Thursday, June 21, 2007

Totus


Everyday..well almost everyday if the wind isn't too bad, we go to Totus park which is a tribal housing project which used to be the roughest part of White Swan. Locals say that it has been improving over the last year or so. At Totus we play in the field and on the courts with lots o kids, and we do activitis like tell a story and provide games and crafts. This has been a very powerful time to get to know little ones and older ones in the community and let them know that we love them. It is hard to go into detail about the impact serving in Totus has because of all the emotions it evokes, but know that it is a huge priveledge and a worthy place to spend an afternoon if not more.






Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Pow Wow Wow



This last weekend was Treaty Days celebration. A celebration for the signing of the treaty giving them tribal land. This is one of the biggest celebrations for them of the year...Independence day comes to a close second.
on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, me and a couple of fellas mowed grass and picked up around the longhouse and pavillion in White Swan. And all weeekend there was pow wow celebrations all day and all night long. They were also playing 'stick games'. And there was a rodeo going on the whole weekend too..so we bounced around between the three. The rodeo is probably my favorite..it is risky business..on one event called the wild horse race they herd fresh wild horses put them in the shoots and teams of three have to hold them down, mug them, saddle them, and ride them around the arena. There have been many fatal and serious injuries doing this event. I wish I had the bravery to do it some of you would say I'd be foolish.