About Us
Buffalo Youth Nation Project
Building native based food sovereignty systems and providing resource security for native youth, families and their communities across the great plains region to bring healing and stability in alignment with our native values and virtues
Our history
Native Women Led, Native Women Strong
True love for her Nation is what empowered Lisa, and her kids, to drive 800 miles across the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in the summer of 2018 with school supplies. Who would’ve known this single act would immortalize a greater impact. Fortitude, Generosity, Kinship, Prayer, Respect, Wisdom, and Compassion are the 7 Lakota virtues that gathered women warriors (Akicita) from all walks of life, instilled with the spirit of healing, they established BYNP 501(c)(3) in April 2021
Our mission
Buffalo Youth Nation Project
Building native based food sovereignty systems and providing resource security for native youth, families and their communities across the great plains region to bring healing and stability in alignment with our native values and virtues
- Over five Indigenous Nations served
- Across 5 states
- Over 1200 children served with winter gear
- Over 150,000 lbs of food delivered and distributed to our On Reservation Schools
Our Board
Lisa Ansell Frazier Tankamani Wi Founder/Director
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Lisa Ansell Frazier Tankamani Wi Founder/Director
Lisa Ansell Frazier is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and currently lives in Wyoming. She is a mother of three beautiful children and a dog mom to three amazing dogs. She is a Tribal Trauma Crisis Counselor, and a Continuing Education Teacher at the Institute of American Indian Arts. She spends her free time hiking with her family and gardening. Her mission is empowerment of Native youth, Indigenous food security, creating stability and nurturing self-esteem
Katrina Vermillion Director/Treasurer
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Lisa Ansell Frazier Tankamani Wi Founder/Director
Katrina is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She is an artist and passionate creator of many forms of craft. She loves spending time in nature, whether it be by forested mountains or the fresh air of the oceanside. She has enjoyed the last twenty-six years providing care and connection to many animals in her community at the Frontier Veterinary Clinic. Katrina believes her purpose in this life is to help others with her voice and heart, especially children. She does so in honor of her beautiful son and his kindness campaign, Bkind4b.
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Lydia Lerma is a member of the Lipan Apache and currently lives in Colorado. She is the mother of three children and a black lab. She is also a grandma to three sweet kitties. Lydia is an avid outdoorswoman and maintains her tribal tradition of big game hunting. She is a community activist/advocate and serves on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (OMMIR) Community Advisory Board and the Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors (CSAS) State Task Force. Her mission is to empower survivors of sexual abuse and their families so that they can all experience healing.
Anaya Echohawk-Flint Director/Secretary
Odessa Oldham Wokini Bison Program Director
Lydia Lerma Vice President
Anaya Echohawk-Flint is a member of the Paiute, Pawnee, and Yakama Nations. She spends her time with her husband, three children and pug. She is currently working on her undergraduate in Psychology. She hopes to make mental health resources more accessible for Indigenous populations.
Odessa Oldham Wokini Bison Program Director
Odessa Oldham Wokini Bison Program Director
Odessa Oldham Wokini Bison Program Director
Odessa Oldham is a 5th-generation Navajo jewelry maker and currently works for the Food Bank of Wyoming, she owns a ranch and runs her own Navajo-owned Jewelry business. She is an advocate for Indigenous people, land and Bison restoration. With her partner they have a beautiful daughter. Her beautiful Navajo jewelry can be found at: https://www.indigenoussister.com