The Constellation
Frequently Asked Questions.
Seven Stones Corp · WITĖ Development · WITĀYA Financial Solutions
01 · The Names
Every entity in the Constellation carries a name rooted in the language of our people. The names are not decoration — they are the meaning of the work.
Seven Stones
Inyan · Očhéthi Šakówiŋ
Our name comes from our way of prayer: in our ceremonies, seven stones come first, and everything we do follows the sevens — West, North, East, South, the sky above, Mother Earth below, and the seventh for all the people, all our relations. Seven directions. Seven Council Fires. Seven stones.
The nonprofit foundation.
WITĖ
Dakȟóta / Lakȟóta
The new moon. The dark face of the moon at the beginning of the cycle. The time of intention. The time of planning. The time of laying the seed before it becomes visible.
For new developments and new investments — the discipline of beginning with intention.
WITĀYA
Dakȟóta / Lakȟóta
Gathered together. In company. In a group. Witāya is the word for people coming together — families, businesses, community members — brought into one circle.
For the people, businesses, and organizations gathering together to seek capital, credit, and financial partnership.
02 · About Seven Stones
The nonprofit center of the Constellation.
What is Seven Stones Corp?+
Seven Stones is the public-facing trade name of Standing Rock Community Development Corporation, an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in December 2016. We serve as the parent organization of the Seven Stones Constellation.
Are you a nonprofit?+
Yes. Seven Stones operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity. IRS determination granted November 2017.
Where are you located?+
Headquarters at the WITĖ Northwest Building, 18 Agency Avenue, Fort Yates, ND 58538. Service area extends across the Northern Plains and Midwest.
Did you change your name?+
Not our legal name. On May 6, 2026, our Board of Directors adopted Seven Stones Corp as our public-facing trade name — a DBA — of Standing Rock Community Development Corporation. The legal entity name is preserved. What changes is the public name on the door; what does not change is anything else.
Why “Seven Stones”?+
Because it is what our people already carry. In our way of prayer, seven stones come first, and everything we do follows the sevens — the seven directions and the Seven Council Fires of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ. The turtle carries the shape, carried over from our original seal; the sevens carry the meaning.
Do donations, grants, or partnerships change?+
No. Our federal tax-exempt status, our Employer Identification Number, our 501(c)(3) determination, our board governance, and all existing grant agreements continue under the same legal entity, without amendment. Contributions remain tax-deductible.
03 · About WITĖ Development
The real estate arm — where new moons begin.
What does WITĖ mean?+
In Dakȟóta and Lakȟóta, WITĖ is the new moon — the beginning of a cycle. It reflects our approach: begin with intention, plan carefully, and honor the quiet before the visible work.
How does WITĖ relate to Seven Stones?+
WITĖ is the real estate arm within the Constellation. Operating revenue channels through Seven Stones governance for reinvestment into mission.
On the Details
Portfolio specifics, capital partnerships, and project details are held for private engagement with counterparties and partners under appropriate confidentiality.
04 · About WITĀYA
The financial arm — where people gather together.
What is WITĀYA Financial Solutions?+
WITĀYA is the Indigenous Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) of the Seven Stones Constellation — currently in formation. When operational, WITĀYA will originate microloans, mortgages, credit-building products, and small business capital.
What does WITĀYA mean?+
In Dakȟóta and Lakȟóta, WITĀYA means gathered together — in company, in a group. The name reflects who WITĀYA serves: people, families, businesses, and community members coming together to seek capital and partnership.
When will WITĀYA be operational?+
Currently in formation. Join our newsletter to hear about launch milestones.
WITĀYA is in formation. Nothing here claims or implies CDFI certification. Join our newsletter →
05 · The Constellation Model
Three institutions moving as one.
Under one Indigenous-led framework, we bring together a public charity focused on community priorities, a development arm focused on assets and enterprise, and a financial arm focused on lending and capital access. Many organizations must focus on one area at a time. Seven Stones is building a system where culture, construction, capital, and community work together.
06 · Serving Our People
No relative left outside the circle.
The Constellation Model is rooted in Standing Rock, but it also recognizes that many relatives now live beyond the reservation. Our work is designed to support Indigenous families in both places.
On the Reservation · Standing Rock Sioux Nation
The eight districts of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation are the heart of our work. Youth programming, community engagement, food sovereignty, language preservation, and housing development are all anchored here.
Off the Reservation · Our Relatives Beyond the Res
Bismarck–Mandan and the wider region carry a growing Indigenous population. Students at United Tribes Technical College, urban Native households, elders, and returning family members are all part of the circle we serve.
07 · Ways to Walk Beside Us
Getting involved.
01
Donate
Tax-deductible contributions to a 501(c)(3) public charity. One-time or recurring.
Give Today →02
Volunteer
Time and expertise contributed to our programs, events, and community work.
03
Board Service
Governance leadership. Three board seats are open through active recruitment.
04
Partnership
Foundations, agencies, and aligned businesses exploring long-horizon partnership.
Reach the Office
(701) 854-2000 · info@standingrockcdc.org · sevenstonescorp.org
08 · A Shared Commitment
The Constellation Model is not a short-term campaign. It is a long-term commitment to building with discipline, care, and purpose. As Seven Stones, WITĖ, and WITĀYA continue to grow, the focus remains the same: to strengthen community opportunity, manage resources responsibly, and create a foundation that future generations can build upon.
This work will continue through partnership, accountability, and a shared belief that Indigenous communities can shape their own future with clarity, courage, and unity.