2007 Red Feather Projects Announced

The anticipation ends... Red Feather finally announces Volunteer Opportunities for 2007!

Clkick here for details.

Tag Team Visit at Hopi

Once Ben, Holly and Vaughan got back in the office from their visit to Hopi, Eric and Mark received the message from Erika Schoen of Indian Health Services (IHS) that water and sewer were close to being ready for service to Kerri’s home. Road trip! We loaded up the Red Feather truck with tools to make any necessary adjustments to the heating and plumbing systems as well as install a HEPA air exchanger filter in the home.

HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air [filter]" and this will help assist Matthew in his health by eliminating airborne particulates that could make him ill and keep fresh air circulating through the home.

So the truck was loaded, filled with fuel and ready to go until Eric got a call from Mark Roundstone stating their home had been without hot water which also means no heat for three days with temperatures dropping into the -20 F or colder at night. Yikes! Now this meant adjusting the load of the truck to also assist the Roundstones with their needs for heat but also head east instead of south.

We finally headed east to the Roundstones home on the Northern Cheyenne reservation at 1:00 pm on Monday arriving at 5:00pm in time to enjoy dinner, conversation and a game or two of cribbage with the family. The water situation was corrected and hot water and heat was returning to the Roundstones which meant thank you and hugs all around with us feeling the need to hit the road at 10:30 pm and make some headway south to Hopi. By 2:00 am a hotel room in Casper Wyoming was calling our names for the night.

The next day we trekked through Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Arizona making it to The Shebola’s home around 11:30 that night in Bacavi. There was this collective sigh of relief as we crested the hill up on to the third mesa; it felt like we were home again.

The next two days were filled working on the home with Eric up in the attic amongst all the insulation running duct work. What a champ he is, Go Team! And Mark doing the simple stuff down below. We had a great time visiting Kerri, Danielle and Matthew albeit for a short time and appreciate them opening up their home to us, sharing stories and cooking meals. We also are thankful for Erika and Dani for preparing a wonderful dinner for us and introducing us to the game of Pinochle. Unfortunately having appointments to keep back in Bozeman it was time to say our goodbyes to friends on Hopi needing to embark Friday morning going home in a more direct route.

We are happy to report that everything is working fine and for the first time Kerri doesn’t have to get up extra early to take the three of them down to Kerri’s sister’s home for showers. We can all only imagine what relief this has brought to them.

Mark and Eric

Welcome Victor!

Red Feather has expanded its family of staff this new year by welcoming Victor Lee Masayesva as the Community Coordinator. Victor first worked with Red Feather through the Indigenous Builders Exchange, when he traveled from Hopi to Northern Cheyenne to help build the Roundstone’s home in June of 2006. With his warm heart and a willingness to share his perspectives, he touched those around him and enriched the volunteer community. He also demonstrated a humble and tireless work ethic which was an inspiration to those working by his side.

When Red Feather traveled to Hopi in September, Victor was a huge help in setting up speakers and local contacts for the staff and volunteers which deepened the connections between the volunteers and the local community. When he had time off from a busy work schedule at the Hopi Cultural Center, he could always be found pitching in with the construction of the Shebola home.

Victor will be an invaluable asset to Red Feather’s work in Hopi. He will be a local resource for the families that are working towards home ownership and be able to greatly assist the Bozeman based staff by being on the ground and offering his insight into life on the Hopi reservation. We’re all excited to have him aboard.

Northern Cheyenne Youth Commemorate Fort Robinson breakout

On January 14th, over 100 Northern Cheyenne youth completed a 400-mile group run from Fort Robinson, Nebraska to White River, Montana commemorating the January 9, 1879 Fort Robinson Outbreak. The event was covered in the Billings Gazette, and can be read here.

The tribal website recently posted the schedule for the run here.

Photo copyrighted by Stephen Brashear/Billings Gazette Staff

Visit to Hopi

Red Feather staff recently returned from a weeklong visit to Arizona for meetings with families and organizations in Hopiland. Community Build Associate Ben Yeomans, Development Director Holly Zadra, and Community Development Director Vaughan Woodruff - in collaboration with the village of Bacavi - hosted a community meeting for community members interested in our programming. Over 40 individuals attended, many of whom are hoping to build a home with Red Feather in the coming years.

Red Feather staff stayed with the Shebola family during their visit and were fortunate to have a lot of time with Kerri, Matthew, and Danielle. Everyone is great, and it was amazing to see the personal touches that the family has added to their home. We are very thankful for the hospitality.

Red Feather would also like to extend thanks to Gail Poley, Mary Tenakhongva, James and O.J. Poley, Victor Lee Masayesva, and all of the other people that made this trip so wonderful.

Kwakwhá