The Lower Brule Sioux Reservation lies on the western bank of the Missouri River in central South Dakota.  The 221,646-acre Reservation has historically been home to an abundance of wildlife.  The Lower Brule Sioux people have been part of this rich web of life for generations.

The landscape of the Lower Brule Reservation supports rolling hills of prairie, grasses, wildflowers, and beautiful sunsets as seen here.  The only break in the endless landscape is the Missouri River with thick groves of shrubs, red cedars, and cottonwood trees that are a beautiful addition to the prairie.

The Lakota People are part of this close-knit web of life on the prairie and have been for centuries. However, life changed dramatically with the arrival of settlers in the 1800's. Soon great herds of bison and numerous oether wildlife species were nearly depleated while native prairie was tilled and farmed. Fences were errected and soon cattle replaced buffalo and farms replaced prairies and grasslands.The Lakota were interned on reservations, already suffering the consequences of broken treaties.                                                                                   

The Kul Wicasa Oyate, a Lakota people now more commonly known as the Lower Brule Sioux, were forced onto a reservation along the Missouri River in Central South Dakota.  As time progressed, the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation was reduced in size and non-Indians were allowed to homestead within the reservation boundaries.  Construction of Missouri River hydroelectric dams caused permanent flooding of much land, further reducing the landbase.  Today the reservation is just over 220,000 acres, of which 30% remains non-Indian owned. 

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Department of Wildlife, Fish and Recreation now has the lead role in the arduous task of restoring the ecological environment of the reservation.  The department is responsible for wetland creation and restoration, prairie restoration, riparian protection and restoration, carbon sequestration to combat global warming, and the recovery and conservation of native wildlife, fish, and plant species. 

It is exciting to consider that the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation can once again be a place of great natural diversity and health.  It is not too late and there is so much potential.

A Solution.  In order to purchase lands to restore the ecosystem to promote habitat restoration and provide a healthy environment for future generations, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe supported the creation of the Maka Foundation.  This foundation was established in April of 2005 to raise charitable funds in support of the programs and projects of the Lower Brule Department of Wildlife, Fish and Recreation.  The Maka Foundation now provides a unique alternative funding source, through philanthropy, for supporting land consolidation, habitat restoration, and species recovery and conservation.

The Goal.  Your tax-deductible financial support of the Maka Foundation will directly support these critical programs.  Funds will support land consolidation and projects to restore a balance to the ecology of the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation.