The Thunder Valley E-TANKA cafe’ is a partnership between the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation and Native American Natural Foods the creator of the TANKA bar. In this project youth will have the opportunity of a lifetime. Youth will have the opportunity to work for two dynamic organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Lakota people through increasing skills for young people. 

In this project youth will be apart of creating a cafe’ that serves healthy food and healthy drinks. We our introducing the TANKA DOG! Youth will get hand on experience in customer service, Internet marketing, and selling of goods and services. 

The youth employees will also have the opportunity to get financial literacy training, open bank accounts and participant in individual development account savings program. (IDA). This project is a hands on youth entrepreneurship program that will give youth “real life” skills that they will be able to carry with them whether they go on to higher education or start their professional career. 

This project is very unique because it actually provides paid internship employment for Lakota youth living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Promotion of healthy lifestyles will actually be apart of the project meaning that youth in the program will also be paid to participate in classes that will teach them how to prepare healthy foods and they will also be required to exercise or participate in physical activity for 1 hour a day while being paid. 

This will be a positive experience where youth will have the opportunity to learn amazing entrepreneurship skills, financial education on the job experience and contribute to creating positive change here in the local community, while focusing on becoming healthier physically, mentally and emotionally. 

This project is being paid for by the Administration for Native Americans, Native American Natural Foods and the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation. 

For more information contact Thunder Valley CDC at 605-455-2700 or Native American Natural Foods at 605-455-2187.