In a unanimous show of support Monday night, Rapid City Council voted to remove a contingency hindering the transfer of funds for the Native American Community Center.
With no objections, the $9 million in funding to begin with phase 1 of the project is now free to move forward.
Council member Kevin Maher made a motion to remove the contingency clause so the project can move forward, and then retained the floor to comment on the matter.
Maher reminded everyone of the history of this project from the vision committee standpoint, which dated back to late 2021.
“This was our number one project,” he said. “This was the project we thought was the most important on the entire list.”
He added that the contingency was not placed by the vision committee, but by the council at the time when the $9 million allocated for the project was originally passed.
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Council member Lindsey Seachris echoed Maher’s comments, supporting to remove the contingency so the project will move forward.
“I wish He Sapa Otipi all the success in moving this project forward from concept to reality, and look forward to seeing all that will be created to further honor a collective community to inspire healing, health and wellness for all people,” she said.
Council member Greg Strommen added the contingency was placed by the council and recently it had become apparent having the contingency removed and resolved by the Department of Interior was not going to happen anytime soon.
“I fully support removing that portion of the requirements so we can move forward, and I also wish the He Sapa Otipi all the success they can have, because this is a very worthwhile project for the community,” Strommen said.
He Sapa Otipi is an Indigenous-led 501(c)3 organization which began as a grass-roots organization sprung into life by conversations back in 2014. The group has worked in the forefront to bring a Native-led community center to Rapid City. According to He Sapa Otipi the community center will provide a place of learning, gathering, have recreational facilities, offices, have youth-outreach events, and provide community support.
Six acres of land on the north side of Rapid city were donated by NDN Collective to He Sapa Otipi for the community center. The dream is to eventually have a 40,000-square-foot facility. Phase one would consist of approximately an 18,000-square-foot building costing around $12 million. This includes the $9 million from the funds cleared by city council and another $3 million in private donations.
“One thing we have in common with your council is when we make decisions we think of the future generations – seven generations ahead and behind us,” Cante Heart, chief executive director of He Sapa Otipi said to the city council. She also encouraged a healthy relationship through collaboration.
Construction on the Native American Community Center could begin as early as 2025, according to comments made by representatives of He Sapa Otipi at the city council meeting.
The next regularly scheduled Rapid City Council meeting will be held April 1, 2024 in the council chambers.