About Us

Our Mission

Native BioData Consortium (NativeBio) is an Indigenous and independent 501 (C)(3) non-profit data repository and research center founded in 2018. NativeBio is the first Indigenous genomic biorepository led by Natives and located within a sovereign American Indian nation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Our mission is to strengthen tribal sovereignty and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to the ownership, benefit, and self-governance of our own ancient, genetic, environmental, and social data.

Our Services

NativeBio is dedicated to improving Indigenous health through research while building capacity in data science and genomics for Native communities. The organization ensures that all genetic and health data is collected and stored with full respect for tribal ownership and control.

Conducting community-centered health research: NativeBio leads studies in areas like pharmacogenomics and COVID-19 response that directly benefit Native peoples.

Protecting data sovereignty: NativeBio safeguards Indigenous peoples' rights to their own genetic, environmental, and social data, ensuring all research is conducted with tribal consent and on tribal land.

Building Indigenous capacity: NativeBio prepares Indigenous students for careers in science through STEM/STEAM education and training programs, while advising tribes on ethical data use and research practices.

Providing data storage: NativeBio operates a biospecimen repository, provides secure data storage, offers consultation on data governance, conducts research and analysis, and supports policy development.

Fostering trust and partnership: As an Indigenous-led organization, NativeBio bridges the gap between research institutions and Native communities, ensuring that scientific advancements serve and benefit the communities themselves.

Our Start-Up Story

NativeBio is founded on the principle that research using Indigenous peoples' genetic data or samples should be led by Indigenous people themselves. This principle evolved from two Stanford University research projects: SAIL Study (Studies of Auto-Immune Illnesses with the Lakota). And later, BRAICELET (Bio Repository for American Indian Capacity, Education, Law, Economics, and Technology, focused on building a biobank and related programs for the American Indian community.

SAIL and BRAICELET research projects launched in 2015 and were led by Michael Snyder, Ph.D., Standford Medicine, School of Medicine's Department of Genetics in partnership with the Lakota community, Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc. (MBIRI), Black Hills Center for American Indian Health (BHCAIH), and the SPHERE Center to optimize learning and exchange of culture, policy, and Precision Health practices.

Stanford University's SPHERE Center and the Bio-Repository for American Indian Capacity, Education, Law, Economics, and Technology (BRAICELET) laid the groundwork for Indigenous research built around community engagement. This led to the formation of the Native BioData Consortium.

Stanford SPHERE Center & BRAICELET (video)

Stanford University's SPHERE Center and the Bio-Repository for American Indian Capacity, Education, Law, Economics, and Technology (BRAICELET). Working with the Lakota community, BRAICELET established a first-of-its-kind American Indian Biobank that led to the Native BioData Consoritum.

NativeBio Founders

*From left:* Joseph Yracheta, Krystal Tsosie, Keolu Fox, Guthrie Ducheneaux

governanceboard

Our Governance

NativeBio operates under a collaborative governance structure that honors tribal sovereignty and ensures Indigenous leadership at every level. Our management team, board of directors, and tribal community advisory board work in partnership, supported by tribal regulation and jurisdiction. This structure embodies our core values: tribal sovereignty and personal integrity, societal and generational responsibility, transparency and partnership, and continuous innovation and improvement.

Native BioData leadership team — *Management team from left:* Joseph Yracheta, Executive Director (Purhepecha), Kali Dale, Research Director (White Earth Objibwe), Ashlynn Gerth, Development Director (Mille Lac Ojibwe), Rebecca Dickinson, Grants Manager (White Earth Objibwe), and Burt Dillabaugh, Public Operations Officer & Tribal Liaison (Cheyenne River Lakota)

At the heart of our mission is a research center and Indigenous biorepository located on sovereign Native American land. This facility safeguards Native biomedical, genetic, and health information while enabling cutting-edge health and data science research—often conducted in partnership with research institutions and governmental agencies.

Beyond research, we provide essential consulting and training services to policy centers, law and ethics institutes, universities, research organizations, and tribal communities. We are deeply committed to preparing and training the next generation of Indigenous STEAM professionals, ensuring that Indigenous voices lead the future of health and science.

STEAM camp — NativeBio is led by Native scientists dedicated to training Native students and tribal members to increase Indigenous capacity.

Native BioData Consortium — NativeBio is a research center and biorepository in a sovereign American Indian Nation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

By centering Indigenous knowledge, protecting Indigenous data, and fostering collaborative research, NativeBio creates a model for ethical, community-driven science that serves both current and future generations of Indigenous peoples.