Jim Warne

Educator-Advocate-Filmmaker Jim Warne is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation. His mom, Beverly, grew up on Pine Ridge Reservation and is an administrator for South Dakota State University College of Nursing, his dad, Jim Sr., worked in international business finance where the family lived in Thailand and Mexico. His brother Don is Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. His wife, Jill, is on the Hoopa Tribal Council and Ryan is Jim’s son. Jim earned a BS from Arizona State University and an MS from San Diego State University (SDSU).

Jim created continuing Education programs at SDSU Interwork Institute from 1993-2015. He has written over 50 million in grants and contracts for various Universities and Tribal Nations. Currently, Jim is the Community Engagement & Diversity Director at University of South Dakota (USD) Center for Disabilities, Oyáte Circle Sanford School of Medicine and an Instructor for USD Pediatrics. Jim wrote several grants for University of South Dakota to establish the Oyáte Circle that include partnerships with various state/federal agencies, universities and organizations.

Jim is President of Warrior Society Development, LLC. He consults for various government agencies, organizations, Tribal Nations, academia including the Arizona College of Medicine Sonoran Center. Jim is a Motivational Speaker & Advocate. Experience includes Congressional Testimonies, Cultural Diversity, Workforce Inclusion, Film Production, Actor/Stuntman, Professional Football, Youth Athletic/Life Skill Camps, Grant & Organizational Development including Higher Ed Administration. Jim’s WSD Productions Film Division produced “7th Generation” an Award-Winning Documentary. His Emmy-nominated short film, “Oyáte un Itówapi – Pictures of my People” was featured on Fox NFL Pregame Show, Thanksgiving 2020 and FOX “Voices” on MLK Day 2021. His new production is “Remember the Children” (2022).