About Us
About Us
Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc. (MBIRI) is a small Indian-owned business. Our main office is located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, and we have satellite offices on the Oglala Sioux Reservation (SD), Spirit Lake Nation (ND), and in Rapid City, SD. MBIRI is qualified under 25 USC 47 as a “Buy Indian” business to conduct research of medical problems and to disseminate information learned through this research to health care providers, tribal leaders, and community members.
Our company logo and name, Missouri Breaks, are inspired by the Missouri River. The river is the life-blood of our entire region. The breaks of the river are where Lakota people historically found water, wood, wild game, plant medicines, and protection. To us, the breaks of the Missouri River represent abundance. All of our work strives to regain abundance in the communities we serve.
History
1982 - Tim and Marcia O’Leary founded Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc. to promote American Indian made products throughout the Dakotas
1990 - Marcia began working as the Strong Heart Study nurse on the Cheyenne River, Oglala, and Spirit Lake Nations
1995 - Became a legal entity and reorganized to become an Indian-owned research company that oversaw the Dakota Center for the Strong Heart Study
2000 - Opened a research office on the Pine Ridge Reservation
2004 - Expanded scope to include delivery of medical equipment
2007 - Incorporated public health projects
2011 - Opened a medical equipment office in Martin, SD to serve the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations
2018 - Opened a research office in Rapid City, SD
People
Missouri Breaks is a family business that employs around 50 people throughout western South Dakota. Over 80% of our employees are enrolled tribal members and all are long-time members of the communities that they serve.
Community Advisory Board (CAB) Members: The purpose of the CAB is to ensure our research fits the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) model. The scope of the CAB is to provide input on current research projects, future research projects, and their view on the health issues of our tribal communities. The CAB also assists in dissemination of research outcomes, evaluating research processes and tools, and advocating for the importance of health research. If you are a community member of the Cheyenne River or Oglala Nations and are interested in becoming a CAG member, please email jill.kessler@mbiri.com.
