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I was finally able to confirm on Friday that we would be doing a 30-minute Medication Administration inservice at Head Start on Monday, as well as screenings. I had hoped to prep for this before we left, but since it wasn’t confirmed, I put my efforts elsewhere. I was finally able to prep for this important inservice on Sunday. Teaching on the fly is not usually how I operate, but planning can be challenging on the Rez. I found an AAP Healthy Childcare website with, lo and behold, a free, 4 module Med Admin inservice. I downloaded the power point, and the students and I divided up the content. Content included med errors; the 5 rights; as needed medications; universal precautions; the medication procedure; and communicating with the child. The students were nervous, especially when they saw the size of the audience—about 40 Staff. Honestly, this session went off without a hitch and was very fun to present. The students did a fantastic job, overcoming their nerves to present effectively. This is the type of teaching I love the most! And there is something to be said for teaching on the fly-no matter what type of nurse and no matter what type of setting, as a nurse you may need to provide education to a patient with little notice or prep time on almost any health topic.

After teaching, screenings were provided for this group. We had excellent interest just like last year, and many repeat clients. The students have really found their groove-working seamlessly as a team and getting beyond the superficial of this screening interaction. It was a pleasure to see them at work today. We only stopped screening when we ran out of lancets. I am bummed because I have plenty at home and simply did not bring enough.

After Head Start, it was on to beading class. All of the students finished their bracelets under Allyssa’s expert guidance. I got to spend time with Baby Lili during the class. She is the sweetest!

No time for the Badlands after this full day so back to the ranch resort for a good night’s sleep.

I always look forward to Indian Relay day. This has become one of my favorites over the last couple of years. Tashunke means Horse in Lakota, and this day is all about the horses.

We were blessed with a cooler day so no worries about overheating equipment today. We also got incredibly lucky with a prime parking spot right along the fence at the starting line. After getting setting up and organized, students headed out to recruit for screenings before the races started. What a difference a day makes! We were quite busy with no technology glitches. The students have gotten their groove and are providing quality education. They have also loosened up and are a bit less business-like in the best way possible! I especially enjoyed chatting with a Lakota man originally from Montana who is a school teacher. He was such a pleasure and said that he would look for us next year. I also met someone from the pow wow organizing group. He asked how we had come to be there, and I initially felt like I was in trouble! I explained our history of trips and efforts around prevention. But he was very kind and just asked that I call him next summer to coordinate. Another new contact from the relays was the Assistant Director of Nursing at the Pine Ridge Hospital. I got her contact info, and she said that she would be happy to meet with future groups. I have been trying to make this contact for years!

After about 20 (!) screenings and quality interactions, we settled in for the relays. The relays are the main event so other races like kids bareback, a warrior race, and a war pony race are the opening acts. These are almost as exciting-especially the kids bareback, where ALL of the riders fell off during the race. I probably embarrass the students because I clap and cheer like an idiot. It’s too exciting not to! The relays lived up to the hype, and I can’t wait to see them again. Local favorites Lakota Warpath came in second!

Saturday started with a trip into Pine Ridge for the pow wow parade and screenings in the pow wow parking lot. I’ve been to the parade a few times now so after some help setting up the canopy, the students and Judy and a Steve went to watch the parade and I stayed back to get our screening equipment set up. We were having some glitches with our telemedicine equipment so missing the parade was a necessity.

After the parade, screenings began with everyone pitching in to fill whatever role necessary. We had a trickle of clients but continued to have tech issues. The

Thank heat was extreme which caused our cholesterol monitors to overheat. We closed up shop after about 10 screenings over a couple of hours, and I hated to hear the word “disappointed” in the discussion on the way back to the motel. But that is the way it goes here. I will take 10 screenings if even one of them got some sort of helpful health information. Today was our first real day of screenings so some hiccups are expected-hits and misses.

After a brief siesta, we returned to Pine Ridge for the pow wow rodeo. This was a great time! I especially enjoyed the bronc’s and bulls. A hit with the group to end the night.

This trip has seen many plans not being confirmed until here at the Rez. I have given up on trying to be in control long ago and just let things happen as they will. I confirmed on Friday morning a visit to the Allen Youth Center for later in the day and an in service and screenings for the Head Start staff. It’s all coming together.

We visited the Singing Horse on Friday morning so that I could finally see Allyssa and Baby Lili and to let the students shop and enjoy the special environment there. Baby Lili is the most precious thing ever-beautiful, healthy, and smiling all the time. Allyssa is doing great and just had a role in a movie! I would have stayed there all day if I could have!

We visited the historical center and the OLC bookstore before heading to the youth center. We didn’t have a formal plan for health promotion-hand hygiene and basic heart info and a lot of playing. When we arrived, the center was closed which did not bode well. I called Anita, Travis’ wife, and she came right there to let us in. I expected the kids to show up any minute, but little did I know that a mission group from Chicago was in town at another site providing hot dogs. So, no kids, but not a wasted trip. The students played pool, helped to cook a taco dinner for later that evening, and completed two screenings. This is progress since no one was interested in a screening last year.

From Allen it was on to Pine Ridge for the highly anticipated pow wow grand entrance. We arrived just in time, and the students immediately moved to get front row seats, sitting on the ground in front of everyone in their lawn chairs. They were mesmerized and probably sat there for over an hour. Usually students watch a bit, walk around, and get photos with some of their favorite dancers. We walked around a bit, but most of the evening was spent watching in awe. The grand entrance is a bucket list type event, but how lucky am I that I get to see it every year? I had a very difficult time keeping my emotions in check at the start. This coming together is truly beautiful.

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Somehow my blog post from yesterday ended up as only pictures after I typed about 500 words or so. Oh well, I guess!

Every trip we tend to visit the same places, but each visit is different. Our trip to the OLC Nursing Program certainly fits this description. We met Michelle Bruns for a tour and discussion, and while their program is doing well-improved NCLEX pass rate; larger graduating class; preparation for accreditation, they have received news that is a major setback. IHS will no longer hire Associates-prepared RN’s. With an IHS hospital across the street from the school, this new edict is unfathomable. Considering that most IHS hospitals are located in very rural areas and experience chronic under-staffing, it would seem that Indian health care has taken another hit through this poor decision that reflects a lack of understanding of the Pine Ridge community. I will be thinking about this for a long time.

A trip to Red Cloud Indian School followed the school, and I enjoyed the peace of the chapel for a few minutes before I returned to the long road to Walmart.

No matter how I change up the trip and my plans, there is no way around this trip to Chadrion, NE. It has become a rite of passage for every group. Can we fit all of the purchased donations in the rental? Yes, of course, we can! This group has the can do spirit that seems to come with being called to make this trip. They have been a pleasure thus far.

The long road is not just about our drive. I know that our week of long drives is nothing compared to what the people of Pine Ridge experience. The long road is also about what I see here. It seems that for every bit of progress (and I do not mean progress from my cultural viewpoint only), that there are steps back, making access to resources, improved financial stability, etc. just out of reach. The situation at the IHS hospital is a prime example of this.

Teca Otoka, or new beginning in Lakota (if I have the translation correct). I look forward to August like it’s New Years. A new beginning, the opportunity to return to Pine Ridge-my favorite place besides home. Each August, I have a new group of students who have fresh eyes and add a new energy, which gives me a sense of renewal.

My trip began with a straight-through 17 hour drive to the Rez. I left Monday night at 11:30pm and arrived at around 4:30pm. By driving up before the students I could bring up donations instead of having to ship them. I am a road warrior so the solitary drive was good!

I picked up 6 of the 7 students from the Rapid City airport on Wednesday at noon (the 7th is driving up to allow for a family vacation after the trip). I was met with smiles and excitement for the things to come. After a quick trip to Mt Rushmore, we headed back to the Rez. On the way to Rapid, I had passed some state-of-the-art semi trailers parked across from Sharps Corner offering free dental and vision services. I decided to stop on the way back to learn more about this group and to see if we could perhaps join efforts-adding our prevention efforts to their dental and vision. I spoke to a very nice pastor from Alabama who is part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s mission efforts. We were able to tour the trailers, and all I can say is WOW! The pastor provided us with a a very motivational pep talk and ended with a prayer and Bible verse that gave me the affirmation that I am where I should be at this moment. While joining efforts with this group isn’t a possibility for this trip, this stop was well worth it.

After a seamless check-in at the motel, we were told that a 4H camp rodeo was in progress behind the motel. Kids, horses, and rodeo events cannot be passed up! This was so much fun to watch! I am always amazed by anyone who has the ability to connect with a Horse much less 3-4 year olds. Rosie was at the rodeo with the two girls that live with her. We were able to catch up which was time well spent. My favorite event was the musical horses-like musical chairs but with horses.

We ended our day in the motel restaurant with a dinner and fried pickles. Our Teca Otoka is off to a great start.