Lakota Nation Spring Break Mission Trip

Sorry I have been absent but I was busy with mid-terms and I was in South Dakota last week for my Spring Break (always a good feeling leaving school to travel). Since I have been back, I am playing catch up. I had a revision to turn in and a couple of budgets I had to work on for spring funding. Overall, last week was a rough week. I survived but I really wish that I was still in South Dakota helping out the Lakota Nation.

While I was in Mission and Rosebud, South Dakota, I had the opportunity to work and experience the culture. The Lakota Team took two days to and from the reservation to get there. On the first night out, we stayed at this camp in Wisconsin. Honestly, the camp was nicer than I thought because the camp was really housing. Despite the cold and icy conditions in Wisconsin, we had a good time in our short stay to and from the reservation. While in the camp, the group had some philosophical discussions about what we saw and what we expected. I also learned a little more about my mission team- their fears and their affectations. This was critical to the actual experience because this was what made people tick. What was their capabilities and limits on the trip and other similar questions made to mind.

What I did on the trip: I mainly worked with the relief center in construction and building. For the first two days, I worked inside of a cold, small warehouse where I sorted tools for the builders and helped put up different things. For example, I helped construct a ping-pong table. I helped construct stairs for the relief center so that we would not have to use unstable ladders for the area. On that Thursday of Spring Break, I was able to go to the actual work site and help put up siding on the house. I did a couple other odd jobs around the relief center. I was usually tired after a day of work and the cold, wintry conditions especially on that Monday did not help my cause. We worked during the day so we could rest for events later.

These events were the cultural events of Lakota members. We had speakers on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday who spoke about different topics that affect or influence the Lakota people. On Monday, there was a general talk that focused on spiritually and being an authentic Lakota member (dealing with the culture). On Tuesday, there was a talk about the toys of the Lakota and their uses. This is an interesting conversation and my team and the team from Michigan State University got to use these toys. Many were practical and I was appreciative to actually use them. On our day off on Wednesday, one of the professors from the Sinte Gleska University, talked to us about the school and the linguistics of the Lakota language. I brought his book about linguistics while I was at the Sinte Gleska bookstore. It is easy to read and it is very interesting. Overall, I loved the talks because they were informative and were told from the perspective of actual Lakota members.

To cap the Mission trip off, we were invited to the Sweat Lodge ceremony, which is one of the sacred ceremonies of the Lakota. I was so happy and blessed to have been to this ceremony. It is not everyday that you get to participate in a Sweat Lodge ceremony so I jumped at the opportunity. We went to this house near the worksite I was at earlier during that day where we meet the medicine man. We educated us about the purpose of the Sweat Lodge. Then, we headed out and prepared ourselves. Basically, it is like a sauna but it is a lot hotter, a lot more claustrophobic, and completely dark so you can focus your energy on the time you are in. I LOVED the experience. Yes, it was cold outside but once you have stepped out on the Sweat Lodge, the cold was not noticeable and I really felt cleansed in all aspects. The peace and tranquility afterwards was awesome and I was in bliss.

I have SO much more to say yet I have little to no time to say it. All of my interactions and conversations during the trip- I wished can be noted. To all of the people I worked with- THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! To the rest of the Lakota team, KEEP STRONG AND NEVER LET THIS EXPERIENCE DIE!!!!!!! I hope to attend the ceremony on the 1st of April and relive the moments of this trip. The Lakota Nation will have a place in my heart, forever.

I wish that I could see the pictures on here before they post because I wanted to make comments so I guess you the reader can comments on the pictures.







Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related),
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10