With Tuesday, one of the most anticipated days arrived—the day for horseback riding. Unfortunately, the weather has heated back up with temps anticipated to be 100 degrees. With this weather, outside activities must happen early so we headed to Singing Horse Trading Post bright and early at 7am.
The group divided up with 4 starting their beading lesson and 4 going with Rosie to round up horses. After about an hour, to my surprise, all 4 students arrived riding bareback—a first for any group! All I can say is wow! Rae rode Peppa (Suzie’s favorite horse); Chase rode Little Big Horse (a mustang); Madison rode Goldie (who had a baby on January 1); and Aurora rode Coon Tail (one of my favorites!). They all looked like experts riding in from the hills of Rosie’s property! After very long goodbyes, the beading group switched to take their turn. Beading was a bit slower this time with not many in the group having the patience for this art form (especially in the 100 degree heat!). After the others rode, we completed screenings on anyone interested at the trading post.
During this day, I was able to sit and have a long conversation with A. She has begun making buttons to sell in the store—of the old white church in Rockyford before it burned down; of Rosie’s beautiful flower garden; and a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) symbol. The MMIW button was of particular interest to me, and in chatting with A., I found out why she began making them. She has lost two family members in recent years. Her cousin was found dead in a creek in Rapid City with defensive-type wounds on her body, yet this death was classified as a suicide. Her aunt was found unconscious with a head injury and died in the hospital, yet this death was classified as due to a pre-existing medical condition. The conversation with A. has really stuck with me and left me with many questions. According to Whitebear (n.d.), “In the US, Native American women are more than twice as likely to experience violence than any other demographic. One in three Indigenous women is sexually assaulted during her life, and 67% of these assaults are perpetrated by non-Indigenous perpetrators”. Also, not quite 6000 Indigenous Women were missing in 2016, but since then the count as been lost. I am deeply troubled and overwhelmed with sadness thinking about A.’s relatives and the others that are out there that will likely never be found. If you have any interest in learning more about the MMIW crisis, here are some links:
Native American Women Are Facing a Crisis – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Maze of Injustice – Amnesty International USA (amnestyusa.org)
MMIW | NWSGP (nativewomenssociety.org)
Nursing Students at Pine Ridge 