The Mountain Cradle Project

Sue is a wonderful, courageous woman who has put her life on the line so that women can continue to have reproductive choice. She has been a doctor in abortion clinics in Wisconsin and Montana and, due to threats and incidents of violence from anti-choice groups (ironic isn't it), she had to wear a bullet-proof vest while at work.

Sue is currently semi-retired and living in Montana where she offers week-long retreats to women care-givers and activists who are burnt out from their many hours of dedicated service and in need of respite for themselves. Pearl is her business partner in this wonderful gift that they offer, and cooks the delicious vegetarian meals for the half dozen women who come to relax and be nurtured. http://www.mountaincradleproject.org

One group of guests consisted of women who worked in shelters for victims of domestic violence. The current group of women are political activists who have dedicated their lives to working for peace and justice, usually working many hours beyond a 'normal' work schedule.

Rosemary from Boston works for 'Military Families Speak Out' http://www.mfso.org , an organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. Over the past few decades, Bonnie from Minnesota has been involved in hundreds of peaceful demonstrations for various social and political causes and has been arrested over 90 times for exercising her right to freedom of speech. She has been sent to jail several times totaling over four years being incarcerated.

I asked her what it was like being in a women's prison. She said that women are inherently caregivers and nurturers and that there is a community spirit of the imprisoned women working together to support each other and make the best of their situation. She said that generally if there is violence between imprisoned women, it is consensual; that is, they have agreed to fight, rather than a situation of women victimizing each other. Women in prison discourage violence amongst themselves.

I was able to meet these women because Sue hosted a potluck for her guests and about 2 dozen other women in the area who are activists. Holly and Rosemary invited me to join them so I met them in Livingston and we drove out to Wilsall together. This was about a 150 mile roundtrip for me - not an unusual distance to travel to an event in Montana. I enjoyed many interesting conversations with other women and at one point we all sat in a circle and shared a bit about ourselves and how we became involved in activism.

This is a huge tee-pee on Sue's land. There is a firepit inside and cots to sit on so women can gather around a fire in the evening, even when it is raining or snowing outside. Women visitors have decorated the tee-pee by painting 'self-portraits'.