Eileen Briggs

Artist, Change Agent, Connector, Consultant, Idea generator, Single, World traveler

According to her friends, Eileen Briggs is a “galvanizer of people and of change.” For the last decade she led the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Ventures, a comprehensive project aimed at reducing poverty. She believes in the importance of being rooted in traditional cultural values and in a strengths-based approach when it comes to community development. Most recently, she was selected to join the Bush Foundation to lead its Native Nation Building initiative. As the Nation Building Portfolio Director, Eileen will oversee the Foundation’s work to invest in efforts that promote, support and strengthen tribal governance. A 2016 Bush Fellow, Eileen has been visiting indigenous communities across Indian Country to learn about facing adversity, especially through women's healing ceremonies. She is also enhancing her skills in order to help guide transformational conversations at home. She was the Principal Investigator for Cheyenne River Voices Research. She is co-chair of the US Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network. Eileen is a Native Nation ReBuilder and president of the South Dakota Chapter of the North American Indian Women's Association as well as a member of the International Advisory Council for the Native Nations Institute. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Eileen Briggs lives with her extended family in Eagle Butte, SD as well as in St. Paul, MN. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s from the University of Minnesota.