One week gone already

Well I've officially been in Eagle Butte for a full week. It doesn't seem like it. The time seems to go really quickly even when I'm not doing anything important. I guess that's always the case when you're doing something new and interesting. I've met some awesome people already. There is a group here interning with an organization called Youthworks. They are staying at a church not far from my office. I hung out with them Friday and Saturday nights which was great because otherwise I would have been alone in my camper reading.

The first volunteer group got here last night. Thirty people total from a private high school in Massachusetts. They were very stressed out from a day of traveling, but they seem to have settled in now. Tomorrow I hope to get to know them a little better since I'll be at a site working with them.

Here are some things I have learned about Lakota culture in the week that I've been here:

• While beadwork is a very famous craft of Native Americans, beads were only introduced to them after traders began to use them as currency. Originally they used porcupine quills. The art of quill work is on the decline unfortunately. 
• This weekend I had an "Indian taco". I've learned that the only difference between that and a regular taco is that instead of using tortilla, a piece of fried bread is used as a base. It's quite delicious.
• There are about as many dogs as there are people. I haven't met a mean one yet, but I've heard there are a few. 
• The old government run boarding schools have had a huge impact on the middle-aged population of Native Americans. Being told that what you are is bad and that you should be something you're not isn't good for morale. Who would have thought that?

Things I want to learn about:

• I have yet to hear much of the Lakota language used. I want to know how many people actually use it at all. 
• I hope to go to a sweat this week. That will be an experience that I'll definitely write about.