Northern Cheyenne Elder Stories

These are Cheyenne friends that Father Emmett has known, including Cheyenne elders for whom the Heritage Living Center was built. The Cheyenne elders couldn’t wait to move in! Before construction began in August 2000, a group of elders gathered around the building model display, vying for rooms with the best view of the Tongue River Valley. Excitement grew when they toured the building and saw the apartments, dining room, library, chapel, activity rooms and the beautiful views of their homeland.

Clarence Spotted Wolf

Chief of the Northern Cheyenne Council of Forty-Four “Bisco” was one of the first elders to move into the Heritage Living Center. The grandson of a famous chief, Bisco was the “guiding light” of the Center.

William Yellow Robe

William Yellow Robe was the last Cheyenne Scout. Father Emmett first met him in 1954 when he first came to St. Labre Mission. Yellow Robe must have been over 90 years old but he remained tall and husky with broad shoulders

Dr. John Woodenlegs

Dr. John Woodenlegs died in 1981 at the age of 71 years. The visionary leader had worked as a cowboy, road worker, coal miner and rancher. He also served as president of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe from 1955-1968. He founded Dull Knife Memorial College, a two-year community college located at Lame Deer, Montana. “Education is the key to our future,” he once said.

Donald Hollowbreast

Donald Hollowbreast lived a traditional Cheyenne life, yet with only an eighth-grade education, he became a successful journalist and artist, an amazing feat since Donald was deaf. He was our first Northern Cheyenne donor. Donald made various suggestions that we incorporated into the Heritage Living Center.

Eddie & Regina Foote

Eddie and Regina Foote were dedicated to each other and to helping the Northern Cheyenne community. Regina needed dialysis 3 times a week. Each roundtrip was 250 miles, so we quickly converted a small building at St. Labre into a dialysis center. That small dialysis center meant a lot to Regina and to other members of the community. It was also our first step towards providing Assisted Living to elderly Northern Cheyenne.

Harold Fisher

Harold Fisher grew old but he still liked to drive to town for supplies. He couldn’t afford an engine heater so during the winter when it was freezing cold, he got up every now and then and went out to start his car to make sure the engine didn’t freeze. One morning, they found Harold a few feet from his back door. He had frozen to death.

Soaring Eagle is a 501(c)(3) organization unaffiliated with any tribe or religion, and we receive no federal funding. We depend solely on the support of generous donors who share our vision and our commitment to honoring Native American history and heritage.