Dawn E. “Dawnee” LeBeau is a member of the Oóhenuŋpa Itázipačola Tetoŋwaŋ bands of the Lakota Nation. She resides on the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation in South Dakota with her two wakanyeja (children) and family. She has been with the Akiptan team as the Program Officer since June of 2021. Her role is to lead the development of Akiptan’s programs, while working intricately with the Executive Director to manage and expand the services and programs that Akiptan offers.

 

Dawn is passionate about visual storytelling (photography), gardening, and plant relatives; and her work supports the amplification of indigenous Lakota wellness, Lakota language, and Lakota cultural values. Dawnee holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Science. She has served as a fellow with the First Peoples Fund for the Artist in Business Leadership and Cultural Capital Fellowships; the 2019-2020 South Dakota Change Network; the 2020-21Creative Community Leadership Institute; and as a 2021-22 fellow with Native Arts and Culture Foundation. Dawn has also served as a mentee with the Seed Seva Mentorship and the Native Food and Culinary Mentorship. She is currently a Master Gardener and Home Horticulture member with the SDSU Extension Master Gardener Program.