Thomas Kanatakeniate Cook

Executive Director

Tom Kanatakeniate Cook is the executive director of our organization and a spokesperson, co-spiritual director, and culture keeper for the Tiospaye. Tom accepted the honor of serving as the lead male dancer of the Afraid Of Bear –- American Horse Sun Dance in 2000. He organizes a dedicated group of skilled volunteers in preparing the Black Hills site to welcome hundreds of dancers, singers, fire tenders and supporters for the five-day ceremony. He also leads sweat lodge ceremonies throughout the year, records and shares traditional Oglala songs, and continues to speak and write extensively about native history and culture.

Tom’s roots in the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation of New York led to a career in iron work above the Manhattan skyline and to a life-long interest in the history of Indian tribes and colonial settlers. The latter led him to Pine Ridge to cover the Wounded Knee occupation of 1973 for his hometown paper. While there, Tom met his wife, Loretta, and together, they raised three children in Pine Ridge and dedicated their lives to rebuilding self-sufficiency and cultural pride within the community.

In 1983, Tom and Loretta founded the Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Project (SBAG) to bring food security to the Pine Ridge Reservation. SBAG has been described as a social movement helping the people of Pine Ridge end their dependence on US government commodity foods. Today, SBAG helps cultivate over 200 gardens annually throughout the reservation.