Building homes, building bridges in Indian country

Editor’s note: Bozeman’s first “One Book, One Bozeman” community reading project is encouraging residents to read the book “Mountains Beyond Mountains” about Dr. Paul Farmer, a crusader against disease in the world’s poorest places. Coinciding with this, the Chronicle is highlighting local people who are working to make a difference in the world. Today’s story focuses on Robert Young, who started the small nonprofit Red Feather Development Group to build decent homes on Indian reservations.

It was the kind of depressing newspaper story people read over breakfast and think, “How awful,” before taking another sip of coffee and turning the page.

For some reason he can’t explain, Robert Young couldn’t shake one front-page story he read in Indian Country Today. It reported that several more Native Americans had frozen to death in the 20-below winters of the American Plains.

Frozen to death inside their homes.

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/09/07/news/30red%20feather.txt