Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe

Evaluation

Evaluation will be ongoing, creating actionable data to drive a continuous improvement performance feedback loop. Qualitative and quantitative data will be submitted quarterly to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Reservation Planning Commission from programs and departments across the Lake Traverse Reservation. Once gathered, this data will be shared with an External Evaluation Team prepared to create quarterly reports tracking progress and highlighting any gaps or weaknesses. This actionable data will identify challenges in real time and allow the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Reservation Planning Commission to respond nimbly.

Evaluation efforts will be conducted to assess progress towards achieving stated vision statement, goals, and objectives.

Vision Statement 

Strengthen existing Tribal infrastructure and resources to create jobs and bolster the local workforce, ultimately increasing the amount of spending on tribal lands and decreasing the amount of dollars flowing out of the reservation to other communities.

Objectives

By 2026, increase the percentage of tribal funds recirculated directly into the tribal economy by at least 3% compared to 2021 baseline.

Tribal economic statistics will be closely monitored at multiple levels. Tribal members economic well-being will be investigated, monitoring average income levels as well as any new or expanded income levels reported by those participating in workshops and training for job stability or entrepreneurship. The impact of outside dollars on the tribal economy will also be investigated, including tourism impact on hunting and fishing licenses, annual Powwow revenue, and sales at tribal stores / gas stations / casinos. The number of jobs created will be tracked, as well as dollars secured to support economic growth, including private, local, state, and federal monies.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Goal 1: Increase Tourism  

EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING GOALS

Goal 2: Grow Leadership and Funding

SOCIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY

Goal 3: Improve Infrastructure

Goal 1: Increase Tourism  

Timeline of data collection for evaluation purposes

  • 2023 – 2028

    Activity:
    Regional advertising campaign to promote Powwow.

    Quantitative:
    Number of ads created (quarterly)

    Number of ads released (quarterly)

    Number of Powwow website “hits” (quarterly)

    Number of tourists in attendance (annual)

    Dollars captured at Powwow entrance, food / beverage, souvenirs (annual)

    Qualitative:
    Surveys to determine how tourists heard about Powwow (annually)

    Tourist reviews on tourism websites (quarterly)

    Community feedback on tourist presence (annually)

  • 2023 – 2028

    Activity:
    Regional advertising campaign to promote fishing and lake-related activities.

    Quantitative:
    Number of ads created (quarterly)

    Number of ads released (quarterly)

    Number of hunting and fishing website “hits” (quarterly)

    Number of tourists utilizing lake (quarterly)

    Number of fishing and hunting licenses sold (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Surveys to determine how tourists heard about fishing and lake-related activities (quarterly)

    Tourist reviews on tourism websites (quarterly)

    Community feedback on tourist presence (quarterly)

  • 2023 – 2025

    Activity:
    Annual trainings on solidifying a tourism base in tribal communities

    Quantitative:
    Number of trainings held (annually)

    Number of individuals attending (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Pre- and post-surveys measuring knowledge growth (annually)

  • 2023 – 2028

    Activity:
    Quarterly entrepreneur workshops / mentoring opportunities to empower tribal members to lead excursions, tours, and activities on tribal lands

    Quantitative:
    Number of trainings held (quarterly)

    Number of individuals attending (quarterly)

    Number of entrepreneurs offering tourism activities (quarterly)

    Average earnings of entrepreneurs offering tourism activities (annually)

    Number of individuals attending (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Pre- and post-surveys measuring knowledge growth (quarterly)

  • 2024 – 2028

    Activity:
    Begin construction on Arts and Cultural Facility.

    Quantitative:
    Percentage of dollars secured (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • 2024 – 2028

    Activity:
    Expand educational opportunities at Sisseton Wahpeton College through Tourism Studies course offerings

    Quantitative:
    Number of Tourism Studies courses offered (annually)

    Number of students enrolled in Tourism Studies courses (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Student feedback on usefulness of content (annually)

    Student surveys at 3, 6, and 12-months post-participation – are they using skills and knowledge to offer tourism opportunities?

Goal 2: Grow Leadership and Funding

Timeline of data collection for evaluation purposes

  • 2023

    Activity:
    Develop the curriculum for Know Your History leadership development, including a series of three one-hour workshops designed to reintroduce Tribal members to a wide variety of crucial topics, including history, language, ancestral medicines, songs, and Dakota traditions.

    Quantitative:
    Number of workshops designed (quarterly)

    Number of revisions based on student feedback (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Feedback on curriculum from trial groups of students

  • 2023 – 2028

    Activity:
    Tribal employees complete in-service professional development through the Developing Productive Employees program

    Quantitative:
    Number of professional development sessions held (annually)

    Number of participants (annually)

    Workforce turnover rate among participants (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Pre- and post-surveys measuring knowledge growth (annually)

  • 2023 – 2028

    Activity:
    Quarterly entrepreneur workshops / mentoring opportunities to empower tribal members to lead excursions, tours, and activities on tribal lands, as well as promote traditional medicines.

    Quantitative:
    Number of trainings held (quarterly)

    Number of individuals attending (quarterly)

    Number of entrepreneurs offering tourism activities (quarterly)

    Average earnings of entrepreneurs offering tourism activities (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Pre- and post-surveys measuring knowledge growth (quarterly)

  • 2024 – 2028

    Activity:
    Know Your History curriculum implemented as in-service professional development for all Tribal employees and offered as night or weekend learning opportunities for other Tribal members.

    Quantitative:
    Number of trainings held (quarterly)

    Number of individuals attending (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Pre- and post-surveys measuring knowledge growth and class satisfaction (quarterly)

  • 2023

    Activity:
    Future opportunities will be ranked to identify those with the potential for most impact in the least amount of time with the smallest financial obligation.

    Quantitative:
    Number of opportunities nominated (annually)

    Number of participants in ranking (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Meeting minutes describing ranking process

  • 2024

    Activity:
    Feasibility Study commissioned for top two future opportunities, along with fund development plans that include refinancing tribal loan program; developing Economic Diversification Fund and applying for more grants.

    Quantitative:
    Projected economic impact of each opportunity (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Meeting minutes describing Feasibility Study review

    Program Development

    Refinancing Tribal Loan Fund

    Grant Results

  • 2025 – 2028

    Activity:
    Best positioned future opportunity identified and pursued.

    Quantitative:
    Percentage of dollars secured (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly progress reports

  • 2026 – 2028

    Activity:
    Second future opportunity pursued.

    Quantitative:
    Percentage of dollars secured (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly progress reports

Goal 3: Improve Infrastructure / Housing

Timeline of data collection for evaluation purposes

  • 2023 – 2027

    Activities:
    Undertake extensive rehabilitation to 32 multigenerational family homes participating in the Mutual Help Homeownership Program

    Quantitative:
    Number of homes rehabilitated (annually)

    Number of individuals benefitting from safe housing (annually)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • 2024 – 2028

    Activities:
    Dakota Sioux subdivision dirt work completed; construction begins for home ownership units.

    Quantitative:
    Percentage of dollars secured (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

Goal 3: Improve Infrastructure / Agency Village Water System

Timeline of data collection for evaluation purposes

  • 2023

    Activities:
    Inspect and clean existing underground storage tank

    Quantitative:
    Number of days required to complete work (monthly)

    Qualitative:
    Daily construction progress reports

  • 2023 – 2024

    Activities:
    Install water meters to reduce water loss within the system and help balance the water budget.

    Quantitative:
    Number of meters installed (monthly)

    Funds generated (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • 2024 – 2025

    Activities:
    Install and replace fire hydrants and valves.

    Quantitative:
    Number of hydrants replaced (monthly)

    Number of valves replaced (monthly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • 2024 – 2029

    Activities:
    Phased transmission line improvements to increase water supply and hydrant flow

    Quantitative:
    Meters of line replaced (monthly)

    Water flow rates (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • 2025 – 2026

    Activities:
    Improve water service to Tiospa Zina Tribal School

    Quantitative:
    Water pressure readings (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

Goal 3: Improve Infrastructure / Sisseton-Wahpeton Detention Center

Timeline of data collection for evaluation purposes

  • Spring 2023

    Activities:
    Construction of Community Justice and Rehabilitation Center (CJRC) or “Oyate Woazani Yuteca Tipi” Begins

    Quantitative:
    Movement towards construction benchmarks (monthly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • August 2024

    Activities:
    Construction Complete

    Quantitative:
    Movement towards construction benchmarks (monthly)

    Qualitative:
    Monthly construction progress reports

  • September 2024 – ongoing

    Activities:
    At least five new law enforcement jobs created

    Quantitative:
    Number of employees (quarterly)

    Qualitative:
    Interview / Hiring records

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate EDA Planning Department | William Fish, EDA Planner | Contact

This Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Comprehensive Economic Strategies Plan
was produced by Santicola & Company.