Makoce Agriculture Development

About Makoce

Emerging from the vision of founder Nick Hernandez, Makoce–meaning “Homeland” in Lakota”--is creating a community-based, regenerative food system to nourish both land and people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Drawing on Indigenous processes, Makoce is creating infrastructure and resources for community members to grow, produce, and distribute local-raised food from “seed to shelf”--a critical step in achieving food and economic sovereignty and supporting a thriving, self-sustaining Oglala Lakota nation. 

Challenges and Opportunities 

Creating a local food system is complex and multifaceted–and initially that made it challenging to communicate Makoce’s broader goals to community members and supporters, including potential funders. Effectively managing Makoce’s five significant initiatives–a regenerative farm, community food hub, food systems teaching institute, hemp production program, and advocacy alliance–demanded a dynamic, comprehensive strategic plan and sound organizational infrastructure. 

Approach

A big part of Emergence’s early work with Makoce was supporting Nick and his team to translate powerful ideas into a holistic, compelling vision and strategic action plan. The team focused on creating the framework to tell Makoce’s story, and provided coaching on communicating that vision to prospective supporters and community members. Focus also went to building Makoce’s core infrastructure to keep it’s multiple parts moving together seamlessly–from a comprehensive CRM database, to financial, accounting, and grants management systems, to a dynamic website and communications guidelines, and more.  
Impact

Drawing on Emergence’s full range of services has helped Makoce take major steps toward its vision. Stronger, more holistic messaging and support in communicating the organization’s story has sparked rapidly -increasing interest from supporters in the community and across the country. Working with the team at Emergence, Makoce was awarded its first federal grant, and its budget has grown from under $75,000 to over $1.4 million in just under two years. With comprehensive strategy, operations, and administrative support, Nick and the team at Makoce are able to stay focused on his work on the ground–working side-by-side with community members to launch a local food revolution on the Pine Ridge Reservation.