Managing in Turbulent Times: Emerging Leaders in Public Health

Alumni

Richard Iron Cloud

Oglala Nation Community Education Resource Center, South Dakota

 

Area of work in public health

The majority of my career has comprised of Health and Wellness issues within Native American Communities, on two of the largest Indian Reservations in the United States, the Navajo Nation in the Southwest and the Oglala Lakota Nation on the Northern Plains. In 2001 was honored to be a member of the Community Initiatives Panel for the Healthy People 2010 Conference in Washington DC. In the past I worked as a community organizer on some Centers for Substance Abuse Programs and Robert Woods Johnson Projects related to Health and Wellness issues. Most recently I have been involved with organizing and implementing a community-based plan to prevent diabetes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The project received a letter of accommodation from the Oglala Lakota Wellness team, a group of Health Professionals and Community people who collaborate on health issues on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. The Project also received two awards from KILI Radio “The Healthy Voice of the Lakota Nation”. I was interviewed by Jill Braden from Reuters Health News Service, regarding the project and ABC’s Night Line in a half hour special entitled “Plague on an Indian Reservation”. Perhaps the greatest honor that we received was a hand sewn program banner created by a elderly Lakota women from a traditional family. We also hosted a local KEVN Fox television special entitled “War on Diabetes” I am also a Board Member for the Native Wellness publication “Well Nations Magazine” The most significant event that happened recently was in September of this year, I swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco Bay to raise awareness of health issues on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Personal information

I have been married to my Hasani ( spouse) Arlene for 22 years, she is employed with the Oglala Sioux Tribes Health Education Department. She is a certified Fitness Trainer and enjoys supporting people with their fitness plans. We have four children Arlo 22, Philip 19, Dakota 15, Maya 13 and my Grandson Leroy 2 years. I enjoy going on trips with my family, reading, artwork, Lakota culture and history, walking and lifting weights.

What I would like to get out of this program

My intention is to work with my relatives to build a healthy Sovereign Lakota Nation. But first I must begin with myself; I need to foster excellence in my leadership skills. So I can create a positive response to crisis situations. In addition to this would like to explore some proactive paradigms with transparent financial systems that are accountable that we can emulate. As for communications and human relations, it seems as though we are at a point where we no longer trust one another and our communication seems to be very depressing. I believe we are badly in need some healthy infusion of innovation.