CSU Native Veterinary Students Serve on Rosebud Reservation

In the heart of the Midwest, amid the rolling plains of South Dakota, lies the Rosebud Reservation, home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate. It’s a land rich in culture, tradition, and history, but also marked by challenges, including limited access to veterinary care. But Summer Lara (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate), Lecia Mata (Red Lake Nation), and Kena Hayes (Sicangu Lakota) are helping to change that.

Driven by a passion for animal welfare and a commitment to their Native American roots, these CSU veterinary students led two field trips to the Rosebud Reservation. Their mission is multifaceted: to showcase Native representation in veterinary medicine, to honor tribal communities and cultures, to highlight the critical need for access to care, and to provide invaluable hands-on experience for aspiring veterinarians.

At the heart of their work is a powerful message: representation matters. Indigenous people have historically been underrepresented in the veterinary profession, facing systemic barriers and disparities. By actively participating in outreach initiatives like those at Rosebud, these students are breaking stereotypes and serving as role models for future generations.

Kena Hayes recalled the trip: “Representation is one of our most important missions. We knew we were making an impact when a child at one of our clinics looked at Summer and said, ‘You’re a doctor?!” That moment reinforced how important it is for clients to see themselves reflected in the professionals who serve them.”

Each Rosebud expedition is meticulously planned to maximize impact with the support of CSU faculty and partner veterinarians who regularly work in field medicine, with special thanks to Wamakanskan Wawokiye Oti, Kathy Woodenknife and Robbie Clairmont. The students provide a range of veterinary services to the community’s beloved animal companions, including physicals, vaccinations and treatment for sick or injured animals. But their efforts extend far beyond clinical care.

One of the group’s primary goals is to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of culture. Additional veterinary students who joined them were required to complete cultural sensitivity training. Students were invited to participate in a circle dance and fumigation ceremony and joined a community liaison for fishing. The group recognizes that the basic need is to understand the community you are providing care for and to provide care with empathy and compassion.

Additionally, the trips serve as a reminder of the critical need for accessible veterinary care in underserved communities. Many Rosebud residents do not have the means to travel long distances for veterinary care, exposing their pets to preventable diseases. By providing care directly to their community, students are addressing an urgent need while promoting the well-being of animals and their human companions.

The experience is transformative on a personal and professional level for the veterinary students involved. In addition to honing their clinical skills, they gain invaluable insights into the intersection of animal health and community needs and what the “spectrum of care” can mean as they become caregiving veterinarians. These lessons are as essential to their education as any textbook knowledge.

Looking to the future, CSU students remain committed to serving Rosebud and communities like it in need. They recognize that true progress is measured not by the number of animals treated, but by lasting relationships and lasting impact.

“As more and more Native students come to CSU to study veterinary medicine, we hope they will continue this program and the long-standing partnerships we have invested in. In our Dakota/Lakota culture, we are grounded in the value of mitakuye owasin kinship, or all my kin, and the value of reciprocity,” said Summer Lara. “That is a value we want to bring to CSU. It is an incredible privilege and opportunity to attend veterinary school, but we would not be here without the support of others. Connections are essential to our success, and this program is one way we can do that.”

As the students progress through veterinary school, they hope the program will receive additional support. These initial trips were made possible by the support of their sponsor, Elanco. Their goal is to expand to other tribal communities and offer additional veterinary services, including surgery. They also want to maintain real connections with the community and emphasize the importance of giving back.

Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, these Native veterinary students at CSU are charting a new course—a course defined by compassion, collaboration, and cultural respect. In doing so, they are not only healing animals but also breaking down barriers for future Native veterinarians.