Please save the date, Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, at 11:00 am. The event will take place at the Indian Health Services North Parking Lot in Lame Deer, Montana. If you have some time available, we invite you to join us for the special Groundblessing Ceremony that will honor the upcoming Northern Cheyenne Dialysis Clinic. Additional information will be included when it becomes available.
On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe held a Groundblessing Ceremony to honor the commencement of construction on the much-anticipated Dialysis Center whose primary goal is to provide local access to dialysis services for our community, reducing the patients travel to Billings multiple times each week to receive those treatments. Those in attendance included Tribal Council Members, members of the various departments in the Tribal Building, representatives from Indigenous Pact, Steve Daines’ office, the Board of Health, and the Indian Health Services (IHS) departments, as well as members of the community.
A community member adorning a chair in the front row in honor of their loved one who passed away while on dialysis. Image credit: Chloe Ortega | Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Public Information Officer & Web Designer.
The first two rows of chairs were respectfully reserved and dedicated to the memory of individuals who lost their lives while undergoing dialysis. Families of these individuals were given the opportunity to display images, memorabilia, and place blankets in remembrance of their loved ones.
The ceremony began with an opening prayer delivered by Alan Jo Blackwolf, followed by a flag song performed by the drum group, Cheyenne Boys. The ceremony featured several speakers, including members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council, Keith Novenski of Indigenous Pact, representative for Senator Steve Daines, and Maria Russell. Councilwomen Melissa Lonebear and Melissa Fisher read aloud the names of those community members who have lost their lives while on dialysis prompting members of the audience to share more names of their loved ones.
Councilwomen Melissa Fisher and Melissa Lonebear calling out the names of loved ones in the community who passed away during dialysis treatment. Image credit: Chloe Ortega | Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Public Information Officer & Web Designer.
Maria Russell shared her personal experience as a daughter watching both her late parents on dialysis and what they dialysis center means to her. Additionally, Councilwoman Melissa Lonebear announced the winner of the Dialysis Center naming contest, Amestanove, meaning "Life Goes On," submitted by Janice M. Doney. All of the other creative submissions will also be honored and recognized within the facility. Alan Jo Blackwolf did the honor of overturning the dirt where the facility will be constructed.
Women gourd dancers surrounding the Cheyenne Boys drum group as they played an honor song. Image credit: Chloe Ortega | Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Public Information Officer & Web Designer.
The event concluded with an honor song surrounded by gourd dancers while a community feed took place.
This is a momentous occasion for the Northern Cheyenne community, thank you to all those who made this project a reality and to those who took time to celebrate together. Attendees and those who could not make it can look forward to more information and media content being shared soon, with a live stream of the event available on the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Facebook page.
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Chloe Ortega | Tribal Council Public Information Officer