Rosebud joins Oglala, Cheyenne River tribes in healthcare partnership

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has joined Oglala and Cheyenne River Tribes in a partnership to provide healthcare in Pennington County, meaning that the new Oyate Health Center, currently under construction, will not be divided into separate clinics or controlled by the federal government.

“With Rosebud joining us we can create a healthcare system that will meet the needs of all our relatives living in Rapid City. We commend the Rosebud Sioux Tribe for joining us as allies in this fight to improve healthcare for our people,” said Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Councilman Ryman Lebeau, Chair of CRST’s Health Committee.

Oyate Health will now be responsible for all services for all eligible Indian Health Service (IHS) patients in Pennington County. The Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board says the addition of Rosebud into the partnership will allow for a “dramatic expansion of healthcare services for tribal-members living in Pennington County.”

Oyate Health has been operated for the last two years by the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board for the Oglala and Cheyenne River tribes. Their operation was run under a U.S. government contract with the Indian Health Service. The Indian Self-Determination Act (1975) allows tribes to take control of the government-run institutions that are intended to serve tribal citizens.

Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board CEO Jerilyn Church says current IHS employees stationed on the Sioux San Campus will be offered the opportunity to join the organization.

“Now that all of the tribes are united, we will work hard to continue to improve healthcare for our relatives who use the Oyate Health Center,” said Church.