Native American Veterans Initiative

​Bunkhouse Heroes is expanding its outreach to Native American veterans through an initiative focused on recovery support, connection, and access to assistance. This work brings together our commitment to veterans and our relationships within rodeo and Western communities, while recognizing the distinct histories, traditions, and experiences of Native American people.

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Military service, the transition to civilian life, and difficulties involving alcohol or other substances can place considerable strain on veterans and their families. Seeking help can become more complicated when appropriate resources are far from home or when available services do not reflect a person’s cultural identity. Our purpose is to help Native American veterans and their families find support that respects both their recovery needs and their connection to community.

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Recovery With Respect for Culture and Community

Native American communities encompass many sovereign Tribal Nations, languages, traditions, and approaches to healing. Meaningful support begins with listening. We recognize the importance of working alongside Native veterans, families, Tribal representatives, and Native led organizations to understand where our assistance can be useful.

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Through this initiative, Bunkhouse Heroes seeks to help Native American veterans affected by alcohol and other substance use concerns connect with recovery resources, peer support, and opportunities for assistance. Depending on individual needs and available funding, that assistance may include scholarships for recovery housing, access to recovery education, and connections to appropriate treatment and community services.

We respect each veteran’s choices about the role of family, cultural practices, traditional healing, spirituality, and clinical care in their recovery. Our role is to help make support more accessible while honoring the relationships and practices that matter to the individual.

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Connection Through Rodeo

Bunkhouse Heroes recently supported the 50th anniversary Indian National Finals Rodeo. The experience offered an opportunity to celebrate Native rodeo athletes, meet families and community members, and share our commitment to veterans and recovery.

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Rodeo brings generations together through skill, discipline, horsemanship, and shared tradition. Our participation provided a starting point for conversations and relationships we hope to develop through this initiative. The photographs on this page capture moments from that experience.

Supporting the Initiative

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Donors who wish to support this work may designate their contributions to the Native American Veterans Initiative when giving to Bunkhouse Heroes. These gifts will help advance outreach and recovery assistance for Native American veterans, consistent with our charitable mission and available programs.

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The initiative does not establish an automatic allocation from general donations. It creates a dedicated opportunity for supporters who want their giving to help us develop this work.

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We welcome conversations with Native American veterans, Tribal veterans programs, Native led recovery organizations, rodeo communities, and prospective supporters about unmet needs and opportunities to work together.

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Connect With Bunkhouse Heroes

To discuss assistance, explore a collaboration, or designate a donation to the Native American Veterans Initiative, please contact Bunkhouse Heroes.