Our Volunteers Make All the Difference!

We have been truly humbled by the many volunteers who show up in so many different ways and whom without we could not accomplish all of our mission-critical activities. From collecting material donations to hosting Lakota families in their homes or  strategic thought-partnership; our volunteers have become central to our ability to make a positive impact on Pine Ridge.  This web-page is dedicated to our AMAZING volunteers who have been featured in the past! 

​​BINAH & RASAM THILLAIRAJAH

​Pictured left: Rasam (center) assists with the raising of a tipi at this summer's Indigenous Wisdom Summit & Four Directions Ride. Bottom right: Rasam and Tipi Raisers' Horse Woksape on the Four Directions Ride. Top Right: Binah sharing a meal with us at the 2022 Summit & Ride.

​If you have attended any of our events in the Denver area within the last couple of years, you know that mother-daughter duo Binah and Rasam Thillairajah are integral to the Tipi Raisers volunteer community. 
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Binah brings her calm and kind Spirit to every event she attends and is the first to volunteer for the many random errands which arise throughout the course of an event like this summer’s Indigenous Wisdom Summit & Four Directions Ride. She embodies the epitome of servant leadership.

Her daughter Rasam brings a curiosity and enthusiasm to our circle each time she joins us. As a Gen7 youth, she has lended a helping hand to countless events and service trips, and has worked to make connections across lines of difference with youth in the communities we serve.

This work takes time, commitment, physical and emotional energy; Binah and Rasam are boundlessly generous with theirs. We remain in deep gratitude to them for their service to the communities with whom we work, for their kindness and dedication, and for the beautiful presence they so graciously share with all of us.

“We are so very thankful for the opportunities The Tipi Raisers have given us to participate and learn from our Native friends.

The pictures show my daughter helping put up one of the tipis used for Indigenous Wisdom Summit and Four Directions Ride. Raising the tipi took many hands working together under the guidance of a Lakota elder. We are so grateful to The Tipi Raisers for providing us with opportunities to get to know and appreciate our Native brothers and sisters.”
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-Binah Thillairajah

Norbert (Nobby) Bell

Many in our community have already either met or heard about the "Keeper of the Firewood", Norbert "Nobby" Bell! And, if you have had the pleasure to meet him, we are certain you love him!

Nobby tells a story that while sharing a meal with Tipi Raisers volunteers on Pine Ridge in 2017, he overheard our Executive Director discussing the need for a place to store and distribute firewood to families on the Pine Ridge reservation. A tribal elder dedicated to the concept of Tokala - a Lakota term describing a person who gives freely without expecting anything in return - Nobby chimed in: “If you’re looking for someone to help get the wood out to the people, I live right next door.”
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Five years later, Nobby still oversees our firewood program on Pine Ridge. He shared with us that his traditional ways inspire him to help us get firewood to those who need it, and we are grateful every day for his selfless spirit and the humble leadership with which he chops, organizes, and directs firewood to families in need of warmth.

Thanks to Nobby's efforts, the Tipi Raisers has regularly provided firewood and wood bricks for over 75 families and individuals - many of them elders.

Nobby truly embodies the Tokala spirit of generosity and is a cherished member of the Tipi Raisers family.

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Karen Churnside

" Once upon a time a young indigenous girl saw a shy, young Finnish girl struggling to learn a strange language.  She reached out and helped this shy newcomer to learn and adjust.  This newcomer, my mother, always remained a little shy but never forgot the help that was given to her when she started school with only a little English.  For over 9,000 years the area where I grew up was a peaceful gathering place for fishing and trading.  That changed with the discovery of gold, settlers moving in to farm the land, and the final blow, the construction of the great dams blocking the return of the salmon.

I was only partially aware of this history as I was growing up and over the years have tried to learn more about the history and interactions of Native and non-Native people in this country.  I’ve looked for ways to pay forward the kindness of the young Indian girl who helped my mother but have been cautious of organizations that might want to do what is “best” for others.  I figure I have about 10 good years left to be actively involved so when The Tipi Raisers offered a work trip to Pine Ridge in 2019, we took a leap of faith that The Tipi Raisers was an organization that was working “with” the people there.  Working alongside the other volunteers with support, instruction, and laughter from the people who live at Pine Ridge has given me hope that little by little and step by step we can learn and heal.  We are truly connected to all around us and these opportunities shine light on that connection. 
The generosity and support of our friends and neighbors has been amazing and I truly thank them all.  I see such abundance in the world and I’m delighted to work with The Tipi Raisers to spread it around.  Shine on".
Karen signs off all her communications with "Shine on".  It is not lost on us that this is a woman who shines the light of love and compassion on everyone she comes into contact with! Karen has joined several volunteer service trips on Pine Ridge over the years, as well as taking on projects from her home in Boulder. She is always ready to answer a Nagi Circle Call to Action by organizing a drive or a crowdfunder for a specific need in the community. Karen shows up with such a generous heart and giving spirit and we are truly blessed to count her among our Tipi Raisers family!

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Pansy Weasel Bear

​"My name is L. Pansy (Two Bulls) Weasel Bear. I am a mother of six daughters, grandmother and lifelong resident of the Pine Ridge reservation which doesn't mean that I haven't been anywhere. Besides my job, I enjoy volunteering with the Tipi Raisers organization. I see, first hand, the many families of our people that they help in many ways from personal hygiene care and food boxes to giving firewood to those in need. I enjoy watching our youth flourish in the Gen7 Youth Leadership program. And I enjoy meeting good people who come to help in certain ways and build friendships!! 2020 hindered a lot of work and fun but we made it and hope for better days to come!! Respect is to admire the success and work of another... if we did this, we would support those around us who make positive change!! Hecetu... Wopila, Mitakuye Oyasin".

Pansy has been a part of our Tipi Raiser's family for almost three years now. Pansy works full time on Pine Ridge but in her spare time, has always selflessly and joyfully volunteered with the Tipi Raisers. She regularly helps to pack food and supplies for our COVID response efforts or helps with cooking and cleaning when we have volunteer groups visiting our base camp on Pine Ridge. But it is Pansy's mere presence that we are most grateful for.  When Pansy joins Gen7 gatherings or volunteer groups, she shows up as a valued Lakota elder; through her storytelling, her teachings around Lakota wisdom and values, her openness to meet new friends and visit new places, her quick wit and sense of humor and through her love for family and for the young people, Pansy is a true gift in our community and we count ourselves blessed to work and play alongside of her!

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Mackenzie Tilton

"When I think back to the “me” that stood over the sign-up sheet for a trip to Pine Ridge with the Tipi Raisers in my sophomore year of college, I think of someone who hadn’t woken up yet. Someone hoping to make a difference, but who hadn’t quite arrived at the “why.” Someone who knew of the ongoing injustices committed against Indigenous communities, but who did not fully grasp the manner in which myself, and all people who look like me, continue to be complicit in them. I wanted to make a change, but was occupied with all the things modern life tends to occupy us with, and my plans of the impact I hoped to have in life definitely outnumbered the actual experiences I had to show for it. I held, and still hold, much privilege that had kept me from truly seeing others and my connection to them.
And then I spent a week on Pine Ridge with a handful of people from my college whom I did not yet know well, Tipi Raiser's Executive Director,  two of his children, and countless new Lakota friends. We all became a family that week. Work felt like play, every night was marked with hilarious antics and eye-opening conversations, and I realized that the “why” at which I had not yet arrived was not a “why” at all; it was a “who.” The work mattered because the People mattered. The Spirit that was moving and working through all of the people we met that week, and every Tipi Raisers trip I’ve been on since, has made me understand that we do not exist in a vacuum; we need one another. We exist in connection with everything and everyone in this world. The phrase “Mitakuye Oyasin- We are all related” had been taught to us non-Native volunteers earlier in the week by a Lakota elder, and it has resonated more and more with every passing day. 3 years later, I am still humbled by the way the Tipi Raisers community continuously lives into this way of being. It is a community which shows up consistently for the people whom they serve, for the difficult and important work of reconciliation, and for unity across cultures towards a more just and caring future.
Even if I cannot fully put into words the “why” behind my motivation to continue to work with this incredible organization, I know the “who.” Each and every person (and horse; shout out to my favorite Tipi Raisers horse, Okiniha!) who I have come across in my work with the Tipi Raisers is a reminder of the fact that we are all related. We have an obligation and a sacred duty to work with and for one another. Though I have so much more to do in order to even begin living up to that obligation, it is an honor to be able to do that work alongside the Tipi Raisers and the Oglala Lakota People who have generously opened my eyes to so much".

What stands out the most to us about Mackenzie is her compassion, sincerity and commitment. Mackenzie truly seems to thrive when in service to others. Whether it is on the LakotaRide, pounding nails or organizing donations, she always gives 100% of herself to the task at hand.  And although she lives on the other side of the country, Mackenzie often reaches out in a sincere offer to help with various Tipi Raiser's initiatives. This summer, Mackenzie was instrumental in pulling off the Spirit of the LakotaRide, taking care of all of the behind the scenes details.  Currently Mackenzie, who is teaching high school in New Orleans during the craziness of Covid times, has been convening our Gen7 Ambassadors to put together a video about Gen7. It is an honor and a blessing to know, and to work with, this truly outstanding young woman! ​

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Jason Larkin

​"​I had come from a long struggle (health-wise) and the struggle was not resolved and found myself with some free time. To occupy that time, I learned how to surf the net. I came across a post that advertised " The Lakota Ride " a Ride of Reconciliation. A 400-mile horse ride to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. I thought to myself, I'm Lakota, I like horses, I even have ties to that Reservation (I was pretty sure). The post advertised horses, food, in & outdoor lodging (camping). With a strict adherence to Lakota codes of value and spirituality. Also, it would take a week at least just to get to Cheyenne Wyoming and That was only a little over an hour's drive away. So, I figured I could always come home?
 
So, I reached out and got in contact with Dave Ventimiglia, the CEO of the Tipi Raisers. We met at a small 4- or 5-acre open lot adjacent to a greenbelt alongside a fairly busy street (South Kipling Rd). there was a small ramshackle open stable and a part of the lot was fenced off. In the open section there was a large horse trailer, 2 horses and Dave himself.

After introductions I was enlightened to the organization and to this particular event. I learned that this was the beginning prep work for the third Lakota Ride. I gathered the impression that help and support was much needed and would be appreciated. We had a small lesson in horsemanship and then rode for a few miles through a park, school and neighborhood. We talked about the organization and why this event was needed. I talked about my previous experiences with horses. It being just a photo op at a 6-year old’s Birthday party and a 2-mile crash down a mountain track on a runaway horse. Holding on like a frightened monkey until being rescued by my older Brother (probably more on that later). On our return trip to the horse stables there was some construction by the gate and we thought it best to dismount and walk the horses the rest of the way. That's when the saddle and I decided to see what the bottom of the horse looked like .... Luckily for me I simply stepped off (sort of) and landed on my feet. Even Luckier the horse, Eshna, and I decided to remain friends, much to Dave's relief. Upon our return, we said our " Doc-sha's " (until we meet again) with promises of signed waivers and medical clearances
 
On our second meetup, I had the needed paperwork in hand and after saddling the horses (a requirement to be a rider) I parked my ride next to a hay bale, climbed on and we were off. Looking down at Dave’s saddle I noticed a lariat that wasn't there before. After the "almost" fiasco at the end of the last meetup and the story I told, I asked if it was for me?  He got serious, and then we laughed, we both saw the truth in it. We started working up to a fast trot and Dave was ready for a gallop.  I pulled up on the reins and did my best to look like I knew what I was doing to stop. Dave quickly spun around and wanted to know if anything was wrong (my ability to be a rider was still not set in stone)? I told him I just wanted to make sure I knew how to stop before I learned how to run! Along the way I told Dave that I had a commercial driver’s license and was more than willing to help out in any way that I could. That got me to the third meetup.
   
About 10 days later I met Dave for the third time along with his son Adam in a parking lot with a big truck, horse trailer and a rental car with plans of caravanning up to the reservation to pick up horses and Lakota Tribal members (Elders, Singers, other riders and some of their family members that will travel with the Ride). That's how I found myself at 6:30-ish in the morning at the top of Lookout Mountain overseeing 5 strange horses feeling a little inadequate of the title of " Horse Watcher “. At a set time all of the people and horses gathered together and with Words, Prayer’s, Songs and Ceremony, the 2017 3rd annual Lakota Ride was off!! After driving the trailer and eating lunch I got the opportunity to get on one of those " unknown horses named " Wicahpi " to finish out the day. I parked my ride next to a fence and climbed on. I was far from sure that I would be able to handle the rigors of such a journey but I didn't want to Not ride a bit of it. Being new to riding and more than a bit nervous I found that you still have time for contemplation. So, while I was all clenched and knotted up I was convincing myself that " Me " being on this trip was " Reckless and Irresponsible " and I should probably just go home, when Waylon ("The" Horse Guy and soon to be great friend), gives me a gentle, unexpected push that almost startles me out of the saddle. He says relax, loosen up, have fun .... He then keeps riding up & down the line of other horses and riders. I try to take his advice and focus on the good times and the moment.  I hear someone inquire about me and someone else answer "He's on Wicahpi". I looked down at my horse and settled in and started thinking again, " Wi-cah-pi “?  I think of my names and how I got them. The tradition in my family is to have 2 middle names. Supposedly to give my Parents an opportunity to help define our character and paths in life (my Sister's name means " Sweet Peaceful Earth " in 3 different languages). My name is Jason Scott Eric, after Jason and the Argonauts, Sir Robert Falcon Scott (Arctic Explorer) and Erik the Red (Father of Leif Erikson). On contemplation I realized that " Jason " had a ship full of Heroes but his quest was fraught with danger, tragedy and bad decisions. Sir Robert Falcon Scott (though Noble in His endeavor) still arrived 5 weeks too late and perished of starvation and exposure 10 miles shy of food and supplies. And Erik The Red, who was kicked out of Iceland and fell off his horse, considering it a bad omen and decided to stay home on the day that his son Leif set off to North America...  I dwell some more.

I am reminded of a story of when I was small (2nd grade or so). I was trying to stay up all night to watch the "Jerry Lewis Telethon" and I pleaded with my Mom to let me stay awake and watch it. Two hours after " bedtime " and I couldn't keep my eyes open. My Mother scooped me up and took me out into the cold night air. She rolled me out of my blanket and around the lawn for a bit. Then she wrapped me and the blanket up in her arms and told me a story. It was about when She was young. She and her older Brother were left alone in their home, it was dark and the house had no electricity. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves they sat quietly in the dark. My Mother, being very young, was frightened and started to cry. Her Brother (not being much older) tried to be comforting and asked about her tears.  She told him that there were No Lights!! “Yes, there is”, he says, and leads her outside and pointing up he tells her to "Look". It being Dark, the Milky Way looked like a river across the Sky with so many dots of “Light"!  "See", he says, "there are lots of them! And they are always there. Even when it's cloudy or the Sun is out, all you have to do is look up and know that those "Lights" are always there"!  When She finished, I looked up into the sky with new wonder. She squeezed me and whispered in my ear "Wi-cah-pi"... That means " Star ".

And that's when I fell off my horse! 
   
Wicahpi and Shunka (Dog) were the first words I learned in Lakota. And much like that night long ago, I wanted to learn more and I didn't want to miss a thing.

From the first meeting with Dave and the Tipi Raisers Family (which is what it has become) I thought " Wow ", I hope this works out well. After just a few minutes though I saw Dave's manor and approach to the simple acts of introducing me to the animals and the act of placing tack and saddles on. I saw the respect and care he took and the ease and temperament of the Horses, Masa and Eshna (I was on Eshna). We discussed the struggles and shortcomings of life on the Reservation and the needs of the people. As I listened, I saw the genuine concern about the topics he mentioned, which awakened the same feelings in me. It seemed like A lot to "Take on", but I never saddled a horse before that day and the need seemed great. Upon spending more time with Dave I knew there were lots of ways I could help, and who didn't want to ride a horse and be a part of such an adventure?

It was easy to find ways to help, there were so many things that needed to be done and I was drawn more and more into the excitement of it all. Things that would normally seem like a chore or burden turned into something else. I began to fill roles that were needed and to rely on other people in a way I wouldn't have been comfortable with before. Most importantly I listened... things like driving 6 hours one way to places I've never been, to pick up people I've never met seemed like a small price to pay for the opportunity to talk, listen and become good friends, more like family, with all the concerns, warm thoughts and feelings that come with Family; "Mitakuye Oyasin" (We are all related). It was more than a sense of Community. I didn't even understand that word until after my involvement. If anything, I never wanted the visits to end and my thoughts and heart stayed with all of my new found relations! I feel thankful and blessed for the opportunities that the Tipi Raisers have given me and honored to aid the Tasunke Wakan Nation (Sacred Horse Nation). Humblie Le Anpetu ki Oglala Lakota Oyate ki unsiwica kila pi ye (I ask for compassion for my Relatives). Oaye Waste, Wowasake na Woawanglake wicayaku pi kte (Give them good direction, strength and protection).
   
The help the Tipi Raisers bring to the Oceti Sakowin is immeasurable.  
   
Wopila, WOPILA Tanka (Many MANY Thanks)!!"  Jason Larkin, Lakota Rider 

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Joe Loetscher

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​Meet "Uncle Joe"! The number of volunteer trips, Gen7 gatherings and random offers of assistance from Joe are lost on us now as they must number well into the double digits since that first spring-break trip several years ago with his daugther- which he writes about below.  Suffice it to say, Joe has now become "Uncle Joe" as he shows up with the heart, presence and can-do spirit that the best of Uncles represent.  Joe takes the time to really listen to and get to know our friends on Pine Ridge and somehow wins everyone over with his unique- albeit goofy- sense of humor!   Joe has written many of our blog posts as he often comes away from his experiences with potent reflections -- we are so grateful that he takes the time to preserve and share them. Joe truly embodies our statement that "our volunteers make all the difference", our gratitude to him is immeasurable!

"In the early 1990's I graduated with my bachelor degree in Biology.  Back then I envisioned myself teaching science on a reservation. I was intrigued by the culture and spirituality of the Native American. The January following graduation the blueness settled into the pinion and junipers of the New Mexico foothills as the sun faded from orange to pinkish and began to settle into the western horizon. The smell of pinion smoke and roasting chili's flavored the fragrant cold dusk air.  I was horseback riding with a native elder on a reservation in New Mexico to discuss the prospects of teaching on a reservation. As I hunkered my hands between the saddle and the horse  to garner some warmth for my frozen fingers, the elder gentleman validated my interest and noble aspirations and he made it clear that he respected my intention and pointed out my efforts would be viewed as another white man trying to erase the pains of the past without understanding the complexity of the present. Even as a naive youngster of my mid 20's I recognize the merit in his words. Instead of teaching on a reservation I taught in a public school in Colorado for a while and later became a professional Firefighter/EMT.  Twenty four years after that frigid ride in New Mexico my daughter, a freshman at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, was returning from a trip with the Tipi Raisers on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. My wife, son and I met my daughter's group in Chadron, Nebraska.  Our family was driving out of Colorado to celebrate Thanksgiving with my in-laws in Sturgis, South Dakota. My daughter was a tired, sore and filthy ragamuffin yet her spirit was rich as she shared the account of every person she met on the Reservation. There was much beauty in her stories, though the setting of poverty and hardship was uncomfortable to hear. That Thanksgiving my daughter incorporated some of the Lakota prayers and traditions she experienced into our turkey dinner bringing a beautiful new awareness of Thanksgiving that transcended my traditional Turkey day celebration.  

That following spring break I joined my daughter on another Tipi Raiser trip to Pine Ridge. There is much to be learned and experienced when you trust the inspiration and wisdom of youth, that is if you let them knock the dust of your settled ways and kick you out of your comfort zone. The work was honest, the people were genuine and the hardship I saw was raw and powerful. I had that same feeling I had in the early 1990, a call to altruism, altruism is a word that has played me since I was very young. I believe my vocational calling is to be of service. I live by the motto, "If you have the means and ability to act you have a responsibility to do so". The work, determination, perseverance and strength of Dave Ventimiglia and the Tipi Raisers on the reservation calls to that motto. My experience on the reservation and the relationships I made with the people make it clear to me; I am a white man trying to erase the pains of the past. A pain my relatives were not party to but my culture is. I think an awareness of my cultural history is important.  I believe I must own some history and lean into that history's uncomfortable legacy and through the relationships I have forged, tooled by fellowship with the people of Pine Ridge, I am beginning to understand how the violent colonizing past created the complexity of the present Native American experience. To be clear, to understand doesn't mean to know. I just understand that there is so much I don't know about the deep hurt and trauma of the American Indian. To sit and be present on the reservation is to make space for empathy. The work a volunteer does is important and that work stands on equal ground to making space in your heart for the experiential story of those you meet on the reservation. For me, listening to the malignant painful past that builds generational trauma and how those experiences created the complexity of the present makes more salient the ceremonial traditions and rituals that are shared with volunteers by the people on the reservation and adds clarity to the work.
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When I commune with the elders on Pine Ridge and listen to their life experience I am reminded of that kind native elder in New Mexico whose words at the time were disheartening and true. I carry those words with me on every trip to Pine Ridge. That elders' words keep me humble and focus my intentions. Certainly my volunteerism doesn't make reparations on behalf of America and the US government but does help me reconcile my place in humanity just a little and working, laughing, and crying with others for a purpose is kinda fun too".

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Angela Sayeed-Bastean

​Anglea has been involved with Tipi Raisers for several years.  The picture here shows Angela on Cantay, the horse she rode in the 2017 LakotaRide. Angela has participated in and been a go-to volunteer for the LakotaRide for three years!  Angela's consistency over the years means a great deal to us as she is always there to help when something is needed. Angela's heart is with her Lakota friends and that is evident every time she volunteers with us or goes to Pine Ridge on her own to help in whatever way she can!

"As a very young child my spirit has been guiding me to where I am today. Watching Westerns on TV. Seeing how indigenous people were treated. Years later I read how Saint Francis Elementary School was the worst in the country. My goal is to help  the children learn how to read and maybe eventually helping with exercising/sports programs.

So when I happened to come across the Tipi Raiser's LakotaRide 2017 on Facebook- naturally, I was hooked and see myself as being one step closer to St Francis.

I have made several trips up to Pine Ridge reservation. Helping build / paint and bringing and distributing donations. Going to several towns on Pine Ridge reservation. My last trip I met someone from Rosebud reservation which is where Saint Francis Elementary School is. 
I am looking forward to the the future with my friends/family." -- Angela

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JANE JACKSON

​Jane began partnering with us in 2018 and, in a span of just a few months, she has driven to Pine Ridge multiple times to deliver donations all across the vast reservation (she even bought a new pick up truck so she could help with donations).  On one of her trips to Pine Ridge, Jane (a retired high school teacher) noticed the lack of any libraries on the reservation and began working with the community of Wounded Knee to establish a small book exchange which has been a great hit with the residents!  Jane reaches out regularly to see how she can help and has proven to be a trusted thought-partner across a variety of areas.  We are touched by how quickly Jane seems to make genuine connections with the Lakota people when she is on Pine Ridge and how she leaves those encounters inspired to help in whatever ways are needed.

"When I first experienced the vast grandeur of South Dakota and Pine Ridge as a youngster, I fell in love with the land. It has taken me many years to connect back with this beauty and mystery, but the feeling of belonging there remains.  I came to the Tipi Raisers because of that, and have found the people I have met and the simplicity of fitting in to the community there, easy and comfortable.
I have found creative ways to spend my energy and the easy camaraderie of the people makes it a delight to focus attention on whatever needs to happen". -- Jane

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ERICA REWEY

​Erica Rewey, or "Rewdog", has coordinated and participated in more volunteer trips with her students from Palmer High School than we can keep track of.  She is consistently positive, fun and enormously helpful!  Erica has the unique ability to show up - authentic and present - with those she comes into contact with.  We are beyond grateful for her presence, support and advocacy whether it's on the LakotaRide, volunteer trips or with off- reservation events.

"It probably sounds cliche, but working with the Tipi Raisers has changed my life. It has changed how I see myself as an educator - to one who opens others up to the rich history and traditions of the Lakota people, despite our government's role in the destruction of their culture. It has changed how I see the world around me - as an active participant in making the world, particularly for the Lakota, a better place through service, through acts of gratitude and kindness, and through the friendships I've made. It has changed me as a person by making me more aware of my own soul and the magic of our earth. The land, the people, the culture, and the traditions have broken my heart wide open and made space
​for me to laugh, cry, celebrate, and learn with some of the most amazing people
I've ever met".   -- Erica