Day # 6 Monday July, 26

     We knew today would be a hot one but we were not prepared mentally for how hot it would actually be when you included the running around with the kids. Today was our first day of programming on our own. We started at LaPlant and began rounding up some kids..we knocked on more houses than the first time and got some more kids to come to the park to play with us. We gave Doretta, the volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, some fabric that was donated to the Sioux Y. She was appreciative and said she plans on making some quilts and dresses with it. For the first few minutes we played obstacle course games with the kids…but with the heat we lost a few people so after lunch we decided to have an area inside where kids could make jewelry. Outside, Derek and Nancy did relay races and jump rope. The kids loved it! LaPlant was a great turnout and we worked hard to make sure the kids were having fun. At the end of our time there we were ready for lunch and a break.


     Swiftbird, we met some of the kids that we met last week with Team 4. There were a few new faces that we didn’t see the first time around. The heat was pretty intense so we decided to stay in the shade and play a game of drip, drip, drop. All of us were grateful for the water. After drip, drip, drop, we lost some of the kids because many of them had plans to go swimming in the river with their parents. After some last minute changes we played a very quick game of kickball then decided to return back to the shade and played with sidewalk chalk and the two puppies that decided to join us. There was a moment during sidewalk chalk where one of the young girls mentioned that one of her friends had been sent away because her parents were drinking. There were some questions from the kids about where she went but her friend didn’t know where the girl went. It wasn’t surprising to hear the kids talk about it because it must be something that parents discuss and the kids just pick up on. It’s hard to hear kids talking about drinking at a young age…the fact that they are aware of what goes on here on the reservation is sobering and hopefully good for them so that they do not repeat the same habits.

~ Above is from Nancy and an entry in our Team Journal that we turn in to the YMCA.

     My outlook on Monday was a success, I felt really good after talking with some of the kids during jewlery making time in La Plant. Who knew simple beads and wire could turn into a great opportunity to learn about the culture and lives of some of the young ladies. I sat there with 2 girls, they both made some neat braclets, rings and necklaces but along the way i learned some cool things. I was told i need to try 3 different authentic food items fry bread, tribal soup and magnoodle (spelling?) I am excited to find an opportuinty to try the food. I also learned that even though in LaPlant they have a beautiful new school a lot of the kids in this community go to a different school or some even go to boarding school outside of South Dakota.  I find that interesting but i have heard from more than one person that the educational system here on the reservation is not the best. Yet, there is a girl by the name of Kayo who i have connected with and she wants to be a Kindergarten teacher...i spent some time talking to her about what she would need to do in order to become a teacher and the idea of 4 more years of schooling was eye opening for her. She asked about the types of classes and what else she would need to do. We had a good conversation.

Overall, it amazes me that to these kids graduation from high school is a success and if they make it that far that is amazing. I hope to connect more with these kids in the next couple days to talk about their hopes for the future and talk with them how they might get there.

Nancy playing a game of ring around the rosey with Emiya

Cute puppies all over but none of them are as cute as LILY :)