Missouri Breaks Industries is a small Indian-owned medical firm located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. It is centrally located and primarily works and employs people from a Federal Labor Surplus area – specifically the Federal Indian Reservations of North and South Dakota. Missouri Breaks industries is qualified under 48 CFR 3-380.5 as a "Buy Indian" business to conduct research of medical problems and to translate and disseminate information learned through its research to healthcare providers, tribal leaders, and community members.
It is the mission of Missouri Breaks Industries to promote research as a tool that will create the opportunity for communities and individuals to choose a healthier quality of life through support, personal involvement, education, self-disclosure, and connectedness to rural, tribal, scientific, medical, and psychological communities at large.
MBIRI personnel collaborate and support medical staff from the Tribal, Indian Health Services, private facilities and State Health Departments. Medical staff serving in the areas of projects conducted by MBIRI is briefed frequently regarding the activities of MBIRI personnel and significant results from ongoing studies. MBIRI staff participates in local and Tribal health fairs whenever possible.
The MBIRI staff meets routinely with the Tribal Councils, and their health committees to present health issues, the importance of research, and to promote them as partners in guiding the goals and objectives for future health research and delivery. Resolutions of support are sought from the Tribal Councils prior to any research projects taking place.
In order to promote health research, MBIRI has an agreement with the Presentation Nursing College, which has satellite facilities, or outreach programs, at both Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge Reservations, to mentor nursing students in the importance and the opportunities of research on the reservations and rural communities. Missouri Breaks promotes collaboration between Universities, Tribal, State and local governments, research groups and the community to enhance opportunities for long term solutions to improving health and quality of life.