Contract for Outdoor Education Pavilion Awarded to Dubois Firm
Wind River Development Fund Awards Contract for New Outdoor Education Pavilion at Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative
The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) today announced the award of a construction contract to Panacea Construction Group of Dubois, Wyoming, for the design, fabrication, and construction of a 40-foot by 40-foot steel pavilion at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative.
The pavilion is funded through one of six grants awarded to WRDF by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and represents another investment in expanding outdoor recreation and educational opportunities on the Wind River Reservation. Once completed, the pavilion will serve as an outdoor education center where visitors can learn about the Tribal Buffalo Initiative, the cultural significance of buffalo, and ongoing efforts to restore this important resource.
Jason Baldes is the Executive Director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. He commented, “We are excited to be working with the Wind River Development Fund on the construction of a new pavilion at the headquarters of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. This new project will help connect our communities to our work, where locals and visitors to the area can stop and learn about Tribal Buffalo restoration and reconnection.”
The project also includes the construction of a restroom facility, installation of picnic tables, and educational interpretive signage to enhance the visitor experience and create a welcoming space for community members, students, and visitors.
“This project is about more than constructing a pavilion, it is about creating a place where culture, education, and community can come together,” said Leslie Shakespeare, Chief Implementation Officer at the Wind River Development Fund. “WRDF’s role is to bring together the funding, partnerships, and project management needed to move the Tribal Buffalo Initiative’s vision into construction. Upon completion, ownership of the pavilion and related improvements will remain with the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, ensuring this investment is locally stewarded, and available to serve future generations.”
In a related effort, the Wind River Sage Fund, WRDF’s affiliated nonprofit organization, is partnering with the Tribal Buffalo Initiative on the design and development of the new 12,000-square-foot Tribal Buffalo Center. The $9.75 million project will serve as the permanent home of the Tribal Buffalo Initiative and will include community gathering space, exhibits and cultural artifacts, educational programming, and research facilities. Construction is anticipated to begin later this fall, further advancing a shared vision of buffalo restoration, cultural revitalization, education, and economic opportunity on the Wind River Reservation.
Workforce Development Open House Event Scheduled for August 5th
Central Wyoming College and Wind River Sage Fund to Host Recompete Open Houses in Riverton and Fort Washakie
Free professional certifications help eligible adults enhance work skills, obtain industry credentials, and unlock new career opportunities.
Central Wyoming College and Wind River Sage Fund invite Fremont community members to explore new educational and career opportunities during two upcoming Recompete Open Houses on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The free events will introduce eligible adults to workforce training, industry-recognized certifications, career coaching, and employment support available through the Recompete Program.
The open houses are designed for adults ages 25–54 who are interested in advancing their careers, learning new skills, or returning to school. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with success coaches, learn about available training programs and career pathways, ask questions, and discover the resources available to help them achieve their educational and employment goals.
- Training opportunities and certifications available for the Fall 2026 semester include:
- Bookkeeping
- Administrative Assistant
- Hospitality
- Other career-focused training programs designed to support immediate employment and long-term career advancement
“We know many adults are looking for opportunities to build new skills, earn credentials, and pursue meaningful careers,” says Brittany Yeates, Dean of Business & Industry. “These open houses are an opportunity for community members to see what’s available, meet the partners, and learn how Recompete can support their next step.”
The open house will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Locations include:
Riverton Open House
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m.– 12 p.m.
Central Wyoming College’s Intertribal Education & Community Center (ITECC), Community Room 116
2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, WY
Fort Washakie Open House
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 4–6 p.m.
Frank B. Wise Building, 3 Ethete Rd, Fort Washakie, WY
Complimentary refreshments will be provided at both locations.
Representatives from the Wind River Sage Fund, recipient of the federal Recompete Grant, will discuss the history and goals of the initiative, explain how it is creating new educational and workforce opportunities throughout the Wind River Reservation and Fremont County, and answer questions from attendees.
The Recompete Program provides free education, workforce training, career coaching, industry-recognized certifications, and employment support to eligible participants. The initiative is designed to help adults prepare for in-demand careers while strengthening the regional workforce and expanding economic opportunity.
Community members are encouraged to stop by either event, meet the Recompete team, and explore how the program can help them achieve their education and career goals.
For more information about the Recompete Program and eligibility requirements, visit https://www.cwc.edu/recompete/. Interested participants should complete a CWC application at www.cwc.edu/recompete.
Interested students may also contact Cindy Hayford at (307) 855-2019, chayford@cwc.edu for more information.
Land Sovereignty Project Update - July 2026
Community Engagement & Survey Report
In April 2026, Wind River Sage Fund facilitated a series of community engagement meetings and an online survey as part of their Creating a Path to Land Sovereignty project, which is funded by the Economic Development Administration’s Recompete Pilot. Facilitated by Red Creek Solutions, a Native American- and woman-owned management consulting firm, this spring’s community engagement activity was aimed at:
- Gauging community priorities for economic development on sovereign lands
- Identifying preferred business types, industries, and ownership structures
- Understanding desired community outcomes related to culture, jobs, youth, environment, and family well-being
- Collecting qualitative insights from community members to complement quantitative data
Approximately 100 community members provided ideas, insight, and feedback focused on the topic of sovereign economic development, and several themes emerged. Participants felt that any economic growth must be centered on culture, which is the community’s greatest strength. Many participants emphasized how healing and recovery initiatives offered alongside economic initiatives would be essential. Jobs and career pathways inspired by local, community-led models were top priorities. Participants also recognized the importance of infrastructure – broadband, roads, utilities, and facilities – to support economic growth. Community members expressed a deep need for working together across the Reservation in a collaborative way that integrated accountability measures to achieve visionary planning strategies.
Project Map
Community engagement will continue to support the overarching goal of the Creating a Path to Land Sovereignty project, which is to simplify and streamline the business development process and reduce time for start-ups, expansion, and job creation. Ultimately, the project will create a toolbox, complete with information on viable industries, potential business sites, and other resources, for Native entrepreneurs who want to start Reservation-based businesses.
Request for Proposals: Curator Consultant
Wind River Sage Fund Seeks Requests for Proposals for Curator
The Wind River Sage Fund is seeking a Curator Consultant to support the Cultural Preservation initiative. This role is critical to the foundational success of the museum facility housed at the future Tribal Buffalo Center. The selected consultant will lead the development of essential operational frameworks and ensure the cultural integrity of the center’s exhibits and programming.
The Curator Consultant position is a contracted, hourly role supporting the Wind River Sage Fund’s Cultural Preservation initiative. This expert will guide the foundational success of the Tribal Buffalo Center museum by developing operational frameworks, designing collections management plans, and ensuring the cultural integrity of all exhibits and programs. They will serve as an advisor to the architectural design team during the design-development process of the building and leading into the creation of construction documents.
Interested consultants should send a proposal to Paul Huberty at paul@wrdf.org.
It's official!
Wind River Sage Fund Receives IRS Tax-Exempt Status
The Wind River Sage Fund Inc. (WRSF) announced today that it has received official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) established WRSF as a new nonprofit organization to lead and support large-scale economic development initiatives on the Wind River Reservation and across the region.
WRSF is currently leading more than $40 million in economic development projects on the Reservation, focused on long-term community growth, infrastructure, and regional economic opportunity.
“We are very pleased to receive our tax-exempt designation for the newly created Wind River Sage Fund,” said Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director. “Together with the Wind River Development Fund – our Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) – we are now well positioned to advance both small business development and larger-scale economic projects. This dual-organization structure allows us to pursue distinct and complementary missions and funding opportunities.”
Wind River Sage Fund is governed by a five-member Board of Directors that includes Roy Brown (Northern Arapaho), Roxanne Friday (Eastern Shoshone/Seneca), Alejandra Robinson, Karen Snyder (Eastern Shoshone), and Vanessa Sorrels (Eastern Shoshone).
WRSF shares executive leadership with the Wind River Development Fund. Paul F. Huberty (White Earth Ojibwe) serves as Executive Director; Erika Warren-Yarber (Northern Arapaho) as Chief Operating Officer; Leslie Shakespeare (Eastern Shoshone) as Chief Implementation Officer; and Lisa Wagner as Chief Financial Officer, with each holding dual appointments across both organizations.
Erika Warren-Yarber talked about the advantages of the unique organizational structure and relationship between WRDF and WRSF. “This dual, yet independent organizational structure makes us incredibly dynamic. The Wind River Development Fund’s established work in supporting small businesses, paired with the Wind River Sage Fund’s capacity to lead major, large-scale economic projects, creates a powerful combination that drives immediate growth and sets the stage for generational prosperity across the Wind River Reservation.”
Red Creek Solutions Selected for Land Sovereignty Project
Wind River Sage Fund Partners with Red Creek Solutions to Advance Land Sovereignty on Wind River Reservation
The Wind River Sage Fund (WRSF) announced today that it has selected Red Creek Solutions, LLC (RCS) to lead the “Creating a Path to Land Sovereignty” project on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Funded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Recompete Pilot Program and supported by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, this effort will advance land sovereignty and long-term economic opportunity on the reservation.
Over the next 24 months, RCS will work with WRSF and tribal partners to facilitate community and stakeholder engagement, identify and assess priority sites for development, and outline strategies and tools to help the Tribes make informed decisions about land use and acquisition.
“We are pleased to engage with the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe as we launch this important planning initiative. Our priority is to create an economic development roadmap that supports the long-term goals of the Tribes and Tribal members,” said Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund.
“This project is about the communities on Wind River actively setting our own agenda for land and development, rather than reacting to outside opportunities. Red Creek Solutions brings the knowledge and background on Wind River and across Indian Country to help us identify the right sites, the right tools, and the right timing so land decisions create real opportunities for our young people and future generations,” said Leslie Shakespeare, Chief Implementation Officer of the Wind River Sage Fund.
“This partnership represents a pivotal step in reclaiming land and economic autonomy for the Wind River communities,” said Tyler Rush, CEO of Red Creek Solutions and an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. “As a Native-owned firm with deep roots in Indian Country, including over 15 years of experience on the Wind River Reservation, we’re honored to support WRSF in this transformative work. By integrating cultural priorities with proven project management methodologies, we’ll help create pathways to prosperity that honor tribal sovereignty and generate a lasting impact.”
RCS’s team, including Tyler Rush as Project Manager/Facilitator, Chance Rush as Community Outreach Facilitator (an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes), and Erik Cohen as Site Acquisition and Construction Manager with expertise in tribal electrification and infrastructure, brings proven experience from projects like the Administration for Native American’s $15 million Social and Economic Development Strategies grant, the Department of Interior’s $3.2 million electrification efforts, and the Bureau of Indian Affair’s nationwide Tribal Electrification Program.
More About Red Creek Solutions
Red Creek Solutions (RCS) is an Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), SBA Certified 8(a), Woman-Owned Small Business headquartered in Frisco, Texas. RCS provides management consulting, information technology, business services, and financial management to tribal, federal, state, local, and private sector clients, with a focus on empowering Indigenous communities through solutions-based services.
Brunton Architects to Design New Ecotourism Visitors Center
Wind River Sage Fund Selects Brunton Architects for the Design of the New Ecotourism Visitors Center in Fort Washakie
The Wind River Sage Fund (WRSF) announced today that it selected Brunton Architects of North Mankato, MN to design the new Ecotourism Visitors Center to be located in Fort Washakie. Brunton won the contract after competing with 16 other firms for architectural and engineering services.
The new ecotourism visitors complex will feature a 5,500-sq-ft Tribal Fish & Game headquarters that will include a wildlife museum, gift shop, theater, restrooms, and an information desk. A 7,200-sq-ft storage facility will also be constructed to house vehicles and equipment. The new complex will be located on Ethete Road across from the Fort Washakie hot springs, and construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Art Lawson is the Director of the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game. “We are deeply grateful to the Economic Development Administration for awarding a $6.5 million grant to support the construction of a 5,500-square-foot building for the Tribal Fish and Game Department. For 41 years, since the creation of our game code, the department has worked tirelessly to protect and manage our natural resources without a permanent place to call home. This new facility represents more than just a building – it’s a home base for stewardship, education, and the preservation of our way of life. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Wind River Development Fund and Wind River Sage Fund for their dedication and hard work throughout this process. Their partnership and perseverance have made this milestone possible.”
The Ecotourism Visitors Center is the centerpiece of a much larger strategy to invest in the outdoor recreation infrastructure on the Wind River Reservation. In addition to the EDA Recompete grant, the Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) secured $4 million in grants from the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. The outdoor recreation grants will focus on improving the facilities and amenities at four lakes, three trailheads, a new multigenerational playground, and revitalized baseball fields, among other projects.
Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund, said, “We are very excited to reach this milestone with the new Ecotourism Visitors Center. Since receiving the $6.5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), we have been working to secure the property and interview architectural and engineering (A&E) firms. We were pleased to see such high interest from regional and national A&E firms, and we are looking forward to working with Brunton Architects.”
Corey Brunton, CEO of Brunton Architects, said, “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with tribal leaders and community members on a project of such cultural and regional significance. Our goal is to create a facility that honors tradition while inspiring visitors through design that is both educational and welcoming.” Brunton Architects is an award-winning, multidisciplinary design firm dedicated to creating architecture that enriches lives and reflects the spirit of place. The firm’s portfolio includes tribal, municipal, public safety, medical, civic, educational, cultural, and commercial projects across the nation.
Arete Design Group to Design New Wind River Tribal Buffalo Center
Wind River Sage Fund Selects Arete Design Group for the Design of New Wind River Tribal Buffalo Center
The Wind River Sage Fund (WRSF) announced today that it selected Arete Design Group of Sheridan, WY to design the new Tribal Buffalo Center to be located at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) in Morton, WY. Arete won the contract after competing with 16 other firms for architectural and engineering services. Arete is partnering with the MASS Design Group.
The new 14,400-sq-ft Tribal Buffalo Center will feature a museum, gift shop, mini theater, administrative offices, and conference area. The building will be constructed at WRTBI and conveniently located on Highway 26. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Jason Baldes is the Executive Director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. In speaking about the new construction project, he said, “The return of buffalo to the Shoshone and Arapaho people is the return of a long lost relative, important for ceremony, nutrition, education, and food sovereignty for the people, but also important as part of the land, and to other plants and animals. This building signifies that importance by providing space for community, while providing informative experiences for visitors traveling through the reservation, to learn of our shared history and continued efforts to protect land, water and wildlife.”
Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund, said, “We are very excited to be working with the Arete Design Group on the new Tribal Buffalo Center. This project is the centerpiece of our Recompete grant and represents a $9.75 million investment into the Wind River economy.”
The Tribal Buffalo Center is one of eight grants awarded to WRSF through the Economic Development Administration’s Recompete Pilot Program. WRSF is also making significant investments in workforce training, food sovereignty, health care programs, and land planning.
“We are honored to be a part of this significant project,” said Rachel Delventhal, Principal at Arete. “Its impact will be felt for generations. Arete and MASS Design Group are here to listen to the people, understand the land and the buffalo, and design a center that speaks to the rich history of the Tribes and the deep significance of this place.”
For more information, please visit the Wind River Sage Fund at wrsagefund.org and the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative at windriverbuffalo.org.
Improvements at Ray Lake Begin!
The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) announced today the start of new amenities and infrastructure improvements at Ray Lake, located near Fort Washakie. In partnership with Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game, WRDF is advancing this initiative as part of a larger investment in the community infrastructure across the Wind River Reservation.
The Ray Lake project includes the installation of an environmentally friendly boat ramp, upgraded picnic tables and pavilions, new restroom facilities, and enhanced signage to improve visitor experience and environmental stewardship.
Leslie Shakespeare, recently appointed Chief Implementation Officer of WRDF, is leading the project. “This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration,” said Shakespeare. “By working alongside the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, Tribal Fish and Game, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, we are creating amenities that not only strengthen recreational opportunities, but also deepen cultural connections to our lands and waters, delivering long-term value to the community.”
The improvements at Ray Lake are part of WRDF’s $1 million investment—supported by a grant from the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation—targeting upgrades at Ray Lake, Bull Lake, Dinwoody Lake, and Moccasin Lake. Similar improvements at the additional lakes are scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
Project Coordinator Justin Webb is overseeing the installation process. “We’ve been planning and procuring equipment and materials for months,” Webb noted. “Now that everything is on-site, we’re ready to bring these long-anticipated improvements to life for the Reservation.”
Workforce Training Career Essentials Course Starting October 29th!
Enrollment Now Open for Workforce Essentials Course
In partnership with Central Wyoming College, we are pleased to announce that a 6-week online/hybrid course on Managing Career Development will be starting October 29th at the Frank B. Wise Building in Fort Washakie. This class will build personal, workplace, and technical skills for any career you choose and will earn you an industry-recognized “Career Essentials” credential upon successful completion.
PFDV 1500 Managing Career Development
October 29 – December 12
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Frank B. Wise Building
3 Ethete Rd, Fort Washakie, WY 82514
Laptops will be provided.
Participants 25-54 years of age may be eligible for scholarship and financial aid.
As you begin the application process, help is available every step of the way. For more information, call Jerri Prejean, (307) 855-2346.