Desert Salt Rainbow Woman

Desert Salt Rainbow Raven is the creative outlet of Rainbow Raven, a lifelong Colorado resident with deep roots in Native American culture and education. Born in Pueblo, she spent much of her childhood immersed in cultural teachings, inspired by her mother, a founding member of the Thunderbird Society—an educational nonprofit dedicated to learning, teaching, and preserving Native American culture through regalia, crafts, dance, cooking, and pow wows.

As an adult, Rainbow Raven moved with her three children to Gardner in 1996, joining her mother’s traveling school program, which taught intercity youth to live off the land and connect with nature through week-long mountain retreats. Following her mother’s passing in 2002, Rainbow Raven continued the legacy of creativity and cultural preservation by crafting unique items from leftover materials, blending her connection to the mountains with traditional practices.

Her artistic identity, Rainbow Raven, stems from a vision and a dream. As a person of mixed heritage, she created a symbol—the Rainbow Blood Tribe—for those who do not fit into traditional paradigms or singular cultural identities. Through her crafts, including gourd art and dolls, she celebrates this inclusive and unique tribe, building bridges and fostering connection.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Rainbow Raven has a long history of service, working in hospitals and clinics since 1974, including 15 years at SPRHC in Gardner. She is actively involved in her community, serving on six grants and working on initiatives such as reopening LaClinica to the public and assisting seniors with home repair grants through USDA Rural Development. Now retired, she dedicates her time to crafting, community involvement, and enjoying life while sharing her vision and creations with others.