“Thank you for giving Clair his smile back”

Some things are too good to keep to yourself. That’s how we felt when we received this video from Clair. Our team watched it and couldn’t wait to share it with you because you are who Clair is really thanking!Clair’s wife reached out to us earlier this year, telling us all about her husband – a Native American elder who has spent his life trying to help his people and to educate non-native people about the true history of the Native American tribes and the devastation they still face in most tribal communities on reservations – and asking for help as her husband was running out of options to fix his teeth. Insurance wouldn’t cover dentures and the out-of-pocket expense was more than they could afford.“My beloved has almost no teeth left on his upper row and maybe 8 teeth left on his bottom row. I believe his very life is endangered by his rotting teeth. He deserves so much better…”Thanks to your support, Clair received the medical treatment he needed. Clair and his wife sent a note along with the video.It reads, “Hello My Dear~Clair and I want to express our gratitude to you and Together Rising in a traditional Dakota manner with a “give away.” If we lived near you we would invite you to a sweat lodge ceremony and a feast and give you an honor song and present you with a hand made star quilt to honor your contribution to your “tribe” or community. Since we can’t do that, we will have a prayer ceremony here with our sacred prayer pipes and bless a small star quilt (so it can be a wall hanging) and make a feast in your honor.We will keep you and Together Rising in our daily prayers and will always think of you as belonging to our “Tiyospaye” or extended family.”

Thank you for being part of our extended family. Thank you for giving Clair his smile back.