Help Native Elders Heal Through Traditional Sauna Therapy

The S.A.V.E. Initiative — Sauna Anishinaabe Vitality Enhancement

Bringing healing, warmth, and tradition back to Native elders.

My name is Michael Vail, and I’m the Founder of Cedar Sense, a business rooted in the Native American traditions of northern Minnesota.

We’ve launched the S.A.V.E. Initiative to address an urgent and overlooked health crisis facing Native American elders:

Sky-high rates of cardiovascular disease, chronic stress, and isolation.

Our solution is culturally rooted and powerful: we’re building and delivering 40 handcrafted cedar saunas to enrolled elders of the White Earth Nation, restoring the sacred tradition of sweat therapy — known for its ability to improve circulation, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and promote spiritual wellness.

What Your Support Will Do:

Your donation helps us fund:

40 custom-built cedar saunas

Delivery and setup at elder homes

Education for elders and caregivers

Health monitoring in partnership with tribal health

‍‍ Long-term wellness support and program growth

Why It Matters:

Many Native elders live in rural, underserved areas with limited access to healthcare. Sweat therapy has been practiced for generations to restore physical, emotional, and spiritual balance — but modern infrastructure and health systems have displaced this tradition.

This project helps elders:

✅ Reclaim their wellness

✅ Reconnect with culture

✅ Reduce preventable disease

Join Us

This isn’t just a health project — it’s a movement to bring warmth, healing, and dignity to those who’ve carried our communities for generations.

Help us bring back the sweat — and the strength — to our elders.

Miigwech (thank you),

Michael Vail

Founder & CEO, Cedar Sense

www.cedar-sense.com