Meet Our Dream Team!
Meet our Board of Directors and Staff! We are dedicated to the mission of empowerment and love being able to spread that through our events.
Our Board of Directors
Yolanda Swalley - President of the Board of Directors and Open Art/Knitting instructor
Yolanda (Yoli) Swalley was born in Roswell, New Mexico. Growing up
she learned that her love for dancing was a form of self-expression and
spent 19 years learning and honing dance skills. In 1998 she moved to
Pine Ridge Reservation with her partner Larry and raised their children a
source of pride and happiness in her life. Yoli met Shannon on Pine
Ridge Reservation when Shannon volunteered for a non-profit
organization. A dream was born when they realized that dance and
artistic expressions could be used as therapeutic tools to help heal
trauma-related wounds on many different levels. Their goal is to help
alleviate the pain of generational traumas so prevalent in Native
communities by instilling a sense of self-worth and pride in the children
of Pine Ridge Reservation. Yoli’s abilities as a nurturing Mother,
creative crafts person and innovative instructor, combined with her love
of the community make her a valuable asset to Upijata Arts and a much
appreciated advocate for the children
Lawrence Swalley - Vice President and Drum Circle Instructor.
Lawrence (Larry) Swalley is a proud tribal member of the Lakota Nation and a lifelong resident of the Pine Ridge Reservation. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Dakota Wesleyan University and served in the US Navy from 1987-1991. He pursued an acting career and appeared in several movies and productions including SKINS and Crazy Horse, a TBS production. Larry has spent his life serving the people of Pine Ridge Reservation in numerous ways. He currently works with traumatized children at the Oglala Lakota Children’s Center. Larry’s dedication to helping others is apparent as he nurtures and celebrates the customs and cultural heritage with the participants of Upijata Arts Company. His teachings, wisdom, and knowledge honor the traditional ways of the Lakota people and is a gift to everyone willing to learn. He also instructs the drum circles during our summer intensive program which passes down Lakota culture by telling stories that have been passed down orally for centuries. He also tells the creation story during our showcase.
Shannon Beshears - Secretary
and Contemporary Dance Instructor
Shannon Beshears was recently recognized for her work as an Emmy Award nominee stuntwoman for a popular Netflix series. She graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BFA in Dance Performance. When she is not performing graceful aerial ballets and amazing stunts, she is committed to developing programs for the children of Pine Ridge Reservation. She believes that self-expression in the arts is a key component in helping others heal from traumatic experiences. Shannon and co-founder Yolanda Swalley (see below) continuously work towards the goals of empowering and nurturing the creative talents of the youth of Pine Ridge Reservation. By providing a safe and loving environment for all participants and instructors, the goal is to help heal and uplift a new generation of children who have been severely affected by decades of historical traumas.
Debra Beshears- Treasurer and Volunteer
Debra Winkler-Beshears grew up in Davenport, Iowa and graduated from West High School. She married Frank Beshears and moved to Illinois where they raised twin daughters, Shannon and Jessica. She went back to school and added an Associate's Degree in Business Management from Black Hawk College . She also was a Girl Scout Leader for 7 years, volunteered for Ballet Quad Cities and served as a Deacon for First Presbyterian Church.
Her first trip to Pine Ridge was also through Re-Member, where she learned about the history of the Lakota People and the challenges they face. When Yoli and Shannon re-ignited their dream, she wanted to help. In 2023, she was able to come for the summer intensive program and work with the kids in the Art Room and be a part of the team. She looks forward to supporting the year round program and traveling there every year that she can.
Emilee Swalley- Program Director, Social Media Manager and Art Instructor
Emilee Swalley is a multi-talented visual artist who lives and works on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Her artwork has been featured at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in CA and at the prestigious Lakota Nation Invitational in South Dakota. She has also received several awards for her art from the Mitakuye Oyate Foundation. Emilee is an art instructor, a web designer, a videographer and graphic designer for Upijata Arts. Her artistic abilities and commitment to the community serve as role models to the young children of Pine Ridge who aspire to explore their own creativity. When not working at Upijata Arts Emilee continues to explore the many aspects of creating and highlighting the arts to address and assist those whose lives have been adversely affected by trauma. Emilee is a gifted, talented rising star in the arts community, and we are grateful to have her in our organization.
Colleen J Pallamary- Grant Team Committee Head and Grant Writer
Colleen J. Pallamary is an author, speaker, copy editor, freelance writer, and crafter. She has an Associate in Science Degree from Massasoit Community College and has attended numerous writing workshops and conferences. She has published three books and is currently working on a book of poetry. Colleen has spent many years volunteering in her community. In 2005 she received an award from the Florida Attorney General’s Office for her work in the Seniors vs Crime project. In the early 2000’s she wrote and developed a domestic violence awareness program for female inmates at the local jail and taught there for several years.
She continues to teach a variety of classes in the local senior communities and believes in helping others when she can. She fulfilled her lifelong dream of spending time on Pine Ridge Reservation as a volunteer and considers that one of the best times in her life. Colleen’s passion and belief in Upijata Arts Company comes from her understanding that creativity, especially in children, needs to be recognized and nurtured as a means of self-expression for those who have been adversely affected by trauma. She believes that art empowers people to explore their own inner gifts leading to healing within themselves and their communities. When not reading and writing Colleen enjoys painting, learning new craft skills, playing her Native American flutes, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren who are the source of joy and happiness in her life.
Brandy Lewis- Board Member and Martial Arts Instructor
Brandy Lewis is an enrolled tribal member of the Choctaw Nation and she teaches womens only self defense and BJJ classes. She is a film industry professional, and holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Central Florida. At Upijata Arts Company, she teaches self defense through the style of Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and American Boxing.
Elena Camerin Young - Voice Teacher
Born in Venice, Italy, Elena began her musical studies on piano and later on voice at the "Thelonious Monk" jazz school with Carla Marcotulli; moreover, she studied opera with soprano Francesca Scaini. In 1992, she attended the clinic of Bob Stoloff in Umbria Jazz '92 and participated in master-classes and workshops with, amongst others, Jay Clayton, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, and Meredith Monk. In 1994 Elena joined the choir "Venice Gospel Ensemble" as soloist with which she recorded several CDs and sang in many theaters and national television shows. She worked with several groups in Italy and as a leader she performed in clubs, theaters and festivals; she also worked as recording vocalist for numerous artists on the Italian national scene. Elena worked as a "living installation" at the Biennale 2003, in Venice, for the artist Tino Sehgal; in July 2004 she won the Best Student Award at the Michelle Hendricks' jazz vocal workshop with the Spoleto Arts Symposia. In 2008 Elena moved to New York City where she became part of the underground jazz scene, performing and working with many musicians of the New York Area and experimenting with actors, poets, dancers and filmmakers. Since August 2015 she lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she performs with many musicians and artists of the greater Denver area, teaches voice at the Naropa University, founded the "Nalanda Ensemble", started the monthly series for free improvisers "OH SNAP!" and served for 6 years on the board of Creative Music Works. Elena has been teaching voice, music ensemble and vocal ensemble since 1996 in Italy and the U.S.A
Emily Lapolice- Trauma informed Yoga Instructor and Board Member
Emily is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga-Facilitator (TCTSY-F), author, and educator. She is a faculty member at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in Boston, MA, and has been a psychotherapist for 20 years, specializing in complex and intergenerational trauma, perinatal mental health, and evidence-based embodiment practices. She has worked in New York City and Boston based hospital and school settings with a diverse group of immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized populations impacted by trauma and oppression.
Emily is also the Director of Training at Move to Heal South Dakota, a Sioux Falls based non-profit that empowers youth in overcoming experiences of trauma through movement and culture-based healing arts, as well a Clinical Research Advisor at the Mind Body Trauma Care Lab out of the University of Minnesota Duluth, studying community-lead research and trauma-sensitive yoga applications with Indigenous and First Nations communities. Emily serves as a member of the Board of Directors for 2 Indigenous-led non-profits: Project Venture, a program of the National Indian Youth Leadership Project (NIYLP) supporting positive youth development through culturally responsive experiential education; and the Upijata Arts Center, nurturing creativity and artistic expression for the youth of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
Emily holds Indigenous ancestry with the Mi’kmaq and Huron First Nations Tribes of Eastern Canada, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. She is a mother to two young boys, and lives on the traditional unceded lands of the Pawtucket Tribe of the Massuchett Peoples in what is now known as Arlington, MA, where she maintains a small private practice.
Olivia Myles - Board Member
Has worked for Re-Member for several years and met Yolanda and Shannon through that nonprofit. She is currently a therapist full time and helps our team by researching grants.
Amanda Morrisette - Board Member
Our board member and also on our social media team.
Stephanie Apple - Our chef!
One of the most sought after Indian Taco makers on the Rez. Because she works with the community in so many ways, she is pioneering our community affairs branch.
Viann Nguyen-Feng, PhD, MPH, LP [vee-anne win-fang]-Board Member
(she/her) is a licensed psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She serves as core faculty in the clinical-counseling graduate program and directs the Mind-Body Trauma Care Lab. For more information, see her lab website: https://MindBodyTrauma.Care
Sheila Slow Bear - Board member
An advocate for sexual and domestic assault survivors for over 7 years both on and off the reservation.
Emily Lapolice - Board Member and Trauma informed yoga instructor
Andrew Bultemeier - Board Member