Chris White Eagle (He Sapa Wicasa Wambli Ska) is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, is a visionary changemaker and social entrepreneur deeply committed to revitalizing Indigenous traditions and empowering Native youth. Through his work at Sacred Storm Buffalo and his lifelong dedication to cultural preservation,
Chris has become a bridge between the past and the future, connecting Indigenous
heritage with modern-day opportunities.
deeply rooted in his heritage and committed to revitalizing the connection between Indigenous peoples and the Plains bison. Chris served as the plant manager at Wild Idea Buffalo Company for 14 years, where he dedicated himself to sustainability and cultural preservation.
“My dad was a butcher—initially what drew me to this line of work. I’ve worked all over the state in butchery. Buffalo is tougher to cut than cattle because the muscles are denser, but I enjoy the challenge. I also work with buffalo because it goes back to our people. We are Buffalo Nation. These animals
helped feed us then and can still feed us now. My work gives me the chance to train our young Native men to be butchers and learn a trade. Two of them are my sons. It allows me to bring opportunity back to our people.”
“Last fall, we did a traditional buffalo hunt. I run a teen center on the north side of Rapid City, South Dakota, and I literally had 46 kids out at the ranch, along with 18 adults. We skinned the bull there in the field. I broke down the whole animal to teach the kids. The young girls in our group wiped the buffalo down with sage. We took every part of the buffalo, even the hide—the kids will make drums out of it for a fundraiser. It was very, very spiritual. We left nothing but a blood stain on the prairie. We took everything. Having resources and options—it’s important, especially for our people.”