{"id":38416,"date":"2025-02-01T05:34:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T10:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/tongue-river-mens-shelter\/"},"modified":"2025-02-01T05:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T10:34:25","slug":"tongue-river-mens-shelter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/tongue-river-mens-shelter\/","title":{"rendered":"Tongue River Men\u2019s Shelter"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span><\/div>
\"Sonny<\/a><\/p>\n

Sonny Elkshoulder (clad in orange) and another occupant of the Tongue River Men\u2019s Shelter who did not wish to be identi\u00adfied. (Photo by Clara Caufield)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As reported recently in Native Sun and many oth\u00ader publications around the nation, homelessness is on the rise, particularly need\u00aded during the arctic winter conditions on the Great Plains this winter.<\/p>\n

Homelessness is not lim\u00adited to urban areas \u2013 it ex\u00adists on many Indian Reser\u00advations as well, including Northern Cheyenne in Montana. In addition to the homeless there, many peo\u00adple live in very substandard housing with inadequate heat, cooking facilities and in some dire cases \u2013 no win\u00addows. In many cases, there is serious overcrowding in homes. And often, there is no housing to be had.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the North\u00adern Cheyenne reservation is served by the Tongue Riv\u00ader Men\u2019s Shelter, located in Birney, MT, one of the most remote locations on the reservation. It is not a tribal program, nor is it fed\u00aderally funded by the Tribal Housing Authority which controls the availability of federal housing on the Reservation. It is a 501 \u00a9 3, founded and run by Er\u00adnest Littlemouth, Tribal Vice-President as a person\u00adal undertaking. The shelter was established as an out- of-pocket expense in 2018 when Littlemouth then served on the Tribal Council. Since then, he received help from a grant writer, good friend to the Northern Chey\u00adenne who helped get the charita\u00adble tax status to collect donations, upon which they rely for opera\u00adtion.<\/p>\n

For the recent two weeks when temperatures dipped to -18, the Shelter was filled to capacity, hav\u00ading space for up to eleven clients, with the age range of 18 (the min\u00adimum age) to 71. Unfortunately, due to lack of facilities and staff\u00ading, the Shelter is not able to pro\u00advide emergency shelter for wom\u00aden, families or children.<\/p>\n

Recently, this writer had the op\u00adportunity to visit with Littlemouth, the Shelter Director, to tour the center and sit down for coffee with some of the residents, even beat\u00ading one in a cribbage duel.<\/p>\n

Sonny Elkshoulder, Little\u00admouth\u2019s nephew operates as an unofficial assistant at the center, having spent two years there and was very helpful in providing in\u00adformation. Littlemouth, however, personally checks on the shelter each day, serving as mentor, coach and if need be, disciplinarian for the residents.<\/p>\n

Littlemouth explained that when he was on the Council, he realized that a Shelter was critically needed on the reservation. A previous ef\u00adfort to establish a non-profit shel\u00adter in Lame Deer was short-lived. Ernest and his wife Dolly were then running a summer feeding program for children in Birny, out of pocket. \u201cThey had nowhere else to eat,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n

Littlemouth also candidly ex\u00adplained that for a short while in his life, he himself was homeless in Billings, learning first-hand the challenges of \u201cliving on the street.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that is why I understand them,\u201d he commented.<\/p>\n

The first challenge is location, Birney some 22 miles from Lame Deer and the site of the only homeless shelter on the Reserva\u00adtion. The Tribe operates a transit (public bus) system, but due to a shortage of drivers that service is available to Birney only twice a day, Monday through Friday. Ac\u00adcording to the schedule, rides to Lame Deer can be had at 6:30 a.m. and the return trip is 5:30 p.m. If a person misses the bus, that is their bad luck. Hitchhiking to Birney is problematic.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Elk Shoulder said that the Community Health Representatives (CHR\u2019s) are very helpful in providing transporta\u00adtion for medical appointments and counseling and will deliver medi\u00adcations to the Shelter for residents. Also, the tribal commodity pro\u00adgram delivers items for residents who qualify for that assistance. Other goods bought with Food Stamps are shared with the com\u00admunity population at the center.<\/p>\n

The shelter is a renovated church, including an arctic entry which includes space for a deep\u00adfreeze; kitchen with complete cooking facilities; dining and common area with a semi-large screen. Otherwise, the sleeping areas are curtained off to provide a modicum of privacy for the oc\u00adcupants. The entire large room is heated with a wood stove supple\u00admented by electric heaters when needed, supplemented by a solar panel, secured by a grant.<\/p>\n

Elkshoulder was proud to de\u00adscribe the self-sufficiency efforts at the shelter, for which the occu\u00adpants are responsible. On week\u00adends and when transportation is available they cut their own fire\u00adwood and will even sell it to elders for ten dollars a load (very eco\u00adnomical). The proceeds are used for food at the shelter. Residents rotate cooking and cleaning duties.<\/p>\n

In the summer, they have a gar\u00adden to produce fresh vegetables and in the winter hunt wild game. In addition, many tribal members drop off wild game which the res\u00adidents preserve and eventually cook. And of course, the Tongue River is nearby, excellent source of summer fishing.<\/p>\n

The complex also includes a surplus food center. \u201cPeople from Ashland and Lame Deer have come over here for food,\u201d Elk\u00adshoulder explained. \u201cBut, we\u2019ve had a lot of problems with break- ins and thievery.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, the small commu\u00adnity tries to help one another out, building each other up and en\u00adcouraging personal progress. \u201cIt is really hard for those who get out of jail to get on their feet, get a job or find housing,\u201d Elkshoul\u00adder explained. \u201cWe help them with I.D.\u2019s; social security and sobri\u00adety.\u201d He shared an example of a young man who spent two stints in the Rosebud County jail, amount\u00ading to about two years for a series of misdemeanors and whose fami\u00adly does not want to deal with those problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOften, a lot of our young people head for Billings,\u201d he explained. \u201cUntil they find out how tough it is or need medical care. Then they need to come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Littlemouth sometimes goes to Billings, finds some lost Chey\u00adenne\u2019s, brings them home and encourages them to straighten up. He was happy to share a couple of success stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one guy got out of the joint, had terrible anger problems and even caused conflict here,\u201d he explained. \u201cYou don\u2019t throw a fit in a sweat, unacceptable. But, we didn\u2019t give up on him and I was glad to see him not too long ago. He got his family back, found a job and apartment and is living in Billings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another young man just couldn\u2019t keep out of jail, until Ernest in\u00adtervened and helped him sign up for job training. \u201cNow he\u2019s doing okay,\u201d the Tribal Vice-President reports.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the center has some very specific living rules, \u201cafter 3 strikes \u2013 you\u2019re out.\u201d In order to check into the facility, a client must sign a waiver agreeing to abide by certain rules: drinking and\/or drug use; smoking indoors; violent or aggressive conduct and stealing are all specifically against the grain. Littlemouth has been known to personally counsel indi\u00adviduals with problems.<\/p>\n

As Elkshoulder reported, for a short time the local law enforce\u00adment were bringing men to the Shelter who had been drinking. \u201cWe don\u2019t deal with that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Every Sunday, a traditional sweat is conducted and although attendance is not required, nearly all the residents attend. Dolly and Ernest or other community mem\u00adbers make sure to provide a good home-cooked meal at those occa\u00adsions.<\/p>\n

\u201cErnest is a good man, a Chris\u00adtian man,\u201d Elkshoulder noted. \u201cI came back from Winnebago to help him and to pray, especially for my special needs son. I really only know how to pray the Chey\u00adenne way. That works the best for our people.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this time, the long-time fund\u00adraising assistant is taking a break which is leaving the shelter often short of food. Next week, for ex\u00adample, Ernest will travel to Bill\u00adings to meet with a donor (a for\u00admer St. Labre student) who will bring precious goods: food, mens\u2019 clothing, especially winter gear etc.<\/p>\n

Anyone else wishing to make a charitable and tax-deduct\u00adible donation can contact Trib\u00adal Vice-President Ernest Little\u00admouth, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, P.O. Box 128, Lame Deer, MT 59043, telephone 407-477-6284. He will call you back.<\/p>\n

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com<\/a>)<\/span> <\/p>\n

The post Tongue River Men\u2019s Shelter<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>

Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/div>

Sonny Elkshoulder (clad in orange) and another occupant of the Tongue River Men\u2019s Shelter who did not wish to be identi\u00adfied. (Photo by Clara Caufield) As reported recently in Native Sun and many oth\u00ader publications around the nation, homelessness is on the rise, particularly need\u00aded during the arctic winter conditions <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a>
Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> February 1, 2025<\/p>\n

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