Partners in Purpose |
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Our Indigenous partners on Pine Ridge oversee the year-round organization and distribution of firewood to homes across the reservation. Through the generosity of our supporters and the direction of Pine Ridge resident Norbert "Nobby" Bell, Keeper of the Firewood, The Tipi Raisers has regularly provides firewood and wood bricks for over 75 families and individuals - many of them elders. These services are critical during the winter months when South Dakota temperatures are extremely low.
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My first experience with Tipi Raisers was vicariously through my daughter, who made the trip to Pine Ridge the week of Thanksgiving 2016. Her story was so intriguing that I joined her and several other students in Erica Rewey's Colorado Young Leaders group for a Pine Ridge visit during spring break 2016. That is when the TPR addiction began.
I have so many great TPR memories but the one that keeps me in the story is the week of the 'Bomb Cyclone' in March of 2019. I was enjoying a two-week tour with the great Reuben Fasthorse in the Rez and several groups of college students. The blizzard rolled in during week #2. The Tipi Raisers housed and fed dozens of people impacted by the storm at Payobia. Tribal Emergency vehicles were stranded in the snow. Dave in his truck and Reuben and me in my truck spent days pulling cars out of drifts, checking on people, and delivering relief. I trashed the transmission in my truck, but it was worth the 'warm fuzzies.' I have so many warm memories, and they all center around magic people like Nobby, Waylon Belt, Darryl Slim, Ramona Whiteplum, Kevin Poor Bear, and many others. The tomfoolery that Dave and I commit to on trips is also a provocative source of great joy. It is not so much 'pride' that I get. I would replace pride with purpose and connection when I am in service to others in the community of others. The need on these reservations is great, and the physical limitations are significant. My hope is that we have the resources to ease the burden created by colonization. However, material resources are not the simple answer and solution. My hope is to go beyond having enough physical resources; I hope that the spiritual healing of the collective soul, needed because of centuries of trauma, oppression, and great loss, could be facilitated. I don't know what that looks like, but I would like to be part of that solution and pathway. |
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How did you first get involved with us? "It started back in 2018. A neighbor who was involved with Tipi Raisers was asking on Nextdoor for donations. I looked at the website and actually recognized Dave’s last name. His brother was a student at a high school where I used to teach. Knowing his brother, I figured that this was someone I could trust. Seeing the commitment to bringing donations up to Pine Ridge was the initial catalyst, and I was all in."
What stands out as a favorite memory from your experience? "It’s hard to pick just one because there are so many meaningful moments. I’ll never forget sitting with Dave, looking out over a sunset on Pine Ridge. We had a conversation about why I am involved. I told him that my father used to donate to a mission that supported our Native relatives and one day, toward the end of his life, he asked me, 'Who is going to do this when I die?' and I told him, 'I will.' That evening, ass I was sitting there looking out over the South Dakota Sunset after a day of service I knew that I would keep coming back.” What brings you the most meaning in your work with the community? "The relationships are everything. I’ve made personal connections that mean the world to me—like Nobby, the keeper of the firewood on Pine Ridge, who is now one of my favorite people. Being invited to a Navajo wedding last year was deeply touching. And this year I’ve been invited by a Hopi family to help prepare a 300-person dinner..And the geography itself is just incredibly special. The last time I was down south for a service trip, I spent the whole day running errands, just driving through the openness of the Hopi and Navajo landscape. It was gorgeous. " What are your hopes for the future? "I want to see us continue to deepen our involvement with the native communities. I have a vision of 'purchasing the hub'—it would be wonderful to have a space for the Lakota people to come, work, and stay, and I want to do whatever I can to facilitate that. It’s also exciting to see the growing involvement with the local schools”. |
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A friend of mine in High School was somehow connected to yhe Tipi Raisers. She invited me to join for a long weekend service trip up to Pine Ridge. We gathered firewood, distributed aid, and had really deep conversations. We also played and had a TON of fun.
My favorite memory with Tipi Raisers was spending time with the younger men and boys all together in Texas. Being outside for days at a time with everyone, cooking, swimming in the lake, and running around. Spending time with Jimmy that trip, most of all. The most meaningful experience was exploring Monument Valley on the Diné/Navajo nation. Seeing all the beautiful formations, hearing the stories of the Diné people with my friends. I never felt more connected with the earth, but also called to connect with my own ancestors. Afterwards, my dear friends and brothers Oliver, Wacey and elder Daryl, saw my heart was hurting, feeling grief at all the cultures lost and peoples abused through colonialism. They took my hand and brought me through a small ceremony, and gifted me a stone necklace that Oliver had created. That experience made me feel more cared for and connected than I ever had before. Tipi Raisers is the first organization that I dedicated years to, without ever asking myself if the work was worthwhile. The work was so meaningful and enriching to the families being served, and the participants, I have deep reverence for the time spent with Tipi Raisers, and the opportunities I know I will be involved with going forward! I was able to be a role model to show that there are good-hearted European descendants... and in return, realized that my friends from Pine Ridge hadn’t known that anyone who wasn't on the Rez experienced alcoholism or depression or violence. While I was able to give a positive perspective, what I was given was a connection to culture and the Earth, and the kinship worldview that I had so deeply longed for, but hadn’t been able to put into words. I realized the culture the Lakota have been hanging onto so intentionally was something my ancestors had given up.This was a spiritual awakening—realizing I am allowed to connect to the Earth and my own ancestors in a way that is unique and doesn't appropriate others." I am on a path of reclaiming my own European heritage while trying to be indigenous as much as I can to this land because I was born here. I’m working to integrate the ancestry of my bloodline with the ancestry of this land. I’ve learned from Native elders and peers how important it is to reclaim histories and stories that were given up or forgotten and to connect more deeply to ourselves and the world around us. |
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It was during my senior year of high school at a Peace Jam conference that I first learned about Tipi Raisers. I had the incredible opportunity to sit with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Rigoberta Menchú, alongside other young indigenous leaders. I met Riya Joy Heart from the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe, who was there with Lori Ventimiglia from the Tipi Raisers.
We got to talking about building relationships between native and non-native communities. I shared an essay I’d written for my tribe about my experiences off the reservation—about how, at our core, we’re all just humans who know very little about one another. I felt that creating bonds through understanding was the only way to move past that hurdle of indifference. It was then that I learned about their Gen7 Youth program, and four months later, I found the family I didn’t know I needed: the Tipi Raisers." Choosing just one favorite memory is impossible because every moment is filled with so much joy, peace, and love. But two really stand out. One was touring the Colorado State Capital with my brother, Austin. It was such a surreal, carefree experience—just sitting in those chambers, sharing our dreams and our histories. It was a moment where we truly understood each other's backgrounds. The other memory is from a different conference where our group felt out of place and unwelcome. We stuck together and got through it. That experience taught me that being part of this group isn't just joining an organization; it’s joining a family. It meant that we face the hard things together because we know we’re never alone." One of the most meaningful experiences to me was my 21st birthday. It was the first time I had really gotten a birthday party dedicated to me. Our meal with my Tipi Raisers family was exuberant and memorable. The greatest part was that I spent it sober, which broke a lot of cycles leading up to that milestone for me. That moment in my life alone shows the impact of this organization. A couple of weeks later, that resilience stayed with me while we were horseback riding. I was bucked off, but I got right back up and got back on the horse. Dave had reassured me and recognized that I got back up and reaffirmed that strength in me. To our surprise, we later found out the horse had been pregnant. Through thick and thin, the Tipi Raisers have been there to guide me. They have helped me heal by always encouraging me to do better, and their kindness provided a safe place in my life. They didn't just give me worth; they showed me how to take hold of my own. |
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In the summer of 2019 Tipi Raisers had organized a ride from Colorado to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Their accommodations in Boulder had fallen through so the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder stepped up to host the ride overnight. This contact with the organization sparked an interest which resulted in ongoing volunteer work. This was a place where my values and action could come together.
Learning and leaning into new ways of being in the world is my favorite aspect of being involved with the nonprofit. Our first meal with the Lakota involved gathering in a circle,then after a blessing we were told the oldest should go through the serving line first. It was at this point I realized I was the oldest. I was embarrassed about going first and sometimes when I’m uncomfortable I laugh. Later one of the wonderful Lakota women explained to me that having the elders go first was very important and a sign of respect. I really appreciated her kindness. I love when we get to revisit people and they seem glad to see us. Often we have helped them with projects on a previous trip but because of circumstances we haven’t been able to finish everything we start. The feeling of not doing enough can be overwhelming but being welcomed back is a huge boost. With the Hub as our base, I would like to see the Bison Rehoming and Tiny Homes become sustainable projects to provide education and stability for our community of people in South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona. |
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It was quite serendipitous. My sister donated her motor home to the Tipi Raisers, and we happened to have some AC units we wanted to donate, too. We called Dave, and when he arrived at our home, we immediately felt a connection to his heart and his mission. During that first meeting, he asked if we’d ever consider hosting a wisdom event—and honestly, there was no hesitation. We jumped at the opportunity. The next year we hosted the first of two Indigenous Wisdom Gatherings on our land.
It’s hard to put into words, but it was seeing those kids on their horses, high up on the mountain. With the vast landscape behind them and the freedom in their movement, it was just… breathtaking. It’s an experience that really can’t be fully explained, only felt. I feel so honored to be able to do things for others. Our entire family has felt deeply honored to host so many beautiful people —from volunteers and Native dancers from the city to youth and elders visiting from the reservations. It’s been a profound experience for us to open our doors in that way. We truly hope to host another Indigenous Wisdom Gathering. The amount of knowledge that I have personally gained from working with the Tipi Raisers—including the reconciliation work with the Eagle Valley Land Trust—has truly opened my eyes. It’s shown me not only the need for support but how much we, as a society, need to connect with Indigenous wisdom. Right now, I feel like we don't have all the answers. It’s a lot like trying to save open spaces for people who have never been outside; we simply can't save what we don't love. |
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Tipi Raisers responds year-round to urgent needs that arise within the communities we serve. Past examples of fulfilled requests include funeral support, disaster relief, holiday gatherings and meals, the provision of tipis for ceremonial and educational use, requests for wheelchairs, mattresses, and home repairs, construction of community gardens and more. Our network of supporters also regularly answer the call to fulfill such requests for needed items and services on various reservations. Our Indigenous partners are key to these efforts, working collaboratively with The Tipi Raisers and our volunteers during service trips and beyond in order to meet community needs.
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Copyright © 2018 The Tipi Raisers
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CONTACT USPhone: 720-412-3335
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