Leon Leader Charge is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rosebud S.D. and a part of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, S.D. Leon holds a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies from the University of South Dakota, with an emphasis in treatment and prevention continuum and a Master of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies w/ an emphasis in Educational Administration & Leadership, and Addiction Counseling and Prevention from the University of South Dakota Graduate school. Leon is currently completing a second graduate degree MA Addiction Counseling and Prevention at USD.

Leon has experience in psychological first aid, co-occurring mental health disorders, 12 core functions of a substance abuse counselor, evidence based best practice theories and public health models, facilitation/consultation, national policy formation, advocacy at the state and national level, and recently completed a research fellowship funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in his tribal community that focused on the intersection of SBIRT and Native American culture. He has successfully completed an internship at the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA), Center of Substance Abuse Treatment (2013) and an internship at the SAMHSA Center of Mental Health Services (2015) in Rockville, MD and was a co-facilitator, planning committee, and special events committee member for 2014 SAMHSA National Native Youth Conference, Washington, D.C.

Leon has gained tribal technical assistance experience on a national level. Leon has an interest in helping tribal communities, expanding culturally appropriate evidence based best practices, expanding tribal research, Lakota & all Native American culture and history, tribal law and treaty, formation of federal/tribal policy, suicide prevention, healing from trauma, and the betterment of all tribal nations and communities. Recently Leon successfully completed a graduate policy internship at S.D. US Senator Mike Rounds office (2019) and recently worked as an Access Advisor for SD Jump Start, SD Board of Regents, a program that focuses on Native American college recruitment and retention at South Dakota’s public post-secondary regental institutions. Leon has served as the chairman of the board for the Rosebud Scholarship Fund (two terms), was a member of the South Dakota Urban Indian Health Board of Directors and is a member of the South Dakota State University President Wokini Advisory Council. Leon is the recipient of University of South Dakota: Tiospaye Student Council 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award, 2016 National Indian Health Board’s Area Impact Award for exceptional service in American Indian and Alaska Native health, the Mary L. Reiner Memorial Award: Rising Star in Public Health & Research 2014, and currently a NBCC/NBCC Foundation/NAADAC 2023 Minority Fellowship Awardee for Master’s in Addiction Counseling.