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w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
EDNOR
THERRIAULT
Everclear the bear had been donated by Al Dana, and the fire left the beast completely
covered in soot, although spared from burning. Conservator Nancy Fonicello was able to
remove the soot, and the staff decided to name it after her secret weapon cleaning agent.
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"You know, Stephen Small Salmon and Lucy Vanderberg, two
of our elders, are our biggest supporters here throughout the
years. Stephen's always been a part of doing presentations and
teaching and sharing what he knows and Lucy's a past director.
And they came right after the fire. They were there, comforting
us and talking to us and encouraging us. 'Oh,' both of them had
said to us, 'you know, it's time to grieve. Go ahead and grieve.
You not only lost a facility, you lost part of what you were doing
to tell our story and our histories, but don't forget that you still
have those stories. You still have those cultures and traditions.'
And I remember those words. It was like, we do, we do. And
what we have left, we will continue to thrive with and continue
to share who we are."
