More than 10 years ago OhShinnah developed a program she called Adopt An Elder. The reason for this program was because of the continued government persecution of Natives, especially those on reservation lands with rich mineral deposits. She told us about how though the government cannot take the lands back given in treaty, the natives have the option of signing over their rights in exchange for "benefits"... for instance, prior to 10 years ago, our US government went onto the reservations in South Dakota and built a bunch of houses for the poor people there, telling them these houses were better than the teepees they had been living in... the teepees were of good buffalo hides with liners that each autumn were filled with dried prarie grasses and a generous wood supply so even in the middle of winter, the teepees were warm. The houses were heated by fuel furnaces that required a monthly payment to keep warm. The government said come live in our houses for this one cheap price and stay warm all winter, just sign here. The government neglected to tell the natives that the money they were given each month would not stretch to pay both the "cheap" house payment and the fuel bill. The government also neglected to tell them that in the writing they were signing, it said if they missed a payment, the government could take the house back and the land the house was sitting on. In the middle of winter, when the decision arose "do we stay warm or do we make the house payment?" many elders chose to stay warm and were thus evicted, having no choice but to go put up teepees, that had no autumn preparations, no warm liners, and no supply of fire wood. When OhShinnah heard of members of her adopted familes had died in the cold, she became angry and started the Adopt An Elder program to help the elders of the reservations make their house payments and stay warm in the winter.

Chaneeg Chaneesch decided to become involved and asked OhShinnah to put us in touch with a family we could help. Through her liason, we subsequently adopted the Looking Horse family, (Arvol's parents and his family). Cecelia and Stanley then were in their elderhood, with an adopted retarded daughter at home and several children of one of their children who had died in a car accident. We began to send them money on a monthly basis. After about three years of contact, one of Cecelia's letters of thank you told us that they were grateful to us because they now had a working stove and refrigerator! We had no idea before then that our help was so needed. Over the years, we have helped them get indoor plumbing and a telephone and have helped with prayers when Cecelia gets in touch about special needs. One of the joys of our circle is that every Christmas, we join with a sister circle in Portland and send packages to all the children (there are at least 17 on the list now) that contain a complete new outfit of clothing and a toy. We also send homemade cookies and other goodies and include gifts for the adults whenever we can. (We welcome your involvement with this - If you desire to help, please contact us.)

The relationship with the Looking Horses has been very rewarding for us. A few years ago we were honored to be able to help with the giveaway Stanley and Cecelia were doing as they ended a 5 year cycle of hosting the SunDance.

Several years ago, Cecelia told us that Stanley was needing to pass caretakership of the Lakota White Buffalo Pipe to Arvol and it has been with pleasure that we have seen Arvol stepping out as a teacher since that time.

Stanley crossed a couple of years ago, and again we have helped with the giveaway that takes place a year after the crossing. The ongoing nature of our mutual support has helped us all remember that honoring the elders is an important part of each of our walks doing whatever we are doing. Please think of these things when you come to celebrate ceremony with us. It is for Cecelia and her children that we have the white leather pouch sitting on the altar in the longhouse, where we place our donations and one of us gathers what comes in and sends it along with a card with our greetings whenever enough comes in to make it worth while. In addition, there are a few who pledged to send money monthly and if this feels like what you want to do, we can provide you with an address for your own contact with the family. (Cecelia does not do much of the writing now, it is her daughter-in-law you will hear from.)