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Set apart from American society, yet unable to escape its corrosive influence on tribal life, young Indians often face suicidal despair. "Our Creator can be cruel when he wants to open our eyes," says Wes Martel of the Shoshone Business Council. "Our tribes have great elders, but we have not used them to provide for our children's spiritual needs." To help the young recover some of their cultural identity, elders at Wind River are introducing students to a tribal tradition that may ease their plight. In the past few days, teachers and clinic workers have reported that the wave of suicide attempts has subsided. Perhaps the healing ritual has survived the decades of neglect.