Rapid City, SD// First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta), the Rapid City-based Native community development financial institution intermediary, will be ushering in a new decade with the addition of a staff member who is a very familiar face to the Native economic development field. Tanya Fiddler, a long-time advocate for business development and asset building in Native communities, has been named as Oweesta’s new Vice President of Programs and Operations.
Fiddler, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, served for the past eight years as the executive director of Four Bands Community Fund, a Native community development financial institution (CDFI) in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Ms. Fiddler assumed leadership of Four Bands Community Fund in its start-up phase and built it into a successful, award-winning organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary sciences from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and has 15 years of experience working with Native organizations. Ms. Fiddler is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the 2008 Bureau of Indian Affairs “Entrepreneur Advocate of the Year,” the 2007 Small Business Administration “Minority Small Business Champion for South Dakota,” and the 2007 “Visionary Leader Award for Outstanding Achievement” in recognition of her impact in the CDFI field. She is a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator at regional and national conferences and is a board member of the South Dakota Indian Business Alliance and South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc.
“Because of her extensive knowledge and experience working with Four Bands Community Fund and other Native CDFIs throughout the country, Tanya is recognized as a leader in the Native CDFI industry. We are very excited to have her come to work with us,” Tracey Fischer, President and CEO of Oweesta said.
Ms. Fiddler will officially assume the position of Vice President of Programs and Operations at Oweesta on January 11, 2010. She will oversee Oweesta’s Institution Development, Financial Education & Asset Building, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development, and Research, Policy & Advocacy Departments. About her new role with Oweesta, Ms. Fiddler says, "I'm passionate about the asset building and economic development work of Native CDFIs in their communities and consider it a privilege to take on this new role within Oweesta to support the Native CDFI industry. I'm looking forward to future advancements and successes in our partnerships and collaborations that promote Native CDFI development across the country."
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About Oweesta Oweesta (http://www.oweesta.org) is a certified Native CDFI intermediary, providing Native communities with loans, investments, technical assistance, training and community development information. Its mission is to provide opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, leading to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities.