Leadership
Our creation stories tell us, we emerged on earth from subterrian wind caves at the same time as the bison.
Board of Directors
Cy Standing
Chairman
Cy Standing has a long and distinguished career including serving overseas as an Electronics Technician in the Royal Canadian Air Force, former Chief of Wahpeton Dakota Nation, former Vice Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations (FSIN), past Executive Director of Community Development Branch of the Department of Northern Saskatchewan as well as an Order in Council appointment to the Federal Parole Board. Mr. Standing has served as a Director on many Profit and Non-Profit Corporate Boards, including serving as a Director for Affinity Credit Union with assets of over $6B as well as IMI Brokerage and Wanuskewin. Mr. Standing brings a wealth of experience to Tatanka Oyate Holdings through his many years of engagement in Economic Development.
CURTIS Standing
Interim Managing Director
Curtis serves as a Councillor of Wahpeton Dakota Nation. Curtis is currently the Host and Executive Producer of the Indigenous Radio Show broadcast from Saskatoon and former Executive Producer of the Saskatchewan World Indigenous Festival for the Arts and was involved in organizing the Junos when hosted in Saskatoon. Curtis is also the former General Manager of the Painted Hands Casino in Yorkton and former Assistant Manager of Northern lights Casino in Prince Albert.
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Councillor Standing is a traditional Dakota Pow Wow Dancer frequenting Pow Wows and Sun Dances throughout the summer and spends much of his spare time in the winter using his skills as a former hockey player to mentor his Grandchildren in hockey. Curtis has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Regina and has completed graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.
herbert urton
Director
Herbert Urton is a visionary and quintessential entrepreneur. He was born with a pioneering spirit and drive to explore new frontiers, both geographic as well as economic. He is known for “breaking trail” from regional to international initiatives that connect people, resources, and business opportunities on behalf of an improved quality of life, better stewardship of natural resources, and solid financial returns. The businesses that have developed from these initiatives were grounded in trust, transparency, and respect to fill cultural gaps, meet unaddressed needs, and create win-wins for all partners.​
One Sky Group is currently pursuing public, private and government partnerships in Saskatchewan to expand trade and investments, improve quality of life for indigenous communities and advance cross-culture business ventures in the areas of forestry, mining, and addiction recovery.​
lois Standing
Director
Lois Standing serves as a Council Member of the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, bringing over ten years of consultancy and leadership experience dedicated to fostering community engagement and spearheading educational initiatives.
Currently, she leads projects at the Northern Dakota Language Revitalization Group, where her primary focus is on preserving Indigenous languages and integrating cultural values into broader economic and artistic frameworks.
In addition to her current roles,
Lois is a Course Instructor at the First Nations University of Canada, where she creates, develops, and facilitates introductory Dakota language lessons for students online. She has also taught at Great Plains College in the Business Certificate Program and served as the Director of Policy Development at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Lois is currently pursuing her PhD in Education at the University of Regina.
Scott Bird
Director
Scott Bird is a Wahpeton Dakota Nation Councillor. As a Director, he bringing a strong combination of governance, technical expertise, and community leadership.
He has extensive experience in housing management, capital projects, and project management, supported by many years working in construction, plumbing, and heating. Scott possesses a deep knowledge of Dakota traditions and values, which guide his approach to leadership and decision-making.
He currently serves as a Board Member of the Prince Albert Housing Authority and remains actively involved in Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) events and initiatives, contributing to regional collaboration and community development. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Scott is an avid chess player who enjoys the strategy and discipline the game provides.