpamni Lake Community
The Wakpamni Lake Community (WLC) is guided by deeply rooted Lakota values that shape every aspect of its governance, development, and community life. These values reflect both traditional beliefs and the contemporary needs of the Wakpamni people.
1. Sovereignty & Self-Determination
WLC believes in the right to govern its own affairs, chart its economic future, and protect its land, people, and traditions without outside interference. Every initiative is driven by a commitment to tribal sovereignty and long-term self-sufficiency.
2. Cultural Preservation
Language, ceremony, and ancestral knowledge are at the heart of the community. WLC supports cultural revitalization efforts—including immersion schools, traditional gatherings, and intergenerational teaching—to ensure that Lakota ways of life are never lost.
3. Family & Tiospaye Leadership
WLC remains grounded in the traditional structure of the tiospaye (extended family groups). Many leaders are matriarchs or respected elders within their families, continuing the Lakota value of family-first decision-making, compassion, and collective responsibility.
4. Respect for Elders & Generational Wisdom
Elders are seen not just as caretakers of knowledge but as spiritual and cultural anchors. Their voices help guide decisions, and WLC actively works to protect, include, and uplift their roles within the community.
5. Economic Justice & Opportunity
WLC works to rebuild an economy rooted in fairness, sustainability, and access. Through its enterprise arm Wakaga, the community invests in infrastructure, small business, renewable energy, and job creation to benefit present and future generations.
6. Environmental Stewardship
As protectors of the land, the Wakpamni people are committed to sustainable development that honors Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth). All growth is approached with a respect for natural balance and ecological responsibility.
7. Unity & Community Service
WLC believes in collective progress—no one is left behind. Programs are designed to uplift everyone, from youth to elders, with special attention to those facing hardship. Community well-being is a shared duty.
Understanding
Understanding the Wakpamni Lake Municipal Government and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Oglala Lakota and the Oceti Sakowin
We are Oglala, meaning “to scatter one's own.” The Oglala are one of the seven Titowan Lakota bands that comprise the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires. This confederation represents a long-standing spiritual, political, and cultural alliance among the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples. The Oceti Sakowin symbolizes unity, shared governance, and the continued survival of our people through generations.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe
The Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) is a federally recognized tribal government established under Section 16 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. It adopted its Constitution and By-Laws on December 20, 1935. The OST’s authority and legal rights are further supported by historical treaties, most notably the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 (11 Stat. 749) and 1868 (15 Stat. 635), which created and affirmed the Great Sioux Reservation.
Our ancestral territory, as recognized in the 1868 Treaty, originally included all land west of the Missouri River in South Dakota, parts of northern Nebraska, and sections of eastern Montana. Despite unilateral reductions of this land base by the U.S. government, the Oglala have never ceded claims to the sacred Black Hills (He Sapa) or the broader territory of the Great Sioux Nation.
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Established in 1889 after the U.S. government disbanded and partitioned the Great Sioux Reservation, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation spans more than 3,500 square miles across southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. It is one of the largest reservations in the United States—larger than Rhode Island and comparable in size to Connecticut.
Pine Ridge includes nine political districts and over fifty recognized communities. While more than 52,000 individuals are enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, not all reside on the reservation. Individuals of both American Indian and non-Indian ancestry live within its borders.
Despite its size, the Reservation faces deep challenges. Its remote location has resulted in poor infrastructure—limited roadways, communications, and essential services—which restricts job creation, economic development, and access to healthcare and education. These barriers contribute to high poverty, substance abuse, and crime. Yet amidst adversity, Pine Ridge is rich in culture, ceremony, language, and traditional leadership.
Historical and Political Legacy
The Oglala’s relationship with the United States is marked by resilience, treaty violations, and continued legal struggles. Major historical injustices—including the unlawful seizure of the Black Hills and the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890—have shaped distrust between the Tribe and the federal government. The legacy of the General Allotment Act and U.S. policies to diminish tribal sovereignty continue to impact the community today.
Nonetheless, the Oglala people continue to assert their rights under treaties like the Fort Laramie Agreements and remain committed to cultural preservation and political strength. The loss of the sacred Black Hills remains a powerful and unresolved point of contention.
Governance of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
The OST operates under a constitutional government with three primary components:
A 21-member Tribal Council, elected every two years
Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Fifth Member, and Sergeant-At-Arms
Nine districts, each with local leadership and representation
Each district is allotted representation based on population, with one representative per 1,000 enrolled members. OST elections are held in October (primary) and November (general) every two years.
The District and Community Structure
The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s governance includes nine districts, akin to counties within a state structure. Each district operates its own localized government and elects representatives to the Tribal Council. The districts are:
Eagle Nest District
Lacreek District
Medicine Root District
Oglala District
Pass Creek District
Pine Ridge District
Porcupine District
Wakpamni District
Wounded Knee District
Each district also consists of multiple communities—similar to municipalities—which carry out their own governance, development plans, and community initiatives under the OST Constitution.
The Wakpamni District and the Wakpamni Lake Community
The Wakpamni District includes six communities:
#4 Payabya
Calico
Red Cloud
Slim Buttes
Wakpamni Lake Community (WLC)
Wolf Creek
The Wakpamni Lake Community is located in the southeastern corner of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Formally reaffirmed as a municipal tribal government under OST Resolution 78-101 (January 23, 1978), the WLC governs with both traditional and modern frameworks.
Wakpamni Lake Community Government
WLC’s government is comprised of elected officials, including a President, Vice President, and supporting leadership. As of November 2023, Sandy Two Lance serves as President of the Wakpamni Lake Community Municipal Government.
WLC is composed of many tiospayes (extended family groups), including: Two Lance, Blue Bird, Yellow Hair, Lone Hill, Feather on Head, Has No Horse, Charging Thunder, Ghost Bear, Little Commander, and others. Each board member typically represents their tiospaye as a matriarchal head—reflecting the community’s traditional values.
Culture, Language, and Tradition
WLC is known for preserving one of the highest concentrations of fluent Lakota speakers and traditional practitioners. It supports Lakota language immersion schools, spiritual ceremonies, and intergenerational knowledge-sharing. Cultural preservation is not symbolic—it is lived experience, embedded into governance, education, and everyday life.
Traditionally, the Lakota were a matriarchal society, and WLC continues this by integrating women elders and family leaders into decision-making processes. While operating under a modern government structure, WLC retains cultural governance rooted in oral tradition, ceremony, and community consensus.
Legacy and the Path Forward
The Wakpamni Lake Community embodies the strength, wisdom, and cultural wealth of the Oglala people. Through traditional values, self-governance, and strategic development, WLC is paving a path toward sovereignty, prosperity, and cultural revitalization. The past informs the future—and the people of Wakpamni continue to walk forward with resilience and purpose.
Learn More
For additional information, visit the official websites below:
- Oglala Sioux Tribe: https://www.oglala.gov
- Wakpamni Lake Community Government: https://www.wakpamnilake-nsn.gov
