Northern Cheyenne Reservation Update

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About 18 months ago a tragic car accident took the lives of two young mothers on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Sheri Timber (Sioux) knew God was calling her to minister, not only to the twelve motherless children, but also to other at-risk children on the reservation. She had heard what Lutheran Indian Ministries was doing with the Girls Club on the Makah Indian Reservation in Neah Bay, Washington, and wanted information to assist her in reaching out to the hurting community. She turned to staff member, Rosemary Sternbeck, for advice in starting a girls club in Montana.

In her work with girls and young women on the Makah Indian Reservation, Rosemary Sternbeck developed a program called the Morning Star Girls Club, centered in Jesus Christ, the Bright and Morning Star described in Scripture. The intent is to relate the Gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching young girls (ages 6-11) the Bible and practical skills in homemaking. While gaining important life skills for the rest of their lives, the girls learn how to serve and witness to others. The Mentoring Program, an outgrowth of the Morning Star Girls Club, is for young women (12 years and older) who express a desire and commitment to continue studying God’s Word and to hone their skills in sharing their faith, as well as in sewing, cooking, gardening, and community service projects. Key Native elder women and local Christian women help teach the girls. Bible study, a project and food are part of each regular weekly meeting. Field trips provide outings for the young women, introducing them to new experiences and giving them life skills.

Ever since their initial conversation, Rosemary and Sheri have shared ideas, inspirations and challenges relative to working with young Native children. Rosemary shares, “We talked many times and I gathered a box of patterns, books, some crafts, and sewing items to help Sheri get started. As I shared with my girls of Sheri’s progress, the idea started to form for taking a trip to Montana to meet Sheri’s girls and help them learn to use the sewing machines and share some recipes. Both groups of girls quickly bought into this idea and it started to take on a life of its own. Last summer five girls and three adults made the trip and it was a wonderful exchange between these young women from two tribal cultures.” This was another step in fulfilling Rosemary’s vision of having the older girls share with their Native sisters what they have learned and been taught. It further reinforces the mission of Lutheran Indian Ministries to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native North American Nations, encouraging them to proclaim Christ's Kingdom to their own and to others.

During the past year, Sheri made the 50-mile round trip weekly from Ashland to Lame Deer, where her family worships at Circle of Life Lutheran Church. Raiding her own pantry and trying to come up with ideas and supplies for projects for the girls, Sheri would meet at the church using their facilities. On several occasions when inclement weather made the trip impossible, Sheri stayed in Ashland, meeting with the girls living in her community. Now Suzette, another member of Circle of Life, is helping Sheri as they reach out to young people. Suzette drives the church van and picks up those living in the vicinity of the church.

Suzette Cain, (Northern Cheyenne) grew up in Muddy Cluster and knows all too well the pain these children face.  She knows firsthand that there are few positive activities for children on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. All too often children arrive home from an after-school program to find their parents and friends, drunk and passed out. Frequently there is no food in the house because it was either eaten or wasted by those who had gathered earlier. Drugs, alcohol, sexual abuse and violence are what many of these children know and live with on a daily basis. They are looking for love, acceptance, and hope - something to look forward to. Unfortunately, many of them are choosing unhealthy ways to have their needs met.

Through God-ordained circumstances and healing, Suzette moved back to Muddy Cluster with the prayer that God would use her to touch one person’s life, to impact a generation. Her heart aches as she sees young teens pushing strollers since she remembers all too well her own struggles some years ago. She wants to be a sounding board for the girls to give them an opportunity to discuss concerns and issues they face and fear. She and Sheri want to equip the girls for making better decisions. Their biggest goal is to provide consistency and prayer, something Suzette learned the importance of from her pastor and his wife at Circle of Life. She shares, “They have been there for me for 25 years; helping me with my math to finish high school, supporting me through the ups and downs, and encouraging me to share my story to bring hope and healing to others.”

This summer 20 children looked forward to several hours of fun each Tuesday evening. Suzette uses her 36’x36’ garden to instill a good work ethic and give the youth a sense of satisfaction. As she promotes teamwork rather than competition, the youth are commended not only for a job completed, but one well done where they reap the rewards of their labor. Each child is given a row to tend in the garden, marked by a cross with the names of those whom they have chosen to pray for as they weed and pick the produce.

The needs are great, but the laborers are few. Sheri and Suzette are teaming up to reach out more effectively to the young people in their community. Their purpose is three-fold:

1. To offer positive activities for Native children living on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation,
2. To present positive adult role models, and
3. To provide education of basic life skills and impart hope and healing through the Good News of Jesus Christ and what He has done for each one of them. Not only so these children have something to look forward to, but so they get to know the Someone whom they can always depend on.