Dennis Littleraven

Staff Spotlight

Staff Member Dennis Littleraven, Position: Security Guard

By Clare Jensen

Dennis Littleraven moved to Washington from Oklahoma about 19 years ago. He didn’t plan on making the Pacific Northwest his home, but once he came for a visit, he never went back.

And he has settled into the community nicely. Whether it is jamming with friends, fishing, joining in on the Puyallup Canoe Journeys, Sweat Lodges – or working – Dennis Littleraven said he loves the people here.

He has been working as a security guard for the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA) for 15 years. He loves his job because he gets to work with people constantly. He gets to talk, walk, look after and help out staff and patients for a living, which is what he said he loves.

“Helping out: it’s what it’s all about,” he said. Dennis Littleraven encounters a variety of calls where he is needed to intervene. Whether it be helping a patient jumpstart their car, or changing a flat, calming down an angry patient, or politely putting a halt to excessive public displays of affection, Dennis Littleraven has handled it all. He’s the go-to guy for the PTHA’s needs. Even if all they need is a smile.

“My favorite part of my job is just being there for patients and staff,” he said. “Just to see them smile, and let them know I’m here.”

Dennis Littleraven said working at the PTHA feels like working within one big family.

He has enjoyed his time spent working for the Tribe, and said it has been a privilege to see the community grow. He has watched the PTHA change from a small trailer into a prosperous facility serving thousands of Native Americans each year.

“The community has grown in such a positive way. That’s really nice to see,” he said.

Dennis Littleraven is a member of the Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma, but said since he grew up in Southern California before moving to the Plaines of Central United States; it was an easy shift to come to Tacoma.

“It was easy getting used to the city – it was hard getting used to the country,” he said with a smile.

Dennis Littleraven recently celebrated his first anniversary with his wife, Sheila, and has one stepson, Kyle. He said he has a lot of good friends in the community and at PTHA.

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