Covid-19 is especially dangerous to elderly people and public health officials say they should stay at home as they can. Volunteers in Rapid City are taking traditional remedies to Lakota elders, to cleanse their space and boost their immune system.
Collins Provost and her family gather plants that are Native to the Black Hills and use them for traditional Lakota medicine.
“We’ve used sage, which is Peji Hota in Lakota. We’ve used wastemna, which is I believe in the English language bergamot or wild bee balm. We’ve also used cedar.”
When the pandemic started, Provost decided to share her supply with local elders. She packed them up in recycled containers and made deliveries with her sister.
“So we’ve been giving out enough medicine to last about a week’s time and also instructing our elders that may not know how to make the tea, the medicine themselves so that they know and can protect themselves and their home.”
So far, they’ve delivered local traditional remedies to more than 20 elders. Provost says the materials can help purify the air and boost the immune system. When the elderly are isolating themselves for their health, she says the delivery can mean a lot.
“A couple of them were worried so they kind of kept us at the door which is totally fine, we understand. But from that distance we were able to give them some info about it, but also just letting our elders know that they are appreciated, that we are thinking of them and we want to do our part in helping to keep them safe.”
Provost is trying to gather more supplies to make deliveries again this week. She also plans to make face masks for elders.