I’m actually going to miss this little place in the middle of nowhere.

Jerry is truly a wonderful man. I wish you listen to him speak because we could all listen to him for hours. He is so knowledgable about his own people and his own culture. He really makes you want to learn more about it.

Yesterday evening we had Indian tacos, which were regular tacos but instead of a taco shell, fried bread was used. And we also had a fruit pudding…

Time goes by so slowly here but at the same time so quickly….it’s already friday! I wonder if people here feel the same way..

remember how i said that it was hard to believe that Jerry was Native American…well, after spending an afternoon with him (and seeing his Native American ID) i see him and i see a Native American before my eyes…

I am defnitely going to miss Jerry and Ted and this whole way of life! (but i don’t think i can get used to it…)

Yesterday, we worked on the house by painting the ceiling and continuing to frame the windows. We also had fun while working and had a chance to play games as a group. Afterwards, we went back to our living quarters and set up for a dinner with the family that we are building the house for and the other volunteer group of 25 people. The family and some of the people in the community made the food that we ate. We ate Indian tacos with their personal stuffing such as ground beef, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, olives, onions, and dressing. We were all full and we loved the food. They also provided us with berry pudding with a fried dough to dip in it. Then we went to the museum and Jerry along with Jim led the tours. Jerry mostly talked about the items that were donated by Native Americans and Jim talked about palentology, bones, rocks and shells. There were so much stuff to look at and the museum covered a whole range of history.

Hopefully, with each passing day, we’ll learn more and have lots of fun!

I was expecting a “true” Native American…like the ones you see in the history textbooks one is presented in school. Boy, was I in for it…

After two days on the trip and after a day on the reservation itself, i wondered, “where are all the native americans?” i didn’t have to look further–they were right under my nose…

We met Jerry Farlee, executive director of the affiliate here in south dakota. although, he looks far from anything remotely native american, he truly is. Looking at his deep blue eyes and fair skin, it took me a long time to accept that he was indeed native american..my perception of what a native american should be is far from what a true native american is….Was my mind closed? Was i already trained to look at the world in a particular way and in my stubborn manners not see the beauty of what was in front of me?

Not only was Jerry a true Native American but the site supervisor, Ted, was also one. He looked a little more Native American than Jerry… He is very cool…..He’s very friendly and a nice man to hang around…He has the most gorgeous 3 year old  in the whole wide world! ( Secretely, I want to keep Ted Jr.)

This trip is part of something that I will never experience again…It’s incredible that so few us–and by that  i mean people living in the USA–get to know so little about their own country. Although this nation is my adopted country, it is still worthwhile that I get to know a different side of America that most people don’t get to experience. And for that, I am truly grateful.

 Most people would say, “South Dakota, what in the world are you going to do over there?” It may seem like the middle of nowhere among the vast “High Plains” as they call it here, but to the people living here it is home. And its the only one they are most happy. These people are friendly and considerate and welcoming. Jerry told us that a stranger may start up a 15 minute conversation after a simple “hello.”

This experience is eye opening. I’m not only referring to the fact that my perception of Native Americans has changed after this but that it has exposed me to a different part of this nation that otherwise I would have never seen…

Jerry told us that we are ambassadors to this reservation and all those living here and all those to come.  Walt Whitman wrote in one of his famous poems, “Distance avails not….Time avails not” referring to, I think, the fact that we are all truly connected to one another. Not only are we all really one because “we bleed the same blood,” as Jerry puts it, but we are all on this reservation, in this nation, on this planet, IN THIS UNIVERSE!

 We need each other to survive and to prosper, to become better individuals each day. Now I really do feel that I am capable to telling other individuals of what I’ve seen here and what I’ve done here…All of us on this trip carry a certain responsibility to tell others and always carry this experience in our hearts and i hope, to touch other people’s lives…

My favorite part so far has been the trip to Jerry’s land on Tuesday. We traveled right into the middle of his buffalo herd. I thought they’d be more massive, but that might be because they weren’t charging… things look bigger when they’re running right towards you. Anyway, he’s surrounded by green, as much of the residents out here are, and only a drive away is a gorgeous lake. A few of went swimming (I tried) and Emily and Ericka played this mud throwing game with his grandkids. After about an hour at his lake we drove back – in the back of his pickup truck!!! He welcomed us into his home and gave us dinner. He’s an amazing person who’s very knowledgeable about the community around him and the world in which he lives. He also has this voice that just makes you want to listen for hours and hours. Anywhoodle, I’ve digressed…

During dinner we sat outside on his porch and played with his dogs. There was an Australian Shepherd and this terrier-like dog named Tessie. Both were adorable and EXTREMELY submissive – you walk up to them and they lie down, welcoming a belly rub. AHH! I wanted to take home the Shepherd… and even had a dream I brought him back to New York. But alas, that was only a dream.

Yesterday, (Wednesday), we worked on the house and we completed the gutters and framed the windows. We also put covers on the plugs inside the house. Afterwards, we went to the SweatLodge and Jerry told us the importance of this ceremony. The girls entered first, while the boys waited outside for their turn. Hot coals were put into a pit with a tent-like dome over us. The door was then closed and the heat embraced us as it washed over all of us. Then Jerry said a prayer and threw water on the hot coals, making steam rise around us. He sang two songs and the instrument he played sounded just like our heartbeats, beating all at once. This ceremony was very spiritual and emotional. We had a prayer circle where all the girls went around and prayed for whatever they felt needed to be prayed for. A lot of girls teared up at that point because all the suffering that the girls felt were expressed in their prayers. I could feel their pain as they tried so hard to not break down while saying their prayer. Then the door was closed again and he sang another prayer song and talked some more about us being in the “womb” of mother earth. When we emerged from the “womb”, we were all drenched in our own sweat and water from the steam, but it felt as if we were cleansed instead of feeling dirty. The purpose of the SweatLodge was to feel as if you entered back into your mother’s womb, a time when you had no sin. Then when you emerge, you should feel cleansed, just as we experienced this amazing ceremony. Next the boys went in and had their ceremony conducted by Jerry. I would definitely want to go to a SweatLodge again because it was spiritually moving and it reminds us that the heat that we suffer is not worse than the people who are suffering out there in the world.

 We had some car trouble Sunday night- something was wrong with the transmission- but luckily someone told us the car was smoking and pulled over to help (yes, out here they actually stop and talk to you…much friendlier than in NY). So we waited a couple of hours for a replacerment car, and finally stopped by a Brst Western for the night. On Monday, we continued traveling and got to see the site for the first time. The house was mostly finished, but there were still a lot of things left to do.

 Tuesday and Wednesday were really fun- I helped put up gutters, framed windows, and was generally happy becuase I got to use power tools. And our nights have been great, too- on Tuesday night we visited Jerry’s house (Jerry is the guy in charge) and saw his buffalo up close; we also got to swim in his lake. He has this huge property, and it’s all just rolling hills and grass for miles. It’s gorgeous.

 Finally, last night, we did a sweat lodge with Jerry, and I have to say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. He warned us that it would be very hot, and it was, but I just breathed slowly and stuck it out, and got used to it. Our group actually did it with this church youth group from Chicago, which was cool. It wasn’t just sitting and sweating together that made it such an experience- it was the sharing that made it special. There was a point at which we went in a circle and each got to say a prayer, and some people got very personal and emotional- I felt like that made the whole experience that much more meaningful. And when I got out, even though I was soaked in sweat, it didn’t feel gross; it felt good. And I think everyone was in a really great mood when they came out, so the rest of the night was just relaxed and fun.

 Okay, so I have to go b/c we need to get to the site (we’re painting today! I think) and b/c this post is waaay long. So that’s it for now.

To all: Welcome!

Yesterday was our first meeting as the Macaulay-Okiciyapi Tipi Habitat for Humanity South Dakota group (what a mouthful!) – and I must say it was amazing. Everyone is excited about going to visit Eagle Butte, SD . We are departing next Sunday (July 27th). In the meantime, we’ll be busy packing and prepping for a week of work. What? A week of work? ONLY? Indeed. However, we’ll return on the 5th because of some planned activities. Some of those are seeing a real sweat lodge and going to a buffalo ranch!!

Please check back for updates!