Today is the final day of the trip, and I have to say that I am completely exhausted–I will likely go home and sleep for more than 24 hours this time.
Our health promotion plans eased up a bit with yesterday spent at the Singing Horse Trading Post. Students were split into a group to either bead or horseback ride with some screenings in between. This day was more relaxed with a later start time than usual which the students enjoyed quite a bit. While the students were completing their activities, I took a quick trip to return the CPR manikins to the OLC Nursing Program and then spent the rest of the time chatting with Allyssa.
Today was more cultural experiences with our stops at OLC Historical Center, Red Cloud Indian School, Wounded Knee, and then back to the Allen Youth Center. We also fit in two more screenings at the Trading Post. The day was great with the exception of Wounded Knee. I warned the students that we would likely be approached by some tribal members seeking money, and that our time would be limited at the cemetery. Unfortunately, I have found that in recent years the very spiritual experience of paying respect to the Wounded Knee Massacre victims buried in the mass grave has been marred by those seeking money and/or intoxicated. As expected this was the case today, and we did not stay long. I much prefer our interactions at Wounded Knee with the Elk Family, who are respectful at all times to the history of Wounded Knee.
Our day wrapped up with a return trip to the Allen Youth Center. We dropped off some of our leftover donations, and Alexander tuned the center’s guitars for them. We chatted with Travis and his wife, Anita, for a bit and ended our day with hugs all around. I am thrilled that we have been so welcome at this new site, and I look forward to working with the center again on future trips.
The trip has been great, and I can only hope that the students enjoyed it as much and have found the experiences to be as profound as I have.
Here are some photos from the past two days.
Nursing Students at Pine Ridge 