The title refers to what it seems that I say frequently on this trip. I will return to this statement, but first…Lisa and I are being the motel nomads on this trip. We have stayed in a cabin and two different motel rooms thus far and will be returning to a cabin for tomorrow night. The motel is full, and even with moving nightly, we are quite lucky to have a place to sleep that is indoors.
OK, back to the story…we start out the day with a shamazing apple French toast made by one of the students. We then begin to re-sort donations which required some expert teamwork and flexibility on the part of the students. Even with such a big group we have a great dynamic among the students. Couldn’t ask for more from them! (Check out the “jazz hands” photos from sorting!).
After sorting we stopped by to check in with Rosie–she was quite busy with many visitors at the Singing Horse. Our initial plan (i.e. “current plan”, which is very fluid) was to set up our health promotion activities in the parking lot of the pow wow. Well, between Manderson and Wounded Knee, we passed a young couple walking with an infant on the road. We pulled over, and Lisa and I got out to talk to them and offered them a stroller. This road is the equivalent of a fairly busy, two-lane country road with no sidewalk. The students got out and talked to the family, and after loading them up with supplies for their baby, we were approached by an older gentleman who was selling dreamcatchers. After buying a dreamcatcher in a design that I had never seen, he asked us to go to visit a family who lived in a house in Lower (or Old) Wounded Knee Housing who have a lot of children. We drove over and approached the family, and the students shined. There were quite a few kids and some adults. Our students had to prepare health promotion activities and materials prior to the trip so they had dental care supplies and information; physical activity information and exercise equipment; fire safety information; and handwashing information and supplies, as well as our requisite screenings for the adults. We stayed with this family for an hour and a half, with other people approaching us. The students loved the kids, and I loved seeing them having fun and giving their all. The man that approached us was named Johnny High Hawk, and after our visit with the family, he spent further time with us talking about the history on the reservation and some of the Lakota traditions. The students very much appreciated this extra information and interaction.
Since we spent so much time with this family, we did not get to the pow wow. Half of the group went back to the motel to make dinner, and the other half went back to Rosie’s for a beading lesson. The beading lesson was AWESOME! I so much more appreciate the work that is put into the Lakota artwork now! Verola, who works at Rosie’s and is also a Lakota Studies teacher, gave our lesson. She was patient with us, and surprisingly we got going with it pretty quickly. The students did great–all but one finished their bracelet within two hours. Verola also shared some of her family history and more information about the Lakota culture.
Our time on the rez is passing so quickly. I love it here, and I always consider it a privilege to be here. Looking forward to tomorrow and making the ever-changing “current plan”. 🙂
Nursing Students at Pine Ridge 