First Lakota woman named to manage Pine Ridge grocery store

A Pine Ridge grocery store is celebrating its manager’s historic promotion.

Buche Foods has named a Lakota tribal member as its grocery store manager for the first time.

Tameka Vocu has held various positions at the store in southwest South Dakota for the past 18 years and recently was appointed manager.

“It’s an honor to be the first female Native American to be managing the reservation’s biggest store. This is the greatest opportunity I have ever received. I’m hoping that with our team and community support, we can only improve on where we are now,” Vocu said in a statement.

Buche Foods took ownership of the store six years ago, making multiple improvements and updates to the 51-year-old business for the people of Pine Ridge.

“Tameka is a very strong, personable and talented young woman,” president and CEO RF Buche said.

Before her promotion, Vocu worked extensively with former store manager Kraig Peterson.

“I have all the faith in her in the world,” Peterson said. “She was hired at 17 years old, and she ran the store against a heck of a battle in 2020. The store is in great hands with Tameka.”

Vocu said she has “some pretty big shoes to fill.”

“Our team is taking well to the change,” she said. “They are all amazing, hardworking individuals, and we can only succeed by remembering teamwork is vital.”

Her manager duties will include keeping monthly inventories, making sure departments and the store are clean and presentable, managing team members, assisting customers, keeping good communication with current vendors and assisting tribal and other programs with bulk orders.

“RF Buche kept his word when he said he wanted the Lakota people to run this grocery store on our reservation, and getting this opportunity is a wonderful thing,” Vocu said.

“I love being able to be of service to our people in any way I can and being a go-to person. It makes me feel good that they have the faith in me to be that for the people.”

G.F. Buche Co. owns and operates grocery, convenience, auto parts and hardware/lumber stores and fast-food restaurants in 23 locations in 12 communities throughout South Dakota.