"A little over ten years ago I awoke in my pickup along a dirt road that served as a common driveway to my home and neighboring homes. Sometime during the night I had driven off the road and smashed several feet of a neighbor’s fence. A pole was sticking clean though the grill, the radiator, knocking off the air filter. Six inches higher and that pole would have been though my chest. I knew that was the last warning. Someone up there wanted me to live.

About a week later I went to the Sundance (Thirst Dance) on my home reservation and told one of the elders that I wanted help. He told me to go to the Tree (Center Pole) and ask the Creator/God for help and say to all who can hear what you want to happen and it will be that way, if you really mean it and want it. I went to the Tree and I prayed in a very public way (he was repeating what I had said to him in a very loud voice) and I asked God to take the burden(s) caused by my abuse of alcohol and to put them where they could not hurt anyone anymore. I made a vow to come back to the Sundance for the next four years. I actually went beyond four. I’m there each year that I’m able although I have been leaving the harder parts to the youngsters. The last time I danced I was the oldest guy in there.

I left the Sundance and had my son drop me off at the local Air Strip and caught a puddle-jumper to Billings and a quick taxi ride off the airport hill put me in front of the Rimrock Treatment Center. I had misgivings right up to the time I rang the buzzer and I thought about just running. I didn’t."

Get the Story:
Harold A. Monteau: Of Alcohol and Sundancing (Indian Country Today 6/30)