Staff: Chance Pettigrew

Chance Pettigrew is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation with familial ties to the Sicangu Lakota and Southern Ponca. Growing up both on and off the Pine Ridge Reservation provided him with a unique perspective on the challenges and resilience found within Indigenous communities. Drawing from his lived experience and professional work in the mental health field, Chance is passionate about supporting Indigenous youth, promoting mental wellness, and helping break cycles of generational trauma.

He is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open dialogue, fostering cultural connection, and empowering individuals to seek support without shame. Inspired by his work with youth and guided by a family legacy of advocacy, Chance works to amplify Indigenous voices, strengthen communities, and help the next generation recognize the strength and pride found in their identities and cultures. He believes that healing and cultural empowerment go hand in hand and that every young person deserves the opportunity to define their own future.

Outside of his professional work, Chance enjoys photography, gaming, tabletop role-playing games, professional wrestling, and spending time with his wife and their two cats, Oreo and Eclipse. Through photography, he captures the beauty of his people's homelands and shares stories that celebrate Indigenous culture, history, and resilience.