Margaret Smith, Ponsford
For bringing traditional food to elderly and diabetic people on the White Earth Reservation

With nearly 200 packages of mino-miijim-"good food"-packed into her car, Margaret Smith drives across the White Earth Reservation, delivering wholesome, traditional meals to homebound people. Knowing that many elders and shut-ins couldn't afford healthy food or couldn't prepare it, Smith created the program through the White Earth Land Recovery Project. "She is a cherished elder who makes herself available to those who need her," says Winona LaDuke, director of the Land Recovery Project. Smith spent several years in the Twin Cities, where she was one of the founders of the Upper Midwest American Indian Center. She moved back to the reservation in 1972. At 84, undaunted by her long days on the road, she says, "The people are expecting me, and they invite me in and we talk. It's fun."

Ron Schwartz, St. Paul
For helping Native American fathers strengthen their parenting skills

A Leech Lake tribal member, Ron Schwartz shares his leadership skills generously. He serves on the boards of the Elders Lodge in St. Paul and American Indian Family and Children's Service. He leads a fathers' support group at the St. Paul American Indian Family Center. "I've been involved for more than three years, and I'm still learning things from other dads-not them learning from me," Schwartz says. "We share experiences and strengths and hopes." A single parent to three children, he also has a demanding job as a counselor at a center for chemically dependent men. Gabrielle Strong of the Grotto Foundation nominated Schwartz, saying, "He is a dedicated father and includes his children in many of his activities. He is funny and compassionate and is genuinely interested in his community's welfare."

Gayle Weigle, Minneapolis
For working with Project OffStreets to enrich the lives of homeless teens

A customer at Earth Circles, where Gayle Weigle sells Native American arts and crafts, introduced her to Project OffStreets. The drop-in center for homeless teenagers soon became part of her life. "Her lifework focuses on redistributing resources to ease the disparity between those who have and those who have less," says Susan Raffo of YouthLink, the sponsor of Project OffStreets. Weigle teaches skills and instills pride in Native American homeless teens through their culture. She has helped them make and sell dreamcatchers, and currently they are creating a book and website about frybread (frybreadlove.org). She organizes an annual benefit for Project OffStreets-the FryBreadLove concert. Frybread has become a metaphor for feeding the spirit. "Frybread is kind of like loaves and fishes," Weigle says, "only it's frybread."