Dusty Johnson: “October 11 is, in South Dakota, Native American Day. Now, when America turns its eyes to Indian reservations, so often…”

“October 11 is, in South Dakota, Native American Day. Now, when America turns its eyes to Indian reservations, so often-- too often--the focus is on poverty, despair, dysfunction. But there are wonderful stories from Indian Country as well, stories of hope, opportunity, hard work, success, entrepreneurship. With that in mind, I want to talk to you about Tashina Red Hawk. She is a 17-year-old member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She is an excellent student, and she is a rodeo queen. She is my friend, and let me tell you, Madam Speaker, she is impressive. Tashina graduated early from high school, and then, when the pandemic hit and her college classes went online, rather than do what so many teens did, spending more time on social media or video games, she decided to become an entrepreneur. It is just an amazing story. Her local coffee shop had remained closed during the pandemic, so Tashina saw an opportunity. She wanted to save money for college. Again, as I said, she is an excellent student. She wants to be a veterinarian. Now, she knows that path is not going to be easy, and it is going to take a few dollars in the bank. She knew that this business opportunity would give her a wonderful chance. Here she is in front of Tashina's Coffee. She also wanted to make sure that her local community, her small town, had the same amenities that large towns do, and I think we can all agree that a powerful cup of coffee is a great amenity.…”