Since 2010, Rita and her company, Caribou Thunder has sponsored more than twenty youth from the White Earth reservation to attend NASA’s weeklong Space Camp in Huntsville, AL.; a true, once in a lifetime enrichment experience for these students. Fueled by the success and life-changing stories from the recipients of these scholarships, paired with her own personal desire to serve the underprivileged Indigenous youth across the nation, Caribou Thunder’s Founder and C.E.O. and White Earth descendant, Rita Peterson was propelled to form the philanthropic non-profit organization, “Indigenous Minds”, which was founded in 2023.
Indigenous Minds recognizes and supports an inclusive culturally relevant STEM program that includes Art and Spiritualty. Thus, a new acronym S.T.E.A.M.S. was born (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Spirituality).

In a significant effort to bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment, Caribou Thunder Engineering Services recently participated in an Army recruiting event aimed at attracting cleared specialists. The event, held at Fort Carson, Colorado, showcased the synergy between military training and the high-demand skills required in the Engineering, Cybersecurity, Defense, and Intelligence sectors. The event was a collaborative effort put on by the 117th Space Battalion of the U.S. Army. This was a great opportunity to highlight the mutual interest in leveraging the unique skill sets of military personnel and their ability to continue into careers where they still support National Security.

There arises an increasing demand for advocacy, learning, and advancement with the continuous expansion of the aviation and aerospace sectors. The Aerospace States Association (ASA) comprises state lieutenant governors, governor-designated delegates, state lawmakers, representatives from territorial and tribal governments, as well as associate members hailing from aerospace enterprises, institutions, and academia, who come together for an annual gathering. The ASA unites the interests of aviation and aerospace within each state, aiming to enlighten state legislators about issues pertinent to their respective regions. It also facilitates networking opportunities that contribute to job creation and the expansion of economic development. Notably, the ASA stands as the sole organization dedicated exclusively to…

The year 2023 commemorates the milestone achieved by Sally Ride, who, 40 years ago, made history as the first woman from the United States to journey into outer space. June 18 marks the anniversary of her groundbreaking mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983, where she shattered ceilings and broke barriers during her six-day expedition.

Born in 1951, during a time when space travel seemed like mere science fiction and women’s rights were severely limited, Sally Ride defied societal expectations by…

Five exceptional young minds from the White Earth Science Fair were given a remarkable opportunity to broaden their horizons at the inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Spirit (S.T.E.A.M.S.) Camp in the stunning locale of Colorado Springs. This transformative experience was made possible by the visionary sponsorship of Rita Peterson, who is a White Earth Descendant, a dedicated advocate, owner, and CEO of Caribou Thunder. Over the past decade, Rita has generously enabled over twenty promising youth from White Earth to participate in NASA’s renowned Space Camp. However, recognizing the need for a more inclusive and culturally attuned learning environment, Caribou Thunder’s team took the initiative to establish an enriching camp experience for the winners of the 2019 and 2023 White Earth Science Fairs, following the unfortunate cancellation of the 2020 event due to the global pandemic.