Monica RattlingHawk

World Wildlife Fund

Monica is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, an aspiring Unci (grandmother) and resides on Quiver Hill, the northeast corner of the Pine Ridge Reservation, where she happily toils in the soil, harvesting medicines and enjoys the challenges of walking in two worlds. Walking a journey of discovering traditional knowledge and eco-system relationships, from an Indigenous perspective. She joined the WWF-Northern Great Plains program in 2017 to lead outreach efforts on Pine Ridge regarding the South Unit (Strong Hold), land owned by the tribe and co-managed by the National Park Service. Monica is a member of the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance that is working to ensure the sustainability of tribal wildlife conservation, protection of natural and sacred resources and ensuring there are grasslands for generations by creating sustainable financing, engaging local communities and leadership, and connecting conservation with life ways. Monica is also an advocate of the Buffalo Treaty and has brought the Oglala Sioux Tribe to be a signatory and continues as a working group member tackling issues impacting tribes and the buffalo relative. Monica works with her community bringing forth education on “Food as a medicine” to the community through education in planting, harvesting and preserving foods. She participates in public service as the President of the Crazy Horse School Board and is a founding member of a Women’s Society – Ethics and traditional thoughts and philosophy.