Dr. Jessica White Plume is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, and her Lakota name is Sung Agli Win (“She Brings Back Horses”). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Dakota and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Deeply rooted in her Lakota teachings and lands, her work bridges Western psychology with Lakota traditional knowledge, with a particular focus on Horse Culture and equine-assisted healing to support mental health, cultural reconnection, and trauma recovery. Aligning with the indigenous values of reciprocity and relationship, she sees that the well being of the land and all living things are interconnected, as we are all relatives.
Jessica has held significant leadership roles, including Director of Social Sciences and Agriculture, Equine Extension Director at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, and Director of Wellness and Sustainability for the MHA Nation’s Twin Buttes community. Her initiatives have encompassed indigenous food sovereignty through gardens and orchards, buffalo reintroduction, honeybee programs, sustainable housing, and community-based horse culture programs that promote holistic wellness.
She previously provided clinical services for the Indian Health Service and Hawkvision Ecotherapy, and now continues her work through her company, Red Day, LLC, offering consulting, training, and equine programs across tribal communities. Jessica’s approach emphasizes land-based healing, reconnecting with living beings, and expanding definitions of mental health through ancient wisdom and modern science for all people.
She lives with her husband and children on their family ranch in Twin Buttes on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, where she remains committed to community resilience, cultural revitalization, and supporting Indigenous youth.
