Elsie Meeks, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was sworn in as the director of the Department of Agriculture Rural Development in South Dakota.

Meeks was nominated to the post by President Barack Obama. She will work closely with tribal and state governments and with the private sector in improving economic opportunity in rural parts of South Dakota.

Meeks was the first Native American to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and has over 20 years of experience in community economic development in Indian Country.

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South Dakota Native Elsie Meeks sworn in as director of USDA's Rural Development (The Rapid City Journal 7/29)