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People of the Sacred Land is a 100% American Indian-led 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Directors are members of the Colorado American Indian Community working to support Indigenous Peoples’ rights in communities across the state. Our Directors are dedicated to working towards PSL’s mission to create equity for American Indians in Colorado and the tribes whose lands were stolen from them.
Director | Northern Arapaho
W. Patrick Goggles, an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, resides in the rural community of Mill Creek, On the Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming. Patrick has been married to Charolette R. Goggles for 47 years and together raised three children and have 10 grandchildren and two Great Grandsons.
Patrick is the Executive Director of Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing, since July 2003. Patrick also serves as the Region 5 Director to the National American Indian Housing Council since 2018.
Patrick is a Central Wyoming College and University of Wyoming graduate. Patrick is also a 2003 Leadership Wyoming graduate and an honorary Graduate of the Wind River Tribal College.
Patrick was elected to the 58th Wyoming Legislature in November of 2004 as Representative for House District 33. Patrick served as the Minority Floor Leader, Minority Whip and Ranking Democrat on the Management Council for the Wyoming Legislature until 2014. Patrick is a five-term legislator and was the lone Native American elected to the Wyoming Legislature.
Patrick also was elected to the Northern Arapaho Business Council in 1978 and served two terms. Patrick has also been elected to the Fremont County School District 14 Board of Trustees / Wyoming Indian Schools for twenty-two years.
Kiowa and Cherokee
For over 40 years, Rick has been actively involved in advocating on behalf of the American Indian community through both his professional and personal life. From supporting higher education opportunities for Native students at the University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Phoenix, and the American Indian College Fund, to helping serve the Native community in the Denver Front Range area through his work at the Denver Indian Center, Rick has dedicated his life to Indian Country. In promoting self-determination and self-reliance, Rick points to the importance of the family and the roles each member is responsible for while taking into account traditional Native American beliefs and values. Originally from Oklahoma, Rick is currently the Executive Director of the Denver Indian Center, Inc,. and has lived in Colorado since 1984. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Rick is married with 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Sicangu and Diné/Indigenous
Donna is Sicangu and Diné/Indigenous and uses Wiƞyan/she/her pronouns. She serves as Co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission. Donna is a mother of five children and a native of Denver. She works as a legal professional for a law firm in downtown Denver. She stays active in the Native community by volunteering and participating in several community organizations. Donna is a public speaker and has been presenting historical information about Lakota people to schools and organizations for over 40 years. Education is not only a passion but a purpose for Donna. Her commitment to education is evident by her service on several committees for one of the Metro Denver school districts.
Sicangu Lakota
Steven LaPointe is from the Owl Bonnet Clan of the Sicangu Lakota of South Dakota. Steve has been a lifetime hunter and conservationist. Currently, he serves as a Native American culture and history instructor with Denver Public Schools (DPS), Native American Culture and Education Department (NACE). He has spent the last six years with the DPS, Adams 12, and Jeffco summer camp teaching bow, tracking, and hunting skills. Steve spent eight years with the Circles of Care (CoC) mental healthcare program where he advocated to give Native youth a voice. The CoC program then created a youth track for all cohort members where Steve facilitated the program. This culminated in the final presentation at the Substance Abuse and Mental Healthcare Administration headquarters in Washington D.C. This gave the Native youth a voice to address the particular issues each community faced with mental health and suicide. Steven has served as the powwow committee chairman for the Mile High New Year’s Powwow celebration for the last eight years. He is a Powwow emcee, traditional dancer, and singer. In 2009 Steve had created a Denver metro bison program. Where he facilitated low-cost harvest and educational opportunities to Native veterans, sun-dance, and school groups. Steve advocates for the hunting and fishing treaty rights that are the cornerstone to Native American food sovereignty.
Not Pictured:
Christine Baker Sage, Southern Ute, Director
Jennifer Wolf, Anishinaabe, Director
People of the Sacred Land is a Colorado-based nonprofit working to uncover the truth about American Indian history in the state. The purpose of the People of Sacred Land is to support American Indian people who are citizens of the State of Colorado to preserve their culture, language, and ways of life that were intimately tied to the land.
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