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One of the most anticipated days has arrived-horseback riding and beading at R.’s.  It’s finally cooler-thank goodness!  We implemented the divide and conquer method as usual.  Four students to ride, while the other 3 began their beading lesson.  Only one student has never ridden, and the rest haven’t ridden in quite some time.  But unlike past years, there seems to be no anxiety-the dichotomy of calm and enthusiasm.  R. Is the most patient teacher/offering them words of wisdom and lessons from horses.  Black Diamond, Pepper (Peppa), Coon Tail, and Goldie were our horses for the day.  

Meanwhile, we have a new beading teacher, K.  Just like R. With the horses, she was the most patient.  The students always start off their beading with broken thread, uneven stitches, extra knots, and poked fingers, but by the end of the lesson, they are slow and steady and have a new appreciation for the beaded art that is in R.’s store.  K. Also offered some important insights about life on the reservation-these lessons are the most important for students.

I was able to catch up with my friend, A., who works in R.’s store.   We’ve known her since she was in high school, and her little girl (L.) is now 6 and getting ready to start first grade.  L. is spunky, smart, talkative, and a lot of fun.  We played games on her mom’s phone, and I showed her a picture of me holding her when she was a baby.  Time flies!

As we finished beading and horseback riding, and I prepared to say goodbye to my friends at the Singing Horse, I thought for a minute that I was going to cry.  The trips are never long enough.

With Friday night’s stressful events, I wanted to allow the students an easy day with no big time constraints and some fun.  They slept in, and after offering a few activities, it was decided that we would visit Robert’s Prairie Dog Town in the Badlands; Wall Drug (everyone’s favorite tourist trap); and then have a decent dinner that offered a bit more nutrition than our usual.  Everybody seems to be in good spirits-they have bounced back very quickly from the stress of the night before.  I am eternally grateful that we have a resilient group—they will certainly need this resilience as nurses.  And even more grateful that the group is safe, and no one else was injured. We’re not the only one’s who are resilient. The pow wow activities continue with increased security, including metal detectors.

Sunday was the much anticipated Relays, my favorite extreme sporting event.  S.  And E. Went with us which added to the fun.  The blistering heat continues-106 degrees and SO dry and dusty.  Thankfully it clouded up, and we got a decent breeze.  With the breeze, it was difficult to keep the canopy anchored, but we made it work.  We also got  the prime spot just next to the starting/finish line. 

Screenings were slow today, but still some great interactions and fun withe kids.  We gave away the rest of our booster seats and the majority of our diapers.  We also gave away IUS and Red Cross T-shirts, and when I asked a group of school-age boys on bikes if they wanted a T-shirt, I got a hug as thanks.  Again, it is the little things. 

The races were exciting as always.  I warned the students that I might be embarrassing with my cheering and yelling.  Just like the pow wow, I recognize familiar faces, including Parker, who we first watch ride in a race at the age of two.  He must be about 8 or 9 now and quite the rider.  It finally got to be main event time-championship race of the relays.  Unfortunately, a rider got injured on his first horse exchange.  He had to stay on the track until the race was over, and then was carried out by two of the staff.  The three nurses, S., E., and I, provided some simple care until EMS arrived.  They sat him in one of our chairs and we applied ice to his knee.  We talked to him and tried to keep him calm.  From the sounds of it, he likely tore a ligament in his knee when he landed with his knee bent under him.  The ambulance arrived fairly quickly from the pow wow grounds, and off he went.  Another eventful day at the races doing whatever we can-plenty of little things that hopefully add up.

After the busy day yesterday, we eased up the pace just a bit for Friday.  Our alum extraordinaire, Suzie, again very generously guided the students through a tour of the IHS Kyle Health Center facilities.  The students had some great questions for here, and Suzie provided a very important first-hand account of working with an underserved population in a very rural setting—her insights are invaluable for the students.  Whether the topic was the chronic underfunding of IHS, the limited health care resources on the reservation, or the current STI epidemic, it was obvious to me that some light bulbs went off for the students.  The tour is always outstanding, but we had an added bonus this time.  While touring the Four Directions Clinic that provides women’s services, sexual assault forensic exams, STI testing, and more, we met LTJG M., a member of the U.S. Public Health Services Commissioned Corp.  While I discuss the USPHS in my community/public health nursing course, I have not had a contact who could provide first-hand information.  She very enthusiastically gave a thorough explanation and answered questions on the spot.  I frequently tell students that the world is their oyster when it comes to nursing.  There are SO many opportunities, and the USPHS is a great one. After group pictures, we headed to the OLC Historical Center.  Unfortunately, the Historical Center and the shipping container coffee shop in Kyle were closed for the day for the pow wow festivities.  We returned to the campground for lunch and relaxing prior to our journey to the pow wow for the grand entry in the evening.

We got to the pow wow grounds early to get a good seat, and lucky for us, we were able to get a front row spot.  The Grand Entry is always the best—the veterans and elders in their regalia are so special to see. Also, I have had the opportunity of seeing the same dancers over the years, and there are quite a few favorites.  While the students were in the front row, I sat one row back behind a family with two dancers—a mother in her beautiful turquoise jingle dress and a teenage boy in striking pink regalia for the chicken dance. I loved watching the mom help him get into his very elaborate regalia for the grand entry and was really looking forward to seeing him dance.  It is also important to note that it continues to be 100+ degrees, and the dancers are in full regalia, as well as some of the veterans in full military uniform.  In the Veterans Group of flag bearers was the same Marine from last year.  He is in full dress blues with white gloves on in the heat, standing as tall and proud as anyone I have ever seen.  Seeing him reminds me of the sacrifice that the uniform represents.

This is always a favorite activity for me during the trip, and as usual, I enjoyed watching the students soak it all in.  After a pow wow dinner and the grand entry finished, I encouraged them to walk around the grounds and to not be afraid to ask a dancer for a photo. 

We had decided that we would only stay for another couple of dances by 10pm, trying to hold out to see the teenager in the pink chicken dance regalia.  Unfortunately, a shooting occurred on the pow wow grounds while we were waiting for our chicken dancer.  I won’t get into the specific details, but all in the group are fine.  This was the last thing that I would expect to happen here with so many families, kids, and elderly present.  It was quickly determined by the tribal police department that the shooting was an isolated incident that was the result of a fight.  The shooter was apprehended before we had even left the pow wow grounds.  The students, while shaken up, are outwardly calm and stayed that way throughout the incident. Lots to think about tonight on the long drive to the campground.

An evening trip into the main part of Badlands National Park was the request after dinner. The light was perfect and every stop and view was better than the previous. We did a lot of stopping for photos as the sunset inched closer. We were able to see ALL of the animals-prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyote, and an owl. The Wild Kingdom part of the trip came when we saw a coyote running full tilt toward a lone deer. I thought that we were going to witness a predator kill in real time. I actually honked the horn to try to get the deer to move-being a bystander to this was not going to happen. Thank goodness the deer finally decided to run into the hills, but it let the coyote get within about 5 feet first. This circle of life moment was almost too much for me! Our day ended with the reward of a breathtaking sunset.

We are starting the trip off with a bang. Day #2 is health promotion at the Tribal Health Fair in Pine Ridge that is part of the tribe’s sponsored pow wow activities. This will be our first attendance of this event, and I am not sure what to expect.

Health fair set up was at 8am in Pine Ridge, and we also needed to stop by Suzie’s in Kyle to pick up some of our shipped supplies. A 6am departure time to allow for the pick up and drive to Pine Ridge was going to be tough for Day #2 with everyone tired from traveling, but I got no complaints. I was exhausted but the new environment and being overly tired kept me tossing and turning all night. I maybe got 3 hours of sleep, and the 6am departure started to look iffy. I could easily say let’s forego the health fair—would anyone really notice or care? While it was a thought for about a minute, canceling was a hard no. Everything that I do on this trip is built around my word and doing what I say that I’m going to do. My word has to mean something, and I absolutely have to role model that for students. I did give everyone (and myself) an extra 15 minutes and that was enough.

Loaded up with health promotion supplies, donations, and students, we arrived for the health fair by 8:15. We were able to pick a spot for our booth under the pow wow arbor and worked on getting organized for a 10am start. The students are doing great with working as a team to get things done. I tend to bark out orders and directions during the trip, and I am trying very hard not to do this. They can problem solve, and I just need to let them!

We met Ted from Re-Member, a non-profit that works on the Rez. He gave us the scoop on what to expect at the health fair, and I nearly fell over when he told us that attendance may be 1200! I let the students know that we would likely run out of screening supplies and donations and that whatever we were able to do would be good enough. It’s also VERY hot with the temp around 95. Cholesterol monitor won’t work with that temp so blood sugars and blood pressures it is.

We got to work with screenings using two teams of students screening, two students doing giveaways of bubbles, sunglasses, and mini stuffed animals for the kids and marketing the screenings for the adults, and the final student keeping supplies organized and at the ready. We ended up being so busy! The students again pitched in however needed and switched off trading duties as needed. I love seeing them work and do all of the things that help the screening participants feel more comfortable with us, as strangers from Indiana. Things like getting down at eye level with the person getting screened; asking for permission before touching someone to do a blood pressure, reporting abnormal screening results, and providing information in a clear and simple way—it’s the little things that make a difference.

We were extremely well-received, and I felt very welcomed to be a part of this event. I met the elected secretary for the tribe, who conveyed in words what I felt here-that our presence was very much appreciated. By 1:30, we were done and everyone was ready to get out of the heat. We did as many screenings today as we usually do in a whole week, and our week just started!

A well-earned rest break back at the cabins followed by an eventful trip to the Badlands (that requires its own post!) completed our day.

The years have passed quickly and the travelers continue to change, but today marks my 22nd trip to Pine Ridge. I haven’t blogged in several years, I guess that I will chalk it up to an extended pandemic hiatus and an overall individual reset. With this time passage, changes, and reset, I have given in to the need to fly instead of taking the 18-hour one-way drive that would allow me to pack so much more. So with that, I left the Louisville airport to fly to Chicago and on to Rapid City with 7 energetic and somewhat anxious students and one overweight suitcase (mine). We nearly missed our connection in Chicago-thankfully a brisk walk rather than an OJ Simpson Hertz commercial sprint through the airport was enough to make it before the plane’s doors were closed. We made it! Our rental SUV barely fit all of us and our luggage even though I was the only one who overpacked so we had to drive to our lodging (new digs this year-cabins at the Badlands KOA). A quick offload and perusal of the surroundings, and we were off again for the big Walmart shop. I gave the students the option of staying behind to relax rather than another 1.5 hours in the car each way to Walmart, but they all wanted to go. A great sign for the group that they will be able to go with the flow. 45 minutes of tag-teaming the Walmart shopping, and we were packed to overflowing and ready to head back to the campground. Also worth mentioning was the harvest of some quills from a road kill porcupine near the campground. A very full and interesting first day as always!

Well, here we are–already the last day. Time is a vacuum here. This is one of the few places where I can be totally in the moment without the distractions of the usual time-pressured busyness. Yes, I miss home and stay in touch with my hubby and son, but beyond that, I try to block the rest out. I probably should be anxious about still having 3 of my 4 classes for Fall that I need to get ready or that I have final assignments for my summer online RN-BSN course to grade, but I refuse! I will be in the moment here, appreciating this opportunity and enjoying every minute as much as I can.

We went to see Mrs. G at the extended program at Wounded Knee School. They are getting ready to start school on Monday, 8/15 with 100% in-person classes for the first time since the pandemic began. Mrs. G talked to the students about the extended program and gave a tour of the building. In addition to dropping off our remaining donations, we were able to help get the classrooms ready a bit by cleaning desks and surfaces, and Chase and Aurora were able to get a door alarm/doorbell hung. Mrs. G gifted the students with Little Wound t-shirts and then showed us the high tunnel that is full of tomato plants and other herbs and produce. There is also corn growing just outside the high tunnel that was planted in the 3-sisters method. The extended program is very successful and such a different approach to school than what we are used to seeing–the holistic approach is one that should be replicated everywhere! I am hopeful that perhaps this coming year will allow us to visit Little Wound in the Spring for health promotion–it’s been a long 3 years since our last visit in 2019.

After the visit with Mrs. G, we had a spur of the moment, delicious lunch at the burrito stand across from the school (and why not, since the students essentially didn’t get lunch yesterday because I forgot the peanut butter! Big oops!). The OLC Historical Center is still closed but we stopped by the new art space that opened in Kyle by the Chamber of Commerce and were able to get a quick tour and hear about the very neat program that has begun there. Our final stop for the trip was the Wounded Knee Massacre site. The cemetery was quiet with no other people present beyond an older couple from Minnesota. We spent some time in somber reflection there, and as usual, I felt the restless energy that seems to always be present.

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:

Persistent Native American Stereotypes — Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar (sheerarmuseum.org)

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)

The first few days of the trip is always busy, busy, busy—trying to get organized, making contact with friends on the reservation, and getting to our health promotion sites in a timely manner.  As soon as the pow wow and related events are over, our schedule lightens considerably, and everyone can take a deep breath and recharge.  Monday brought us to a day of no planned health promotion so it was the perfect day to venture into Badlands National Park.  The park is super busy with vacationers and motorcyclists up for Sturgis.  We meandered through the park stopping for photos frequently.  The students were able to see buffalo from a distance, a big horn sheep, and of course, the prairie dogs.  We stopped at Robert’s Prairie Dog Town in the park for viewing a bit more up close.  After realizing that we were only 10 miles from Wall at this point.  We ventured into the town so the students could experience Wall Drug in all of its tourist-trap glory.  It was a bit too much of a crowd for me with again MANY motorcycles and vacationers, so we didn’t stay too long.

We have had some laundry challenges this week with no facilities at the cabins.  Suzie very kindly allowed us to come to her house to do laundry with some students staying behind to do laundry by hand. Even laundry provides unexpected opportunities for learning. The two students who did go got the experience of a lifetime when Lance arrived and provided a very detailed explanation of the Sundance ceremony.  I learned quite a bit from this discussion—in my experience some are not open to discussing the ceremony in-depth which I understand completely.  The conversation with Suzie is always lively and filled with laughs so this was a nice break from the trip’s other activities.