Tawny Wilson, Director of Development at Oweesta, is a proud Sicangu/Oglala Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Born and raised on the reservation, she embodies the spirit of her people, the Sicangu or “Burnt Thigh Nation” in Lakota.

Tawny began her career in the fast-paced world of finance as a mortgage broker, banker, and sales manager right out of college, and then found her true calling in serving others by working with national Native nonprofit organizations dedicated to uplifting Tribal communities across the country. Committed to empowering her community and advocating for Indigenous causes, Tawny focuses on rematriating resources back to Native people. Before joining Oweesta, she served at NDN Collective as the Director of Lending, where she co-developed the groundbreaking Resilient Finance Model, a decolonized approach to underwriting.

With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s in Public Policy, specializing in Environmental Policy, from UMass Dartmouth, Tawny is dedicated to bringing bold visions to life. When she’s not driving change, you’ll likely find her immersed in a good book, soaking in the beauty of nature and dreaming up her next adventure. Tawny makes her home in Denver, Colorado, where she leads a vibrant life with her six kids and life partner, always ready for the next chapter!