Dave Archambault II

Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II has been a champion of Indigenous People’s rights. His efforts aim to improve the lives of his people by focusing on education, economic development and renewable energy sources.

Last year, the tribe and its supporters nearly prevented construction of a pipeline carrying crude oil beneath the Missouri River near Standing Rock, North Dakota. But after Trump was elected, support for this project was revived with renewed vigor.

Early Life and Education

Archambault II has an impressive educational background, having attended Sitting Bull College (now Standing Rock Community College) and Bismarck State College. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Dakota State University as well as a master’s in management from the University of Mary.

As chairman of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, Dave has worked to promote tribal economic development and self-determination for Native Americans. He has advocated for changes in government that promote an inclusive and fair system of governance, as well as being a strong supporter of renewable energy sources.

Professional Career

Chairman Archambault, a Senior Fellow with the University of Colorado’s First Peoples Investment Engagement Program, is an advocate for indigenous rights and social justice. He has led opposition to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and speaks out in defense of tribal sovereignty.

He was named a “Leading Global Thinker of 2016” by Foreign Policy Magazine and received the “Native American Leadership Award” from the National Congress of American Indians. Additionally, he earned his Doctorate of Law Honoris Causa” from Vermont Law School.

Dave has over 25 years of experience in senior management positions with internal audit, controllership and treasury functions for public corporations. Additionally, he was employed at United Tribes Technical College and served as advisor on a project related to workforce development in Indian Country.

Achievement and Honors

Dave Archambault II (Lakota: Tokala Ohitika) is a Senior Fellow at the University of Colorado’s First Peoples Worldwide and former Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In 2016, he became an iconic leader for Indigenous Peoples’ rights when he led protest against Dakota Access Pipeline construction.

He testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, led the “Native Nations Rise” march through Washington D.C. and published editorials in The New York Times, advocating for tribal sovereignty and protection of tribal treaty lands and natural resources.

In 2017, he earned the esteemed Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians. Additionally, he earned a Doctorate of Law Honoris Causa from Vermont Law School.

Personal Life

Dave Archambault II is a visionary Native American leader who believes his people can build their own homes, produce their own food and harness their own power. His mission is to inspire his reservation with new business models that break the cycle of generational poverty and government dependence.

After a year of passionate protests, David Archambault II has become the face of the global campaign to stop Dakota Access Pipeline construction near his tribe’s reservation in North Dakota. However, he and other water protectors remain deeply divided.

As chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, he spearheaded opposition to a pipeline that would transport crude oil from North Dakota through the Missouri River just upstream from their reservation. Yet now some of the most dedicated water activists see him as an enemy – someone who has weakened and threatened their resistance against the pipeline.

Net Worth

Dave Archambault II, the former tribal chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, is estimated to have a net worth between $1-5 Million. As an advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and opponents to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, his views are widely held.

He has testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and written for The New York Times on tribal sovereignty and Indigenous People’s rights. Additionally, he was named a “Leading Global Thinker of 2016” by Foreign Policy Magazine and received the Native American Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians.

David Archambault is married and father to two children. In addition, he devotes himself to Native American labor and workforce development issues. His wealth of knowledge and extensive experience are truly exceptional.