darrin coldiron
Darrin was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. His grandfather, a USMC Colonel, was instrumental in developing Darrin’s character. The Colonel taught the grandchildren important life lessons as they helped him work his land, and as he led them on horse pack trips into the wilderness. The Colonel taught them how to care for animals and humans, to be prepared, to keep a good camp and to leave every place better than how you found it.
Michael Patterson
Mike Patterson has volunteered with the Veterans Community Response (VCR) organization since 2013. He has served as a retreat coordinator, community responder, mentor, board member, and now resides as the president of the VCR board. Mike served as a Infantryman in the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division and as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. Mike closed out his military career in 2017 after 23 years of service, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major, from the Special Operations Detachment Pacific (SODPAC). He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and is currently a Firefighter with Spokane Valley Fire Department. Mike lives with his wife and three children in Spokane Valley. In his off time he enjoys hunting, backpacking, camping and other outdoor activities.
Rodger d. vielle
Roger Vielle was raised by his grandparents on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. After his grandparents passed, he went to a variety of Government Boarding Schools. He is currently an instructor in the American Indian Studies program at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho
He has traveled all over this country and has taken the Pow Wow trail many times as a Men’s Northern Traditional Dancer. He is also a renowned speaker and story teller speaking at resorts, retreats, schools, and youth functions. He was a featured speaker at” Native America Speaks in Glacier National Park. He enjoys sharing his stories, songs and culture with all people. Roger has been a bounty hunter, private investigator, process server, counselor, youth camp director, teacher, and a case manager (just to name a few careers). Through all types of employment and locations, Roger has continued to be involved in his communities, caring for people with a special place in his heart for the youth and Veterans. He has been a counselor in life skills for youth and adult detainees. With a unique “no-nonsense”, bold approach, he has been able to reach many individuals. He also facilitates traditional circle talks, sweat lodge ceremonies, and cultural connectedness.
He has been a Board member since 2009 with BTYR and also the Native Spiritual Advisor for the organization. Amongst other duties with VCR he is the builder and facilitator of the Sweat Lodges for the Retreats.
He is a U.S. Army Veteran and specially trained Tribal Veterans’ Rep. He lives with his wife and two dogs and they all enjoy traveling around the country doing various speaking engagements, trainings, and attending Pow wows.
Conferences/Training/Professional Experience
Talking Circle Facilitator, Traditional Sweat Lodge Facilitator (ongoing)
Blackfoot Confederacy staff, Glacier National Park Conference (2009)
Crazy Dog Society Member, Blackfeet Tribal Warrior Society inducted in 2009
Native Historical Trauma and Grief, trained as facilitator, Browning, MT (2010)
Tribal Veterans’ Representative, Helena, MT (2011-2012)
Native Spiritual Advisor/Board Member, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Spokane, WA (2010-Current)
American Indigenous Research Conference in Polson, Montana, October 2016. Out of the Box
Presenter on Indigenous Teaching Methodologies, Success in the College Classroom.
Invited Talks and Presentations
Career Advisor, Grant County Jail inmates, Silver City, NM (2012)
Youth Day presentation, Red Paint Pow Wow, Silver City, NM (2012-2013)
Native Traditional Healing presentation, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (2014)
Native Traditional Healing presentation, Spokane Vets’ Center, Spokane, WA (2014)
Storyteller, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, Moscow, ID (2014-15)
Presenter, Religion and Social Work, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, Feb. 12, 2015
Keynote Speaker, Mother Language Symposium, Washington State University, Feb. 22, 2015
Keynote Speaker, Spirituality, Eastern Washington University, Feb. 25, 2015
Teaching Experience
Life Skills Coach, New Mexico Correctional Facility, Belen, NM (1998-1999)
Teacher, guiding sweats, talking circles and Medicine Wheel for incarcerated Native male youth State of Montana Juvenile Youth Authority, Deer Lodge, MT (2009-2010)
Instructor on Native Tradition and Culture, HOIST, University of Idaho (2014)
Instructor ANTH 329, North American Indians, University of Idaho, Spring Semester, 2015-16
Instructor, ANTH 404 Sacred Lands, University of Idaho, Spring Semester, 2017
Investigator, Tribal Juvenile Court, Toho’ O Odham Tribe (Pima), Sells, AZ (2007-2008)
Manpower TANF Case Manager, Browning, MT (2010-2011)
Counselor, mentor, Sierra Counseling Services, Silver City, NM (2011-2012)
Support Staff, Spokane Vets’ Center, Spokane, WA (2010-Current)
Native Youth Mentor and Assistant Teacher, NASC University of Idaho (2014-Current)
Andy Hail
Born and raised in West Seattle, with detours to the Bay Area and Washington D.C., I was heavily involved with Boy Scouts, competitive swimming, life guarding, volunteer firefighting and emergency medical work until my high school graduation in 1975. During a cross-country post graduation experience, I learned about a Para-rescue program in the Air Force that transformed my life dramatically. Enlisting through, and serving with, the 129th Air Rescue and Recovery Group between 1976 - 1982, I received a wealth of training and field experience that laid the foundation for a 37 year fire service career that began in Redmond, WA and ended with retirement in Spokane Valley, WA. Along the way I acquired a BS degree in Fire Service Administration and a MS in Executive Leadership & Emergency Management.
Over the past 3 + decades I’ve been the proud parent of two daughters, one son and grandparent to five grandsons and one granddaughter. I continued with community service through participation in youth sports coaching baseball and umpiring, becoming a youth sports organization board member, organizing community focused special events, food bank work, political activism, mentoring of grade school students, working with the Redmond and Spokane Valley Fire Fighter Benevolent organizations, serving on the Spokane Valley Fire Fighter Scholarship selection committee and assisting with the operations and fund raising for Veterans Community Response and Spokane Veterans Forum organizations.
After retiring from Spokane Valley Fire Department in 2016, I met and married my best friend Suzie Spencer and we’ve been able to spend time involved in long neglected outdoor activities and travel, including two cross-country motorcycling adventures and backpacking into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. More importantly, Suzie and I have invested time and energy contributing to helping organize, sponsor and conduct veterans retreats through the Veterans Community Response (VCR) organization and participating with VCR partner organization All Hands and Hearts – a humanitarian disaster relief organization deployments to hurricane and tornado impacted areas in the Caribbean and Southeast USofA. Additionally, I’ve spent over two years assisting with the operations of the Spokane Veterans Forum while also mentoring veterans involved with regional court systems. I look forward to the continued development of the Community Response component of VCR, providing veterans with the opportunity to use their military background and skills in a productive manner while assisting communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters involving their towns and / or regions. While veterans contribute to communities through their contributions of time, effort and energy, communities contribute toward the healing and development of veterans through recognition and appreciation of their previous military service and continued service to community.