Rooted

— Brad Butterfly, Lead Architect & CTO

This idea began with purpose. As Niitsitapii, we are taught that we are given only so much in this life. With that understanding, I took my values, experiences, and life lessons and tried to create something meaningful—something rooted in who we are and how we live.

The vision came from a real need. As a dancer, singer, and community member, I saw firsthand the gaps that existed. I wanted something built by us, for us—a tool that reflects our lived experiences, our ways of gathering, and our understanding of community.

I started developing the foundation of this app in 2022 while pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, learning as I went. The work continued through both my BSCS and MSDA programs, and after years of rebuilding, refining, and rethinking, I'm finally ready to share it with you.

This app represents countless hours of work—complete rebuilds, moments of doubt, and times when I almost walked away. During this journey, my wife and I welcomed two more children on top of the two we already had. Between school, work, family, and building, it took life—our life and our time. None of this would exist without the unwavering support of my wife, children, and family, who believed in this vision even when progress wasn't always visible.

This isn't something built by a distant company or a team disconnected from the community. It's built by people who are part of it—who care deeply about creating something that serves our Niitsitapii people with respect and intention.

My wife and I offer this tool as a gift to our community, with the hope that it will be used, shaped, and built upon for generations to come.