The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program started through the efforts of Linda Myers of Park City, Utah. In the late 1980's Linda, an artist, was very moved by a Rug Show displaying the Navajo (or Dine' as they prefer to be called) weavings of the Elders of Northern Arizona. Touched by the stories of the Dine' people as told by Grace Smith Yellowhammer and Rose Hulligan during that Rug Show, Linda was soon very involved in gathering donated food, clothing and simple medicines and was driving to the reservation in Northern Arizona to deliver them to Elders living traditionally on the Land.Within a year, and with the help of Jeannie Patton, a network grew around the vision that Linda had for supporting the traditional Elders in the native tradition of the Giveaway. At first it was just a group of one or two four-wheel drive vehicles making their way through the remote areas of Northern Arizona -- but those few were soon joined by many others who were touched by the purpose of the Program. Today over 2500 people from all over the United States and a few foreign countries have joined in the Spirit of the Giveaway Circle.
This is a very cool organization, in many ways.
May you walk in beauty.
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