Announcing!
Our New GBI Team
Danny Desjarlais
Caŋŝayapi
Founder & Executive Director
Susan Waukon
Ho-Chunk Nation
Operations & Projects Lead
Nichlas Emmons, Ed.D., CFRE
Advancement Consultant
Robert Tweedy
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate descendent
Finance Management Lead
Tayla Desjarlais
Navajo Nation
Executive Administrative Manager
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Green Buffalo Institute expands team with new investment to strengthen its Native-led nonprofit
Experienced leaders in operations, finance, administration, and fund development join the Native-led nonprofit as it enters its first full year.
MORTON, Minn. (October 8, 2026) — Green Buffalo Institute (GBI), a Native-led nonprofit advancing bio-based building, workforce pathways, and healthier homes for Native and underserved communities, today announced four new team members: Susan Waukon, Robert Tweedy, Tayla Desjarlais (no relation to the Executive Director) and Nichlas Emmons, Ed.D., CFRE.
GBI was incorporated in December 2025 to grow the hempcrete housing work pioneered at the Lower Sioux Indian Community. The four new team members will spend the coming year working in partnership with GBI's five-member board and extensive network of partners to help GBI build the policies, systems, and practices of a strong and resilient organization.
"When we started Green Buffalo Institute, we were determined to grow an organization as strong and sustainable as the homes we build," said Danny Desjarlais, GBI Executive Director. "Susan, Robert, Tayla, and Nichlas are that foundation. Each one brings their personal passion and commitment to our mission, and deep experience serving Native communities and Native-led organizations. With this team in place, I know we'll carry Seed to Sovereignty forward for generations."
From day-to-day operations to finance, governance, and long-term funding, their expertise will build the sustainable foundation to accelerate Green Buffalo Institute's long-term, big vision impact to advance hempcrete as a healthier, more durable, cost-effective, and carbon-reducing alternative for home and building construction. GBI has plans to expand its hempcrete and regenerative materials curriculum in partnership with the University of Minnesota, and to offer its hands-on workforce development trainings to Tribal nations and rural communities across Minnesota, and beyond.
This critical capacity investment was generously made by Justice Climate Fund, which drives transformative clean energy financing and investments in communities and Native nations across the country.
"We are incredibly excited to continue our journey of hempcrete development to communities in need with this amazing new team," said Navid Hatfield, natural builder and CEO of Pioneer Valley Organics, and GBI board member. "The Green Buffalo Institute is now a growing herd. Our deepest gratitude to Justice Climate Fund for seeding, and seeing, the power and promise of our young organization and empowering us to bring on such amazing and inspiring people to charge our efforts to bring healing homes to the world."
Today at the Tribal Energy Forum hosted at Lower Sioux Indian Community, GBI is breaking ground for its 8th Elder Hempcrete Home. Set for completion next year, this new home construction will provide housing for a Lower Sioux elder. It is a partnership between GBI, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, and the University of Minnesota Center for Sustainable Business Research, which will conduct a side-by-side comparison of the performance, health, and carbon-reducing benefits of the hempcrete home versus a conventional build.
Mary Jane Oatman, Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and GBI board member, centers Green Buffalo Institute's pivotal leadership role to help heal the housing, health, and environmental crises across Indian Country. "It’s truly an honor and a privilege to serve our communities through the Green Buffalo Institute and bring awareness, education and services to growing healthier homes. It is imperative that we work collectively to cure the backlog of over 600,000 homes in Indian Country and do it with safer homes that with last several generations. We have a lot of work to shift the environmental burden away from Mother Earth and we will accomplish this together with hemp housing.”
About Green Buffalo Institute
Green Buffalo Institute is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Caŋŝayapi (Lower Sioux Indian Community) in Morton, Minnesota. Under the banner Seed to Sovereignty, GBI advances hempcrete and other bio-based building, workforce pathways, and community-centered systems that support healthier homes and stronger futures for Native and underserved communities. Learn more at greenbuffaloinstitute.org.
Media contact: Tayla Desjarlais, Green Buffalo Institute · welcomehome@greenbuffaloinstitute.org
###
Meet the team
Danny Desjarlais, Founder & Executive Director
Danny Desjarlais is the founder and Executive Director of Green Buffalo Institute, and the Industrial Hemp Construction Project Manager for the Lower Sioux Indian Community, where he grew up. Trained as a carpenter at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, he discovered the lasting benefits of bio-based hempcrete versus toxic, synthetic materials and has never looked back. He recognizes hemp as a “new green buffalo”: a gift from the land that, if cared for, can provide healthy homes, meaningful work, and renewed pride for Native communities. He helped launch the Lower Sioux Hempcrete Construction Program and went on to lead an all-Tribal-member crew that built Minnesota’s first hempcrete home in just 14 days from hemp grown and processed on their own land. Their duplex won the U.S. Hemp Building Association’s Best Hemp Home of 2024. A licensed general contractor and one of only two certified Ereasy hempcrete spray technicians and trainers in the U.S., Danny has built several hempcrete homes and structures in the Minnesota, Hawai'i, and Washington State; given dozens of keynote speeches and presentations; and trained more than 1,000 people across 20 states and in Canada, Sweden, Ghana, and Jamaica. His testimony helped bring hempcrete into Minnesota’s building code, to begin in 2027. He serves as the U.S. Hemp Building Association’s Midwest regional leader and co-chair of the Minnesota Efficient Builders Coalition. His work is featured in Patagonia’s The Green Buffalo, which won best short documentary at the 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Through his Seed to Sovereignty vision, Danny is working to help every Tribal and rural community grow its own homes, careers, and future. He lives on the reservation with his wife and 5 children. He's working to gather the resources and time to retrofit his own family's home with hempcrete.
Susan Waukon, Operations & Projects Lead
Susan will build the operational foundation (plans, procedures, workflows, and structure) that turns GBI's strategy into execution and supports new programs and partnerships. She brings more than 15 years of executive leadership across Native Nations and Native-led institutions. As CEO of Bois Forte Development Corporation, she led nearly 500 employees and developed the organization's finance manual and shared-services model. At the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, she managed programs, staff, and relationships. As an elected Ho-Chunk Nation Legislator, she testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and helped restore 1,550 acres of Ho-Chunk land. Her work also includes carbon projects with the National Indian Carbon Coalition and FEMA disaster recovery coordination across more than 20 communities. Susan is Vice Chair of Twelve Clans, Inc. and founder of Waukon LLC. She holds an MPA from Cornell University and a BS in Geology from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. She lives
in St. Paul.
Nichlas Emmons, Ed.D, CFRE, Advancement Consultant
Nichlas will strengthen GBI's board governance and lead its ambitious organization and fund development strategy. Nichlas is the Principal/Founder of Running Hare Consulting and joins Green Buffalo Institute as its Advancement Consultant. He has over 14 years of experience in development, advancement, strategic planning, and capacity building, working alongside Tribal Nations, First Nations, and Native-led and -serving nonprofits across Indian Country. Nichlas earned his doctorate from Ball State University, emphasizing tribal community activeness in 2012, and an executive certificate in nonprofit leadership from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2023. He also participated in the Council of Foundations Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort in 2024 and became a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2025. Nichlas also serves on the Finance Committee of CFRE International Board of Directors, the Association of Fundraising Professionals FORGE Affinity Group Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors for an environmental and cultural revitalization nonprofit located in Baawiting and Bkejwanong Anishinaabe territory called Ojiibikan. In his spare time, he mixes drinks, goes for long runs and strange hikes, and enjoys the company of his pugs, cat, husband, and other loved ones.
Robert James Tweedy Jr., Finance Management Lead
Robert will build GBI's financial infrastructure, including its financial policies, accounting systems, grant management tools, and budget reporting, and will train GBI staff and leadership to manage them. He brings more than 20 years of experience in financial systems design, strategic planning, and team leadership. Since 2020, he has served as the Chair of the American Indian Parent Committee for the South Washington School District, where he helps direct their annual budget, oversees the end-to-end grant lifecycle, and ensures strict compliance with public funding requirements. As a descendant of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, he brings a deep commitment to mission-driven, Native-led initiatives and an intrinsic passion for empowering communities through collaborative, culturally grounded leadership. His background strongly aligns with the Green Buffalo Institute's mission to advance community-centered systems that support healthier homes and stronger futures for Native and underserved communities. He holds a Master of Science in Project Management from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from St. Cloud State University. Based in Woodbury, Minnesota, he enjoys a busy family life with his partner, Dr. Jennifer Eccles, PhD, their five children Ky, Nico, Peter, James, and Piper, and their four Newfoundland dogs.
Tayla Desjarlais, Executive Administrative Manager
Tayla will provide high-level administrative support to the Executive Director and lead GBI's human resources, data, and coordination systems. She brings experience in nonprofit operations, HR, and payroll, and is the owner of Indigenous Growth Solutions, a consulting practice serving Indigenous organizations. Tayla began her career with American Indigenous Business Leaders, where she supported operations and programming for young Native business leaders across the country. She later worked with the Montana Indian Business Alliance, organizing membership activities and resources for Native-owned small businesses while supporting communications, outreach, and engagement efforts. Tayla continued this work with Sister Sky, Inc., where she supported Native entrepreneurs and organizations through business development, training, technical assistance, and project management. Through these roles, she gained extensive experience working directly with Native-owned businesses and Tribal communities, helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges, strengthen their businesses, and access resources and opportunities. Tayla is a member of the Navajo Nation and affiliated with the Assiniboine Tribe. She remains passionate about strengthening Native businesses and organizations and contributing to the growth of Native communities. Tayla holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Montana. Outside of work, she enjoys beading, powwow dancing, and spending time with her kids. (Tayla is no relation to Executive Director Danny Desjarlais.)