Steven LaPointe

Director

Sicangu Lakota

Steven LaPointe is from the Owl Bonnet Clan of the Sicangu Lakota of South Dakota. Steve has been a lifetime hunter and conservationist. Currently, he serves as a Native American culture and history instructor with Denver Public Schools (DPS), Native American Culture and Education Department (NACE). He has spent the last six years with the DPS, Adams 12, and Jeffco summer camp teaching bow, tracking, and hunting skills. Steve spent eight years with the Circles of Care (CoC) mental healthcare program where he advocated to give Native youth a voice. The CoC program then created a youth track for all cohort members where Steve facilitated the program. This culminated in the final presentation at the Substance Abuse and Mental Healthcare Administration headquarters in Washington D.C. This gave the Native youth a voice to address the particular issues each community faced with mental health and suicide. Steven has served as the powwow committee chairman for the Mile High New Year’s Powwow celebration for the last eight years. He is a Powwow emcee, traditional dancer, and singer. In 2009 Steve had created a Denver metro bison program. Where he facilitated low-cost harvest and educational opportunities to Native veterans, sun-dance, and school groups. Steve advocates for the hunting and fishing treaty rights that are the cornerstone to Native American food sovereignty.