About Us

Peaceful Means, or Wahwala Iyohlogya in Lakota, is an indigenous-led sexual violence prevention initiative that started on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We teach K-12 youth a culturally adapted version of the IMpower program. We are expanding our prevention programming to serve adult women survivors of sexual assault and adapting our youth curriculum to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Our aim is to end sexual violence across Indian Country by 2050 beginning in on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We are completing our third year of teaching on the Pine Ridge Reservation and have started to collaborate with other tribes nationally to share the program model. Peaceful Means is honored to be afforded an organizational home at the University of Michigan School of Social Work as we grow towards independent long-term sustainability.

Who We Are

 J. Gayle Beck
Co-Investigator

 Jeremiah Brave Heart
PM Instructor 

Katie Edwards
Professor, Principle Investigator University of Michigan

Mark Fesquez
Research

Skyler Hopfauf
Administrative Technical Assistance

Ramona Herrington
Cultural Outreach Manager

Christina Hitz
Director of Operations

Orin Morrison
PM Instructor 

Orin Morrison
PM Instructor 

Shonda Morrison
Research

 Joe O'Rourke
Research

Lee Paiva
SVP Specialist

 Esty Pittman
SVP Specialist

Darrell Quintana
PM Instructor 

Dennison Running Shield
Cook / Cleaner

Alexandra Swalley
PM Instructor

Preciouse Trujillo
Senior Community Liaison

Adena Two Eagle
PM Instructor 

Missy Under Baggage
PM Instructor 

Lorey Wheeler
Co-Principle Investigator

Steven Wilson
Lead Male Instructor/ Team Manager

Thalia Wilson
Project Research Coordinator

Aliah Yellow Bird-Steele
PM Instructor