Richard works primarily with youth: as an audio engineer helping young singers and musicians produce demo recordings; facilitating workshops for hand drum making and other traditional crafts.  Some of his photographs of native elders and artists can be seen on the Dodem Kanonhsa' web site.

Born in Calgary, Alberta on April 18, 1942. Spent much of the first 16 years in the Bow Valley and Red Deer Forest regions and on the Stoney (Nakoda) Indian Reserve at Morley, Alberta. In 1957 was given the name “Noosaha” by Jake Twoyoungmen after completing a number of ceremonies and tests, including a vision quest. Member of the wolf clan.

Began to train seriously in track & field and in 1959 set a Canadian Juvenile Record for the 440 yard and 400 meter dashes. Earned an athletic scholarship to Michigan State University but dropped out after a year.

After a year working north of Lake Athabaska (1961), enrolled in engineering at the University of Alberta, and graduated with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 1965. He was introduced to computers in an undergraduate course and entered graduate school in Computer Science. Left in 1966 to join the IBM Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. Made significant contributions to the early development of computers and was the recipient of an IBM Corporate Outstanding Contribution Award in 1970 and of the Association for Computing Machinery Grace Murray Hopper Award in 1973.

Left IBM in 1977 and returned to Canada after accepting a position with I.P. Sharp Associates in Toronto, eventually becoming Director of Development and Data Processing. Career declined due to the progression of alcoholism and became unemployable in 1986.

After six years of floundering, found sobriety in 1992, and was led to Podahbun Lodge which provided a reintroduction to traditional spirituality and teachings. Volunteered there for about three years. In 1997 began volunteering as an outreach worker with the Na-Me-Res Street Help van. This eventually led to employment with Na-Me-Res Outreach Services, first as a part-time driver and outreach worker and later on as the Coordinator and then Director of Outreach Services.

When the Na-Me-Res position was terminated in January, 2006, was invited to conduct healing circles in the three remand centres (Toronto East Detention Centre, Toronto West Detention Centre, and Toronto Jail) on behalf of the John Howard Society of Toronto. In September, 2006, took over all of the JHS circles in these institutions, and in May 2007 became the Native Inmate Liaison Officer at the Toronto Jail and the Toronto West Detention Centre. Retired from this position in April 2008 and continues to serve the community as a traditional counselor and healer.

A member of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto for perhaps 15 years and has worked with a number of elders, including Lillian Pitiwanakwat, Roger Jones, Alex Jacobs, and Isaac Day. In June 2008 was elected to the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto Board of Directors and appointed board liaison to the Taam Kaadinakiijik elders’ council. Elected to the ANDPVA Board of Directors in August 2009.