South Dakota March - April 2019 Photo Journal

TEAM 3 JOURNAL

GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS ROSEBUD RESERVATION, SOUTH DAKOTA, USA APRIL 27 - MAY 4, 2019

WWW.GLOBALVOLUNTEERS.ORG

GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS S o u t h

T e a m

D a k o t a

G o a l s

T e a m

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C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s No Criticism

Flexibility

To learn about the Lakota culture

Open Communication

To help in the Rosebud community To travel in this part of country & meet new people

T e a m

Open - Mindness Kindness

Support each other

Timeliness Cultural Acceptance Integrity Positive Attitude

Respect

Responsibility

Sense of Humor Honesty

Sensitivity to other personalities/abilities on team Recognize “goal� big picture

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M e s s a g e

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D a y

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

~Â Confucius

W JUDY

April 28, 2019 J o u r n a l

E n t r y

elcome to the little town of Mission on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota! We began our first day in the communal dining/meeting area of our quarters. Our Team Leader, Kathy, invited everyone to “check in” with their name and a little about themselves. Kathy provided a short history of Global Volunteers and their vision “to wage peace and promote justice worldwide through genuine development partnerships” as well as sharing some very interesting facts about our current assignment here on the Rosebud Reservation. Conclusion—another amazing Global Volunteer team.

Our host is Mother Lauren Stanley, an Episcopal priest who serves the local Lakota population. Since it was Sunday, there was a church service and pot-luck lunch with the congregation if we wished to attend. We all opted in and were well rewarded. It was our first meeting and experience with Mother Lauren.

Words cannot begin to describe this amazing woman. Her beautiful sermon was part of a month-long Easter celebration and focused on love. Lots of music and singing. Mother Lauren incorporates the Lakota language in parts of her service. After the service we all greeted each other with a handshake and “peace be with you.” More on that later.

Lunch with the congregation was special—the team joined various tables and enjoyed great conversations. Back at our quarters Kathy conducted our orientation where we developed the “Characteristics of an Effective Team” and each submitted three “Individual Goals.” We had 19 “Characteristics,” the first one—Flexibility—turned out to be a very appreciated strength.

Kathy described GLORY (God Loves Our Rosebud Youth), and the work being done with domestic violence issues and a women’s shelter. As part of our cultural education we will be going to Wounded Knee and she suggested we educate ourselves before we go.

Oh, back to the handshake at the church service. Mother Lauren explained to us that the Lakota do not use eye contact or a firm handshake, believing it to be hostile.

Unfortunately we did not have that information that morning after the service when we looked everyone in the eye and gave each our best, firm and friendly handshake.

Sigh.

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M e s s a g e

Money cannot buy the following things: Manners, Morals, Respect, Character, Common Sense, Trust, Patience, Class, Integrity, or Love.

~Â Unknown

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D a y

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April 29, 2019

CAROLYN

J o u r n a l

E n t r y

fter breakfast we had our morning meeting. Judy read the journal from the previous day and Pam read the “Thought for the Day,” which was “What Money Cannot Buy.” Pam thought this was appropriate wisdom because of what the Lakota’s had faced in their history; turning down money offered to them from the United States government for land that was already rightfully theirs. The Lakota do not believe land is for sale, it is a part of Mother Earth.

"The Lakota do not believe land is for sale, it is a part of Mother Earth."

We next discussed visiting the memorial at “Wounded Knee.” Most of us lacked knowledge about this massacre that took place nearby. Judy “googled” it and read to us about the incident arising as a result of the appearance of the Ghost Dancer. This frightened the white man and caused savage attacks on the Sioux men, women and children at Wounded Knee in 1890.

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April 29, 2019

Our primary service project was working inside the building and painting at the women’s shelter. Our project included cleaning and organizing a room where crafts, sewing machines and material, and anti-violence educational material are stored, sorting and organizing donated clothing, and painting walls inside the shelter office which included moving a lot of office furniture before they could paint.

The Director, Lindsey, gave us information about this facility which was established in 1977 by Native Americans for Native American women and was the first of its kind in the United States. Lindsey said that the needs today are the same as when the shelter started. It is called “wrap around” care and includes all aspects of a woman’s personal needs from abuse to alcohol addiction. They have recently added a program called MVD: Male Violence Prevention and will change their name from “Her” House to “Our” House to more accurately define what they do. This program is not a part of the Tribal Program but is an independent non-profit organization. They get their funding from grants from the State and Federal Government and from private money donations.

They currently have nine grants.

"It was a very fulfilling, educational and fun day!"

After dinner we went over to Mother Lauren’s house so she could tell us more about Lakota culture. She told us a very colorful story of The Creation, which is the core of the Lakota peoples’ beliefs. We were all mesmerized by her exuberant storytelling skills. It was a very fulfilling, educational and fun day!

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M e s s a g e

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I want to age like sea glass. Smoothed by tides, not broken.

I want the currents of life to toss me around, shake me up and leave me feeling washed clean.

I want my hard edges to soften as the years pass - made not weak, but supple.

I want to ride the waves, go with the flow, feel the impact of the surging tides rolling in and out.

~ Bernadette Noll, I Want to Age Like a Sea Glass

D a y

W PAM

April 30, 2019 J o u r n a l

E n t r y

oke up to about 2 inches of snow! The California volunteers went immediately outside to take pictures while the more snow-weary volunteers got ready for breakfast.

As a contribution to the GLORY gathering on Wednesday we planned to teach the children and parents the Electric Slide dance. Carolyn and Pam lined up our Team and we did a practice session, with music, so we could all help with the dance on Wednesday. We followed this with a well-deserved breakfast. Carolyn is becoming famous for her oatmeal.

We left our compound around 9:30 for White Buffalo Calf Our House to continue our thrift shop project, organizing and sorting clothes, clothes, and more clothes. We had a few shoppers stop in which was encouraging as we were able to have things organized by type and size, which made it much easier for them to find what they needed. We were treated to a lovely family of Father, Mother and three small active children who came in the store and left with bags of clothing and shoes. The shoe pairing was initiated by one of the shop customers finding one shoe that she loved and hunting through the tubs of shoes for the mate. Couldn’t find it. Sorting and mating the shoes became a task of purpose resulting in one remaining tub of single shoes without a mate and an organized group of neatly sorted and connected pairs.

While we were sorting and organizing, Denny and Matt finished the painting at the Women’s Shelter office. They were well-received at the shelter by the staff and were “smudged” with sage to add positive vibes.

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April 30, 2019

Hattie Dunham visited us this evening and shared her beautiful bead work. One unusual and amazing piece of her art is covering the top of graduation caps. It takes her 70 to 100 hours of beading. They are incredible. In addition to sharing her work, she discussed and spoke of many elements of life on the reservation as well as some of her personal history and observations. Hattie told us about the Lakota seven directions of prayer, West, North, East, South, Universe (up), Mother Earth, and ourselves.

"Hattie told us about the Lakota seven directions of prayer, West, North, East, South, Universe (up), Mother Earth, and ourselves."

Hattie spoke about some little known history of how Native Americans fought the Vikings and the many massacres of Native Americans including Wounded Knee in 1890. She felt that racism still exists in South Dakota and native people can be identified by their auto license plates which identify where they are from. She also spoke sadly about the violence and sexual assault that remains a problem today along with the difficulty in getting unbiased justice in small towns where everyone is related to or knows each other. Hattie explained that food is a very important issue because we “all have starved” at some point. People still offer whatever they have, maybe just water. We ended the night with a lot to think about.

"Hattie explained that food is a very important issue because we

“all

have starved

”

at some

point."

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M e s s a g e

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Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, a glass of wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “woo hoo, what a ride!!!

~ Hunter S. Thompson

D a y

W

DENNY

May 1, 2019 J o u r n a l

E n t r y

e all had breakfast, then Kathy started the meeting. At midweek, it is customary to review the items of a successful team. The Rosebud team has all A+’s and we are in line to reaching our goals. What a nice way to start the day.

"The Rosebud team has all A+

’s

and we are in

line to reaching our goals."

We completed our work assignments and after lunch we headed to Wounded Knee massacre site. We all read the large information placard near the highway that described the massacre. To the east we could see a large hill were the large guns used in the massacre were placed. We then found a road that took us near the Cemetery, a large mass grave. We walked up to the gate of this hallowed ground. We met some descendants of the Lakota that were massacred who were also visiting the site. It was very emotional.

On our way back we stopped at Mother Lauren’s to discuss Wounded Knee and our impressions. A fact that I did not know is the Lakota has the 7th Calvary’s battle flag from the battle at the Little Big Horn. They won’t give it back, that is why there isn’t a 7th Calvary in the army to this day.

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May 1, 2019

We then went to Todd County Middle School to deliver backpacks we had brought to Principal Dana. Took pictures with kids and Dana told a passionate story of the need for backpacks. They have developed a program through a charity sponsored by Mother Lauren where unused food that was previous thrown out (by law), is now saved, frozen into meals and distributed in backpacks for children to take home. Dana said she could use 200 backpacks.

She showed us the “recovery room” where kids come to calm down and then talk about what is bothering them. They can self-refer or be referred by a teacher. Four years prior, 400 students had 800 suspensions – now because of this room, it is down to 120. Violence has decreased from 90 incidents to 5.

We then went to the Reservation Jones building for a GLORY (God Loves Our Rosebud Youth) Program to run with the kids, and to teach the electric slide dance to everyone.

We talked with the kids as they ate dinner of mac & cheese and hot dogs and then watermelon. After that, we helped the kids do their painting project. After the kids left, we sat down with Mother Lauren and discussed our day.

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M e s s a g e

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You think that what you are accomplishing is a drop in the ocean. But if this drop were not in the ocean, it would be missed.

~ Mother Teresa

D a y

A

May 2, 2019

SHERRY OLLER

J o u r n a l

E n t r y

long and busy day. During breakfast, we discussed issues relating to the pipelines trying to cross reservation land. We then discussed how emotional that sacred site is and how much it moved all of us. We also discussed how much we learned by being a part of the GLORY program last night.

We started working on our projects; we got the necessary supplies and some of us got both bedrooms and the hall painted while Denny and Matt got most of the basement drywall taped.

We then went to the Rosebud Economic Development garden to spend time with Aaron. The garden is divided into a Three Sisters Gardens, an experimental garden which contains a large dome and a raised bed area. The dome is passive solar with fans that put the hot air under the sail into pipes that warm the soil and returns cool air to the dome. Local school children have helped with the project. Herbs will be planted around the outside of the dome to help nourish the two new bee colonies.

The plan is for the garden to supply a farmer’s market and to try to get the produce into local groceries and hopefully a restaurant. The philosophy is to reinforce food as a part of the Lakota tradition of community.

We straggled home, tired but ready for our final celebration. We were hosting dinner for the friends we had made during the week. It was a wonderful chance for more conversation and to thank the people who so graciously allowed us into their culture.

We certainly felt that we got more than we gave.

"We certainly felt that we got more than we gave."

After dinner, Sage Eagle showed us his dance regalia and explained how it was worn.

He then got us outside and taught us a circle dance. We were far from good at it, but it was fun.

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M e s s a g e

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Be strong enough to stand alone, be yourself enough to stand apart, but be wise enough to stand together when the time comes. ~ Mark Amend

D a y

May 3, 2019

A MATT

J o u r n a l

E n t r y

fter breakfast, we started our work assignments. We did some rather difficult painting and tape peeling, I’ll never look at masking tape the same way again). Later during the day, Danny came over and showed us the process by which they chop wood (using a very impressive machine with the strength of 25 tons!). People from all over the reservation donate trees so that Mother Lauren can help provide locals with firewood, an essential resource in the cold.

Next, Danny took us to the local University bookstore which featured many books written by and about the Lakota. Mother Lauren came over and gave us some more thought on the highly controversial pipeline. We went to her house, performed some last chores, and were presented with a Gumby Award for being so flexible in an emotional farewell.

"A fond goodbye to this amazing woman."

A fond goodbye to this amazing woman.

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TEAM 3 JOURNAL South Dakota, USA April 2019

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. ~ Oscar Wilde

Thank your

you

for

service.

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