Cultural Preservation Manager

“Mitakuye Oyasin — We’re all related.”

As Wozu’s Cultural Preservation Manager, Ronald Lebeau is dedicated to carrying forward the traditions of our ancestors and sharing them with future generations. His work is rooted in the belief that preserving language, stories, and cultural practices strengthens the whole community.

Under Ron’s leadership, Cultural Preservation has become a cornerstone of Wozu’s mission to regenerate and revitalize ancestral ways of life. From language classes and storytelling nights to traditional arts, ceremonies, and tipi construction, his programs create spaces for cultural knowledge to thrive. Each activity empowers youth, engages elders, and strengthens relationships across generations.

Some of the impacts of Ron’s work include:

• 500+ community members engaged through cultural programs and activities.
• 20+ events and workshops hosted to preserve traditions and celebrate heritage.
• Support for seasonal workers and knowledge holders who bring their skills to the community.

Looking to the future, Ron is guiding efforts to expand cultural programming, strengthen partnerships, and lay the foundation for an Interpretive Center — a space for speakers, workshops, and interactive experiences that celebrate indigenous knowledge and normalize traditional practices in everyday community life.

For Ron, cultural preservation is more than a program — it is a way to weave the past into the present, ensuring the stories, languages, and practices of Standing Rock live on for generations to come.