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Tribal Member Backs Sioux Nation




PINE RIDGE, S.D. – The Oglala Sioux tribe is currently soliciting bids to see which company will secure a lucrative contract to supply the people of Pine Ridge village with groceries.

Tens of thousands of customers cycle through the doors of the Sioux Nation shopping center each year. The store that is located in the heart of Pine Ridge village currently occupies a tribally owned lot and building. The Oglala Sioux tribe leases out the building to grocery suppliers who then provide goods and services to residents living in the Pine Ridge area.

Currently, Hi-Way 20 Investment Co., holds the lease but the current contract expires on December 31, 2018

“The Tribe has solicited and reviewed proposals from various companies to operate a grocery store, hardware store, and auto parts store in the Sioux Nation Shopping Center premises,” wrote the tribe in a release. “If a new business is selected to operate the Sioux Nation Shopping Center, the Tribe and the new business will take all steps necessary to ensure that the transition is conducted quickly and that there is no interruption in the provision of groceries, goods, and services to the members of the Tribe and current store employees do not lose their jobs,” added OST. Hi-Way 20 is one of several distributors that have submitted proposals to the council.

The OST tribal council will hold a special meeting about the proposals that have been tendered to run the grocery in a special session scheduled for on November 9, 2018.

While some have argued that prices are too expensive at the store and that much needed renovations have not be undertaken by current management, one tribal citizen who currently works at Sioux Nation says that he believes that the current lease should be extended to Hi-Way 20.

“The notion that another supplier could provide the same foods at a much lower cost is overstated,” said Steve Shangreaux Jr. Shangreaux is the assistant manager at the Sioux Nation Shopping Center who was originally brought on staff to help the store address some food safety concerns several years ago. Since then, he has been promoted to the position of assistant manager.

“All we are really talking about here is replacing the middle-man. The same supplier currently used by the store is also utilized by the other company competing for the contract. It doesn’t make sense that they can promise to raise wages and lower prices when the food is coming from the same place.”

Shangreaux also believes that there is a likelihood that a significant delay could take place should a new grocer be awarded the lease. He said that the process of removing freezers and replacing them could take months and that there is a real risk that people could be left without a working grocery store.

“There is no real upside of bringing somebody new in,” he added.

(Contact Brandon Ecoffey at ecoffeyb@gmail.com)

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