Herseth for Congress

Funding for Wakpa Sica provides hope
By Rebecca Cruse, Capital Journal Staff
June 22, 2006

It looks as if 2007 could be a decent year for the Wakpa Sica Historical Society’s Reconciliation Place project judging by Rep. Stephanie Herseth’s announcement last week about several of her requests being included in the Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development bill.

According to Herseth’s announcement, the House approved $400,000 for the Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place.

WSHS executive director Stacey LaCompte said that this is the first year that any funding has been approved out of the House for the project and it is possible that additional funds may be attached when the bill goes through the Senate in July.

According to LaCompte, WSHS requested $1.5 million to continue construction on the cultural center.

If no more money is allocated, LaCompte is not sure what more can be completed with the $400,000.

“Possibly some more interior work on the cultural center,” LaCompte said. “We could maybe finish up the offices. We’d have to break everything down and see what we could afford with that. It’s becoming more and more phases as we have to break everything down more while we wait for money.”

But LaCompte is optimistic about 2007. The society has hired a grant writer and submitted several grant applications. LaCompte said that some interest has been shown to help fund the project as a result of those applications, but there is nothing decided at this time.

Final decisions about federal funding will probably be announced in August.

Regardless of the outcome, LaCompte said that she and the WSHS are grateful for Herseth’s efforts.

“Stephanie is really doing some good stuff for us,” LaCompte said. “She came out (of the House) with what she could for us. They go in with basically nothing and come out with whatever they can get. And since this is the first year we’ve come out of the house with money, we were happy with that.”

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