FORT YATES - A Chamber of Commerce has been formed on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

There are close to 150 private businesses operating on the Standing Rock Reservation and the opening of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Entrepreneurial Center in McLaughlin, S.D., along with Wednesday's dedication of a $3.6 million Entrepreneurial Center on the Sitting Bull College campus makes it logical to have a chamber.

Founder and president of the Fort Yates Chamber of Commerce is Jody Luger.

"We had 23 people from the Fort Yates business community attend our first meeting to discuss the formation of our Chamber of Commerce," Luger said. "It was truly a blessing to have such a good turnout."

The Fort Yates Chamber of Commerce was incorporated by North Dakota on Feb. 19 and on May 13 the founding board members met to elect officers.

Other officers are vice president Loretta Bad Heart Bull, owner-operator of the Spirit of Standing Rock Coffee and More Emporium; treasurer Bill Condon, CEO of Standing Rock Development Corp.; and secretary Candace Eagle, JPTP director and project manager at Sitting Bull College.

Other board members are Sandy Luger, Everett Iron Eyes, Joe Dunn, Alsace LaFramboise, Tim Hertel, Jennifer Jewett, Ron Walters, Jonathan Anderson and Chad Harrison, all from Fort Yates.

Board meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month, exceptions are national or tribal holidays, with the next chamber meeting scheduled for Sept. 9 at Sitting Bull College.