Published by WyoFile

When the Wind River Food Sovereignty Project purchased this 30-acre farm near Fort Washakie, the land mainly grew hay. Machinery and tools stood in the yards. Fences were aging.

Fast forward two years, and a transformation is taking root. Old equipment has been cleared out, and a fenced vegetable garden is thick with vines of squash and melons. A large high tunnel has been erected; inside tidy rows of raised beds sit ready to receive soil and seeds. Native plants like chokecherry bushes have been transplanted near the creek, and some may even survive the deer onslaught. Near the farm entrance, circular paths wind around a garden, where benches, flowers and a shaded area have been designed to welcome tribal elders for rest and reflection.

“This garden is a sanctuary,” Wind River Food Sovereignty Project Co-director Kelly Pingree told a crowd gathered for a grand opening celebration Saturday. “A place for healing, peace and connection with nature.”

Once the ribbon was cut, tribal members and others from the community filed through an ornate gate and into the brand-new elder garden, forming a circle around drummers. After a song and a prayer, it was time to eat.

Marking the occasion with bowls of buffalo stew and fry bread dipped in chokecherry gravy felt appropriate given that the nonprofit is aimed at restoring food production and traditions in Wind River Reservation communities.

“As Native people, we always give thanks to Mother Earth for what she provides us,” Pingree told the crowd. “And when we connect with our food, it reconnects us to the land, our ancestral knowledge, our spirituality, our prayer.”

The progress at Trout Creek Farm marks the early stages of a multi-year vision to bolster local production, access to healthy foods, tribal education and more. But it also signifies the fruits of a $36 million federal redevelopment grant that several facets of the reservation stand to benefit from.

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.”

The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) announced today that Leslie Shakespeare has joined the organization as its new Chief Implementation Officer. In this leadership role, Shakespeare will join the WRDF executive team and be responsible for implementing the $36 million EDA Recompete grant and $4 million of outdoor recreation grants. Shakespeare previously served as the Rocky Mountain Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director, said, “We are very pleased to have Leslie join our team as we implement over $40 million of economic development projects for the Reservation. Leslie brings significant leadership experience to our organization and he is passionate about our mission to serve the Wind River community. His executive experience working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and his service on the Eastern Shoshone Business Council will strengthen our organization at this pivotal time.”

In the newly created Chief Implementation Officer (CIO) position, Shakespeare will lead the implementation and execution of the Recompete strategic initiatives in partnership with the Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. Two key projects that Shakespeare will lead include construction of the Tribal Buffalo Center at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative and a new Ecotourism Visitors Center (Tribal Fish & Game complex) to be located in Fort Washakie.

In speaking about his new role, Shakespeare said, “I’ve always believed my environment should reflect the values I carry. Wind River is my home, and I’ve seen both the challenges and the deep resilience of our people. I’m committed to making sure our investments create lasting impact—lifting up our communities, expanding opportunity, and building a future that reflects our strength, vision, and potential. This work is personal to me, and it’s grounded in a promise to serve with purpose and heart.”

Erika Warren-Yarber is WRDF’s Chief Operating Officer and she was instrumental in securing significant funding for the Reservation’s economic development projects. In commenting about Shakespeare joining the team, she said, “I am incredibly excited to have Leslie join as our newest team member. His specialized skills in land and project management will undoubtedly strengthen our capabilities and accelerate our strategic goals.” Warren-Yarber and Shakespeare will work closely to ensure the successful completion of 14 projects over the next five years.

Shakespeare, who is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, recently served as the Rocky Mountain Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Billings, MT. Previously, he served for six years as Superintendent of BIA for the Wind River Agency. Shakespeare was elected to the Eastern Shoshone Business Council in 2016 and served as Vice Chairman until 2019. Prior to serving on the Business Council, he was Tribal Liaison to the Wyoming Governor’s Office. Shakespeare has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming, a master’s degree from Norwich University, and he completed the Leadership Wyoming program in 2017.

The Rockefeller Foundation has launched its inaugural cohort of U.S. Big Bets Fellows — 12 changemakers advancing bold solutions to strengthen communities from coast to coast, including in Alaska, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming. We are pleased to announce that our very own Paul Huberty has been selected as a Big Bets Fellow! Paul proudly submitted Wind River’s vision and economic strategy, which is to create a new path for Indigenous people to reclaim their sovereignty while rebuilding equitable economies based on cultural values.

The 2025 U.S. Big Bets Fellows are confronting issues head-on, channeling American ingenuity into bold, locally driven solutions tailored to their communities’ needs. Over a four-month fellowship, this group of leaders will engage in curated programming, peer networking, and professional development designed to help them scale their efforts in driving inclusive economic growth and building healthier, more resilient systems across the country.

Fort Washakie, WY – The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) announced today that Justin Webb joined the organization as its new Project Coordinator. Webb, an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Tribe, has 25 years of experience in the commercial construction industry.

Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of WRDF, stated, “We are so happy to have Justin join our team to support our important work on the Reservation. With our Recompete award and other significant grants, we now have 14 projects to oversee and manage. Justin’s experience in construction management fills a critical need on our team.”

As Project Coordinator, Webb will work in WRDF’s newly established Project Management Office and he will facilitate the implementation of more than $40 million in economic development projects over the next five years, including two major construction projects.

Emilia Felix is the Director of the Project Management Office and she said, “I am very excited to welcome Justin to our team. His extensive experience in construction brings a much-needed skill set to our projects, strengthening our project management office and enhancing our ability to deliver quality results.”

Webb has an Associate’s Degree in Environmental, Health, & Safety from Central Wyoming College and he is a resident of Riverton, WY.

Published by WyoFile

The 2.2-million-acre Wind River Indian Reservation encompasses frothy rivers and wild mountains, alpine lakes, buffalo herds and rich cultural heritage. The kind of outdoor attractions, in other words, that many western communities leverage to fuel tourism.

Just look at Lander, Thermopolis, Jackson and Dubois, said Paul Huberty, executive director of the Wind River Development Fund.

“Everybody around us has capitalized on the natural resources here, and of course, all of those areas used to be part of the reservation,” Huberty said. “So we know it works.”

The Wind River Development Fund and others on the reservation are planning to undertake several projects aimed at making outdoor recreation more robust and accessible — both for tribal residents and for tourists who flock to nearby destinations to experience iconic landscapes and wildlife. This year, the state is chipping in to help make that happen.

The lion’s share of 2025 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Program grants will go to projects on the Wind River Reservation. Of 15 projects receiving a total of $17.8 million in funding, seven are on the reservation and earmarked for $4.4 million. The Wind River Development Fund and its partners were awarded six of those.

Fort Washakie, WY – The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) announced that it created a new nonprofit corporation named the Wind River Sage Fund Inc. to lead economic development projects on the Wind River Indian Reservation and across the region. The new organization will manage and deploy the $36 million Recompete grant from the Economic Development Administration and $4 million of outdoor recreation grants recently awarded by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. Executive leadership stated that it will pursue additional funding opportunities that align with the organization’s mission and strategic goals.

“We launched the Wind River Sage Fund to drive Native-led economic development projects in the region, while the Wind River Development Fund will stay focused on our market-competitive lending and entrepreneurial programs on the Wind River Indian Reservation,” stated Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of the Wind River Development Fund. “This strategy allows our organizations to simultaneously focus on supporting small business growth and larger scale economic development projects while pursuing unique funding opportunities for each mission.”

WRDF will share board members and executive leadership with the Wind River Sage Fund Inc. to ensure mission alignment and strong governance between the two organizations. Roy Brown, an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and a WRDF board member, is the new Chair of the Board of Directors for the Wind River Sage Fund. He commented, “This is an exciting time for the Wind River Reservation when it comes to economic development. Board members and staff are eager to partner with organizations and community members to complete these initiatives and bolster our economy to provide more opportunities for our communities to flourish.”

Huberty (White Earth Ojibwe) has also been named as the Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund. “Our Sage Fund now has more than $40 million of economic development grants specifically for the Wind River Reservation. We are rapidly shifting from planning to implementation with 14 projects to manage over the next five years. Longer-term, we see significant opportunities to accelerate economic development in Wyoming,” he stated.

WRDF developed a new collaborative, economic development framework called the Native Sovereignty Model that strengthens Native sovereignty while creating economic opportunity for everyone. With its Recompete application, which was one of only six to be selected for an award out of 565 applications submitted nationally, WRDF utilized the model to propose a unique and innovative approach to economic development in Wind River. In its application, WRDF partnered with other strong organizations and Tribal entities in the region, including Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game, Wind River Food Sovereignty Project, Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, Eastern Shoshone Tribe, and Central Wyoming College.

Erika Warren-Yarber (Northern Arapaho) is the Chief Operating Officer for WRDF and the new Wind River Sage Fund. In talking about the power of partnerships, she said, “Traditionally, reservation-based organizations and entities competed against each other to attract funding for economic development and capacity building. When we focus on collaboration and reciprocity, as opposed to competitiveness and siloed thinking, the possibilities are endless. Supporting each other’s missions and dreams is an incredibly empowering experience.”

Published by Inside Philanthropy

The community development sector is undergoing a crucial leadership transition, marked by a notable shift in leadership diversity. Member data from the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) shows increasing diversity among its member institutions’ leadership and employees: from 2017 to 2021, the proportion of OFN member CEOs who were people of color grew threefold, to more than one-third of all OFN member CEOs. This shift is due to the growing emphasis on the importance of having “proximate” leaders, meaning having community development organizations run by leaders who share identities and lived experiences with the communities they serve. This means that, for example, Black leaders in majority-Black communities, rural leaders in rural communities, or Native American leaders in Indigenous communities, can draw on the expertise of lived experience to inform decision-making to benefit their communities.

Proximate leaders’ deep understanding of the systemic challenges, needs, hopes, and dreams of the communities they serve — along with their connections — allow them to create solutions that are truly community-focused, working closely with their teams, stakeholders and community members. Research shows that proximate leaders bring distinctive assets to their roles, but, unfortunately, face compounding barriers such as unconscious bias and the pressure to resolve existing issues more rapidly than is realistic.

With the belief that funders can help position proximate leaders for long-term success, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is supporting a cohort of five community development organizations — including community development loan funds and credit unions, development finance agencies, and housing finance agencies — with standout leaders who have recently taken the helm. This support includes flexible, unrestricted funding to reduce the pressure of fundraising, facilitating learning exchanges with proximate leaders and mentors, and elevating leaders’ voices via shared learning opportunities.