First-of-its-kind meat processing facility strengthening community

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A first-of-its-kind meat processing facility is hosting its grand opening Saturday, July 27. But it’s more than building, it’s about sovereignty, sustainability, and uplifting the community.

NDN Collective alongside Wambli Ska Okolakiciye, Tanka Fund, and Makoce Agriculture Development will host a grand opening Saturday to celebrate the first-ever Native privately owned processing plant in the area. The event will feature a dunk tank, meet and greets, and a tour of the facility. But organizers want everyone to know this is more than just your average meat processing plant.

“Everything that’s involved with the meat facility from cutting to logistics to packaging all of it. So there’s going to be internships and availability for the youth to be able to work and develop careers out of it. Then there’s also the harvest part of it which we will be going out to our ranchers. So this is a whole circular collective that we’re doing from our land all the way to the plate,” Tanks Fund Executive Director Dawn Sherman said.

The project took a great deal of planning and organizers say the feedback they received within their community made it worth the effort.

“We’ve heard different words. ‘This is needed. This was wanted. We’re hungry. It’s about time that we came in and took control of our own food systems’ and this was one of that. Those were some of the words that we heard, it’s not only the community but it’s our culture too,” Sherman said.

Saturday’s ceremony will also feature Hangry Buffalo food truck which will serve tacos using the meat gathered and processed at the plant. If you are interested in attending tomorrow’s grand opening be sure to visit 1475 Valley Drive in Rapid City from 1 to 5 p.m. or click here for more information.

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