Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring the Red Cloud Legacy

Each year, on the second Monday of October, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day — a time to honor the history, culture, and enduring strength of Native Nations. Across the country, this day serves as a reminder that the story of this land did not begin in 1492. It began thousands of years before, and it continues today through the work, wisdom, and resilience of Indigenous peoples everywhere.

For Red Cloud Renewable, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not just a holiday — it’s a reflection of who we are, what we stand for, and why we continue to build toward energy sovereignty and self-determination for Native communities. Indigenous Peoples’ Day isn’t about rewriting history — it’s about recognizing it fully and celebrating those who carry that legacy forward.

From Land Sovereignty to Energy Sovereignty

For the Oglala Lakota, the story of resilience is deeply tied to the name Red Cloud.

In the 19th century, Chief Mahpiya Luta — known to history as Chief Red Cloud — led his people through one of the most defining chapters in Lakota history. A fierce defender of his homeland, Red Cloud fought against the expansion of the Bozeman Trail through sacred Lakota territory, protecting his people’s way of life. His leadership ultimately forced the U.S. government to sign the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, making him one of the only Native leaders to win a war against the U.S. Army and secure peace on his terms.

But even with that victory, the decades that followed brought unimaginable challenges. Broken treaties, the reservation system, and forced assimilation policies stripped Native Nations of their land, resources, and self-sufficiency. Communities that had lived in balance with the earth for thousands of years were made dependent on outside systems for survival — from food and housing to water and power.

That loss of sovereignty didn’t just happen through land — it extended to energy, economy, and opportunity. Generations later, many reservations, including Pine Ridge, would be left in energy poverty — where high utility costs, aging infrastructure, and unreliable power made it nearly impossible for families to live sustainably.

And that’s where Chief Henry Red Cloud stepped in.

A New Kind of Sovereignty

As the fifth-generation direct descendant of Mahpiya Luta, Chief Henry Red Cloud carries forward the same mission his ancestor once fought for — but in a modern form: energy sovereignty. Through his leadership of Red Cloud Renewable, Henry has spent decades helping Native communities regain control over their power — literally and figuratively. His vision is rooted in one idea: that true sovereignty means being able to sustain your people, your land, and your future without dependence on outside systems.

By training hundreds of Native students in solar energy, weatherization, and sustainable construction, Henry and his team are helping tribal nations return to a state of self-reliance — one that honors traditional values through modern tools. Every solar panel installed is a statement of independence. Every student trained is another link in the unbroken chain of resilience.

The Next Generation of Leadership

That legacy now continues through Henry’s son, John Red Cloud, who serves as Director of Operations at Red Cloud Renewable. John represents the next generation of leadership — one that bridges traditional knowledge with innovation, ensuring that the work started by his ancestors continues to grow.

Carrying that same fire forward are Silas Red Cloud and Jack Red Cloud, both full-time Solar Educators at Red Cloud Renewable. Silas, Henry’s son, has completed multiple solar certifications of his own and now dedicates his time to teaching new cohorts of students — helping them gain the skills to bring sustainable power back to their own communities. Jack, Henry’s nephew, shares that same mission — mentoring students, leading hands-on solar installations, and helping ensure that energy knowledge stays in Indigenous hands.

Together, the Red Clouds are not only preserving their family’s legacy — they’re multiplying it. Their collective leadership shows that energy independence is cultural resilience in action. It’s the modern expression of the Lakota way of life: living in balance with the land, protecting future generations, and standing strong in self-sufficiency.

Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day Matters to Us

For us at Red Cloud Renewable, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a celebration of continuity — of everything our ancestors fought for and everything our descendants will build. Every solar array installed, every student trained, every home weatherized is a step toward reclaiming sovereignty — not through conflict, but through creation. It’s about honoring our ancestors by empowering our descendants.

When Chief Red Cloud fought for his people’s right to their land, he was fighting for their survival. When Chief Henry Red Cloud and his staff install solar panels on that same land, he’s fighting for their renewal.

Carrying the Fire Forward

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the enduring spirit of Indigenous nations across the world — and especially here on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We celebrate the unbroken line of leadership, from Mahpiya Luta, to Henry Red Cloud, to John, Silas, and Jack Red Cloud, to every student who learns, every family who receives power, and every community that rises.

Because the truest way to honor our ancestors is to continue their work — to keep building, teaching, and lighting the way forward.

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Wóphila tȟáŋka — we thank you.