Four teams, Four sites, Learning about Service and a Native Healing Service
Tuesday, July 26 20016
The neighborhood dogs joined me for the first part of my morning walk, until they got bored and turned around. No matter, the cows and calves were happy to keep me company. After the hustle bustle of breakfast, making lunches, and team meeting, we set off to deliver 4 teams to 4 sites: definitely a logistical challenge. One team stayed in Heart Butte at the Senior Center, the rest in Browning at the Senior Center, the Nurturing Center(for children taken away from their families), and the Head Start building.
Finally having gotten everyone settled and working, I had time to gather my thoughts and explore a bit more of Browning. I ran into 3 different "mission" teams: clothed in their unique T shirts, usually from faith based organizations, they arrive with gear in tow, and from all appearances, they drop in, work mostly in their own teams, and then disappear again. This helped me understand how confusing it has been for the host community, when an organization like Global Volunteers arrives and says: we work with you, on projects you want us to do, and we work together. I'd imagine the local people have a form of " mission fatigue".
By mid afternoon the teams were calling to be picked up: it's going to rain, we're done with our work, there isn't enough work to do, the kids are asleep, etc. I rounded everyone up, did the requisite grocery and trading post stops, and headed back to Heart Butte. Then ensued a lengthy meeting of my self and the chaperones, including a hearty discussion of "meaningful " service projects. Was mowing the lawn and weeding at the Head Start building meaningful or useless in the face of ongoing "neglect"? Would it make any difference? Was serving food at the Senior Center and vacuuming the halls, while talking with elders worthwhile? How were the kids feeling? I did my best to open the dialog, and re-frame the questions: the Head Start budget is sorely under resourced, they face having 200 kids start school in 10 days, they are proud and want the building to look good. Neglect? or needing help?
Early evening we headed back into Browning to the Pastor's ranch for the much anticipated Healing ceremony. Pastor Hill, his wife, and others had spent the entire day preparing, including a trip to the mountains to pick berries for the berry soup. No Native ceremony is complete without a feast to follow, and so an entire day of preparation was necessary and lovingly devoted to getting ready. On arrival we were ushered into the warm and cozy tipi with fire in the center. To describe what followed would never do it justice: suffice to say that the several hour ceremony included smudging, chanting, ritual painting of each of us with an accompanying individualized blessing. Francine, mother of Ben, was last to be painted, and Casper, our native host(along with Pastor Hill), was gentle and compassionate with her as he urged her to "let Ben go", and open her heart to life again. No dry eyes. The gift of generosity, caring, and commitment to near strangers will surely never be forgotten.
With deep gratitude to our kind hosts and the Blackfeet people,
Love from Heart Butte,
Barbara
Tuesday, July 26 20016
The neighborhood dogs joined me for the first part of my morning walk, until they got bored and turned around. No matter, the cows and calves were happy to keep me company. After the hustle bustle of breakfast, making lunches, and team meeting, we set off to deliver 4 teams to 4 sites: definitely a logistical challenge. One team stayed in Heart Butte at the Senior Center, the rest in Browning at the Senior Center, the Nurturing Center(for children taken away from their families), and the Head Start building.
Finally having gotten everyone settled and working, I had time to gather my thoughts and explore a bit more of Browning. I ran into 3 different "mission" teams: clothed in their unique T shirts, usually from faith based organizations, they arrive with gear in tow, and from all appearances, they drop in, work mostly in their own teams, and then disappear again. This helped me understand how confusing it has been for the host community, when an organization like Global Volunteers arrives and says: we work with you, on projects you want us to do, and we work together. I'd imagine the local people have a form of " mission fatigue".
By mid afternoon the teams were calling to be picked up: it's going to rain, we're done with our work, there isn't enough work to do, the kids are asleep, etc. I rounded everyone up, did the requisite grocery and trading post stops, and headed back to Heart Butte. Then ensued a lengthy meeting of my self and the chaperones, including a hearty discussion of "meaningful " service projects. Was mowing the lawn and weeding at the Head Start building meaningful or useless in the face of ongoing "neglect"? Would it make any difference? Was serving food at the Senior Center and vacuuming the halls, while talking with elders worthwhile? How were the kids feeling? I did my best to open the dialog, and re-frame the questions: the Head Start budget is sorely under resourced, they face having 200 kids start school in 10 days, they are proud and want the building to look good. Neglect? or needing help?
Early evening we headed back into Browning to the Pastor's ranch for the much anticipated Healing ceremony. Pastor Hill, his wife, and others had spent the entire day preparing, including a trip to the mountains to pick berries for the berry soup. No Native ceremony is complete without a feast to follow, and so an entire day of preparation was necessary and lovingly devoted to getting ready. On arrival we were ushered into the warm and cozy tipi with fire in the center. To describe what followed would never do it justice: suffice to say that the several hour ceremony included smudging, chanting, ritual painting of each of us with an accompanying individualized blessing. Francine, mother of Ben, was last to be painted, and Casper, our native host(along with Pastor Hill), was gentle and compassionate with her as he urged her to "let Ben go", and open her heart to life again. No dry eyes. The gift of generosity, caring, and commitment to near strangers will surely never be forgotten.
With deep gratitude to our kind hosts and the Blackfeet people,
Love from Heart Butte,
Barbara
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