Last post from Cheyenne River

This will be my last blog update that I will post while on the reservation. I leave Tuesday morning. I'm somewhat ready to go home, but at the same time, I'm not ready to leave Eagle Butte and all the awesome people I've met and memories I've made.

This past week, I battled illness on and off which threw off some of my plans for my last week here. I did my last sweat at Larry's, and it was awesome as usual. They really make you think of things you never would have thought about. Yesterday, me and the two new interns went to the lake. It was nice just relaxing by the water (but not getting into it due to the mysterious brownish red color). Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, and we'll be going to Larry's for a celebration. Then bright and early Tuesday morning I'll be headed for Rapid City to fly home and get to work on my paper.... Not very excited about that part. I'm hoping it will turn out to be easier than I am thinking it will be.

Anyway... I might post again once I get home. Recap some of my favorite memories from my time here. But until then, so long from South Dakota!

Nature walks and bugs

This past Friday, I went with the group to Larry's for another sweat. I decided to go for a walk around Larry's property while the group did the sweat. I had to crawl under a barbed wire fence to get to a hill that I wanted to climb. The grass was really high, so rattlesnakes were a danger. And the BUGS. I was eaten alive by these grey flies. I have bug bites all up and down my legs. Itchy... But I did see lots of prairie dogs.

This past weekend was pretty slow. I went to a nearby town to do laundry since it's so expensive here in Eagle Butte. I rented some movies and just chilled until the new group got here Sunday night. I leave in a week. Time has flown by the past couple weeks. I'll definitely miss South Dakota, but I also miss my family and friends. It will be a bittersweet goodbye, but I know I'll be back.

South Dakota: the most beautiful state

Yesterday after a half day in the office, I went with the group to Timber Lake to visit the local museum. It was very quaint and surprisingly in depth. There was section that contained the genealogy of every family in the town which was awesome. All of the families were connected in some way.

After the museum, we went to a small lake for some of the guys to swim. It was absolutely beautiful. There was not a soul there, and the weather was spectacular. A few of us climbed to the top of a nearby hill, and the view was breathtaking. I really want to go back to the lake before I leave. I'm not sure I could ever find it again though.

Today we're going out to Larry's for a sweat. I haven't decided if I want to sweat today or not. I'm not sure I'm feeling up to it. I might not go just so I can go on a hike around his place because it's so beautiful. We'll see what happens.

Less than 2 weeks left...

Well it's official, I have one week and 6 days left until I fly back to Tennessee. I do miss home, but I'm already sad about leaving. I've met so many awesome people and experienced so many new things. I really want to come back someday and see how things have changed.

This past weekend was a slow one. I read the second and third books in the Hunger Games trilogy. Pretty good books. It's been raining for the past two days. Everything is covered in mud and gross. Thankfully today is sunny so maybe everything will dry out. Last night a really incredible lady came to the volunteer house to talk with the group. She is 91 years old, yet she was talkative, funny, and totally alert. I hope I'm the same way when I'm 91. She told us about her life on the reservation, in the boarding schools, on tribal council. She's a really fascinating woman. I hope to speak with her again at some point.

River days

Yesterday I went to the river with the volunteers. It was very beautiful, but unfortunately the water was too cold and rough from flooding to swim. It was nice and relaxing though. It was the first time I've left the reservation in 2 weeks.

Last night I ate with the group and sat in on their reflection time. It was so nice of them to include me in that personal setting. The groups really make me feel like I'm not alone up here.

Today, a couple of the volunteers who are illustration majors and I started to redo the sign outside the volunteer house because the old one was covered in graffiti. It looks so amazing (not by my doing, I just had to paint in between the lines that they drew). I have been wanting to redo that sign since I got here, so I'm excited that we finally got to do it.

Next week is the last week that I'll have a group for their full stay. The week after next, which is my last full week, there isn't a group scheduled. It's strange that I'm already halfway through my stay here.

Here are some pictures from the river and of the sign we are painting. I'll post a finished picture of the sign when it's done.

Mud Duck

Yesterday was one of those days where nothing goes the way it should, and you take everything the wrong way. On top of being in a funk, we went out to a trailer to do some skirting around it. The way to the trailer was a complete mud bath. So I took my little blue truck in there and felt some sliding, but I made it to the trailer alright. Then it turns out we didn't have the materials needed to do the skirting, so we left to go somewhere else. I was the last vehicle to leave. Going through the very last mud pit, my tires started spinning out, and I slid backwards. I tried to gun it, but it was too late. Everyone had already left, so I had to call Larry to come get me. So he came with his huge truck and chained up to mine to pull me out. He gave me my 'Indian name'-- Mud Duck. I had hoped I would get one, but maybe not quite in that way...

Last night I spent some time alone and was able to chill out. Today I'm going with the group out to Larry's house for another sweat. I'm glad it's today. I think it will be very relaxing after yesterday.

This is Ol' Blue stuck in the mud...

Second Weekend

Saturday, my first group left at 6 in the morning. I got up to say bye to them and promptly fell back asleep. After a couple more hours of sleep, I got up and got ready for the day. I met the interns from the church in town at a powwow held by a local college. It was pretty chilly unfortunately and not many people showed up. We only stayed for about an hour and a half. There were 6 drum circles and about 20 youth dancers and 3 adult male dancers. The drum circles were awesome. We sat right beside one group who called themselves 'Young Nation'. They were all in their 20s it looked like. It was really cool to see that they were participating in that part of their culture since a lot of young people have a reputation for shunning it. I was slightly disappointed because there weren't any booths with crafts of food set up.

Sunday, my second group got here. They're from New York and seem pretty cool so far. I hope to get to know them more as the week goes on.

Here are some pictures and a video from the powwow.

This is Young Nation.