Last Day in Pine Ridge

    Its safe to say we all slept remarkably well after our sweats and woke up happy to have another day with each other and the Lakota people who so generously let us be with them and listen to them. After our usual stop at Uncle Floyd's, we took a drive to the Red Cloud Indian School. We were immediately reminded by Aunt Natalie that it was at this school that many Lakotas, including Uncle Floyd, were taken away from their families to be re-educated in the European, Christian way. At this place children were beaten for speaking their own language and taught that their traditions were backwards and worthless. Now, however, the school has become a model of education on the reservation, run mainly by capable and passionate volunteers.
     Inside the school we visited the Red Cloud museum and heritage center, where a number of works of modern Native American art was being showcased. Some paintings expressed confusion between tradition and the modern world, while others put its efforts in portraying old ways in a new light. There were paintings that acted as a reminder of the tragedy of the Lakota's story, pieces that seemed to search for a new identity that remained unique, and traditional pottery which showed a craftsmanship I wish I could really appreciate. There was also a number historical artifacts: desks from the original school, photographs taken at Wounded Knee, a rifle used by Red Cloud.
     Before we left, we walked up a short hill to the grave of Red Cloud. Red Cloud was a Lakota chief who led a coalition of several tribes in war against the united states from 1866 to 1868. After the Battle of a Hundred Slain, when a decoy party led by Crazy Horse drew an 81 man detachment into an ambush of 2000 Lakota, the United States granted the Lakota "permanent" ownership of the Black hills, along with hunting and land rights to much of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. Red Cloud lived to see Americans find gold in the Black Hills, the Lakota's most spiritually important place and the last area of land they would want to lose, but did not join Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull in the Lakota War that followed. To this day, many Native Americans see the loss of the Black Hills as the reason for high rates of depression, alcoholism, and suicide on reservations.
    We then met up with Aunt Mary Ann, who helped us make pillows decorated with an eagle feather, a symbol of bravery and strength. She expressed her hopes that when we left these pillows in our rooms back home they would inspire questions, which would give us chances to spread the word of what goes on in Pine Ridge. Aunt Natalie asked that we tell those back home about what we had seen and heard. It seemed to me that more than anything else, that was why we were here. In a week of packing boxes, cleaning up trash, and working on a couple community centers, we wouldn't solve or even hardly help to solve any problems. But we could show that we care, we could show that we are thankful to have the chance to care, and we could be what Pine Ridge needs more than anything else, a louder voice. Too many people don't know that there are reservations, let alone reservations trying to reclaim their rights and get back what was taken from them.
     We spoke again with Uncle Floyd for the last time that week. He reminded us not to take what he told us too seriously, or believe everything he said. He then was given one of his drums, and gave us a prayer for our safe return and our understanding of what we had experienced. We then left for the retreat center, each saying our goodbyes and giving a handshake.