An Interesting Experience…

Waking up to the fog and ice this morning made my soul feel a great sense of peace. The morning light gleamed purple across the Rockies and the dense morning fog covered the plains leaving a sense of mystery and oneness with the land. As I drove into Browning the sun rose shining behind us and grew to expose the beauty of this Reservation. As the light grows stronger and brighter I reflect on the passing day. The day began as normal with class. I have been helping with Ms. Lask’s 7th grade class. She is a good teacher and the kids are fascinating. Sometimes they challenge me and other times I could not wish to be anywhere else. This day was going to be different. At 10 we went over to the parish offices where we meet with a local hardware store owner who talked about Reservation Economics. This was information that was interesting to hear. Unfortunately this caused me to miss a field trip with the 7th graders. On the prompting of some other students however they told me to go on the field trip anyways with a different grade. So I loaded up on the bus with the 5th graders and left to Darnell Ridesatthedoor’s house. This would be an experience that I would even be pondering the next day in the icy morning.
When we got there I did not know what to expect. The teacher, Mr. D, had told me that we were going to see a teepee. That was enough for me. The bus was full of the antics and fun of 5th graders. They were immediately interested in the new face and had a string of questions for me as we rode out there. On arrival we were greeted by Darnell and ushered into the teepee. The ladies entered first sitting on the north side and the boys entered second sitting on the south side. Mrs. Ridesatthedoor then began with smudging first and blessing the teepee. This is a process that involves cleansing yourself so that you are ready to connect with the spirits around you. Her next words were that of the construction of teepees and some of the legends that go with the process. She then went into an explanation of Native American spirituality and history. I think honestly that Chelsea, Hayley and I were more interested than most of the kids. As she spoke however I could not help feeling a bit déjà vu. I felt like I had known what she was going to say and how it tied in. This was fascinating to me since I have never really learned about Native American culture. The whole spirituality here draws one closer to everything around you. Once in however things start to seem different. I think the most amazing part is how close to Christianity their spirituality is. I think that this fact alone makes us more family than any of us realize. I hope that by our coming here we are beginning to change things for the better.
The last experience before I end this blog is about Native American mediation. Coming from a very insightful question by one of the students we got on the topic of good and evil spirits. What then followed was a meditation exercise to recognize the good spirits around you. Darnell led us down a path to washing away all of the bad things in our lives so we could be ready to communicate with our ancestors. The best part of this was how excited the students were to try meditating. Experiencing this was so great. The kids even saw things and their selling out made us college students not only amazed by their spirituality but also awed by their maturity. I hope that I can remember this experience as vividly as it was that day and that this will help draw me closer to this place and these people. I encourage every person to come experience this place and your ideas of reservations and Native Americans will be altered forever for the better.

George Lund

Day 2

Today was our second day in De La Salle Blackfoot School. All of us woke up very groggy from yesterday but excited for the day ahead. As we pulled out of the mission on the bus I realized just how extremely cold it was, or at least that is what I thought. We drove into town and as we exited the bus one girl, kayia; one of the girls in my 4th grade class ran up to me with open arms screaming, “you are back Liz you are back!!!!” She gave me a huge hug, I knew then that today would be a really good day!
We started class around 8 30 with a little math. I really enjoy helping the kids with math. It helps me perfect my math skills and practice the skills I have been learning in school. One student in particular today was struggling with the math worksheet that we were doing so I decided to give him a hand. Usually this student has a lot of trouble focusing and taking direction from higher authorities so the fact that he was letting me help him really made me happy. I worked with him for about 10 minutes and then he looked at me and said I think I can do it on my own now. I figured that as soon as I left him he would turn around and start talking again but he didn’t, he kept working on his math! I was so proud of him, and I felt that I was a help to him at that time. For that class time I had made a difference to him and that really means a lot to me.
For religion class today the fourth graders were put in charge of helping color and make center pieces for the award ceremony on Thursday night. So Ryan and I decided it would be fun to help them out by coloring a few pictures. As I went to sit down all of the kids at once started screaming come sit with me Liz PLEASE. It was very cute it made me feel as if I was really there for them. I sat down and started to color with a few of the girls. It was funny to watch the girls joke with Ryan over silly things. Each of them seemed to really be having fun coloring and “flirting” with Ryan it was quite precious to watch.
It was a good day with far too much to relay. The kids surprise me more and more every day; Browning is full of some really great kids. God’s is definitely present here in Browning in every way possible!

Liz Thompson

Beyond Textbooks

I was a hesitant about how this week was going to affect me academically, seeing as I have three tests the week I get back from fall break. However, last night and today I have come to realization that this trip will be educational and formative beyond any studying I would have done from a textbook. As we entered Browning today, I was eager to immerse myself in the Native American culture.
I was placed a fourth grade class where I experienced children with ranging academic abilities. Some struggle with reading, while others excel at reading. I was able to help kids write numbers in expanded form, read to kids, and even relive some of my childhood in P.E., playing “sharks and minnows.” The kids are eager to hear about what it is like to go to “college”. It was both eye opening and challenging to find ways to try to help the kids that were struggling. I really enjoyed spending time in the classroom with the kids and I look forward to being in the classroom for the remainder of the week.
In the afternoon, I went on a shopping trip to get food for dinner at the grocery store in Browning. As I was standing in line, it struck me that this was one of the few times in my life that I was in the minority. At this moment, I knew this week was going to be thought provoking beyond the words I read in my textbooks.
This evening after dinner we hosted a Blackfoot Indian tribe member and his thirteen year-old son. He talked to us about the relations between the Blackfeet people and the Montana state government as well as their relations with the federal government. He talked to us about the root causes of the social injustices on the reservation in Browning. In closing, he and his son sang traditional tribal songs to us. This was one of the coolest experiences I have had in my life.
The first day of this trip has been amazing. I look forward to many more thought provoking and relationship forming experiences on this trip.

-Ryan Anderton

The First Day of School

There are a lot of places that I could have been over fall break besides Browning but I made the choice and commitment in the first couple of weeks to come to and volunteer. As fall break drew closer I was having some regrets about not going home, or staying at school to do the school work that has been piling up and I was becoming slightly nervous about what I had really signed up for. After a lot of thought I was fairly sure that I was meant to come here for the week and decided to embark on the trip with an open mind and enthusiasm for what was in store. After this first day in the De La Salle school I am sure I made the right choice!
My experience in school today was absolutely amazing. There were so many noteworthy moments I can’t even begin to tell them all on this blog. I started my day with 14 smiling 5th grade faces welcoming me to school and ended my day with 14 smiling faces saying goodbye. I played basketball, ran line sprints (which I haven’t done in about 3 years), taught math, and baked cookies. During those activities I got to know the kids I was working with and heard stories that made me laugh and also those that made me understand the hardships these kids endure are real and appalling. I think the story that will stick with me most is when one little girl told me, completely out of the blue, “I hate going to Great Falls”. When I followed up with the question why? she said that people look at my mom funny and point, we are not liked them she explained. At that point my heart melted. That was a confirmation that I am in the right place this week. I am learning so much about myself and others. I hope as the week continues that everyone here can show this group of kids that people really do care about them and want to get to know them and their culture and secondly, that we are an example to them of the many possibilities this life has for them all.
I can’t wait to go back tomorrow. I know there are many more exciting things on the schedule. Thank you for all your prayers.
Peace,
Chelsea Ford

The First Day

Hello!

We arrived yesterday in time to do some sight seeing around the Holy Family Mission property. We went to the river and to the buffalo jump then we had dinner with Br. Ray and Br. Paul and the two volunteers Henry and Jon. Mr. Wedum, the school’s principal, also spent some time talking with us.

After their first day in the class rooms there will be a lot of reflection about the kids we have met and the working’s of the school, so look forward to more posts from the students!

There is a lot of excitement about the award celebration on Thursday for Fr. Ed. At the assembly this morning the kids were all given their jobs and told that Bishop Thomas would be coming for it. The community is planning a dinner and they are expecting the arrival of a few TV stations to cover things.

Thanks for reading and for your prayers!

Peace,
Colleen

and also from Brother Ray….

Welcome to De La Salle Blackfeet School. We are happy to have you here, and look forward to a great week. We hope you learn a lot about the Blackfeet, our school, and even yourselves. Take advantage of this week by joining in the prayer and reflection, the small community in the bunkhouse, and the larger community of the school and the Mission. If you do this, come Friday you will find it very difficult to leave.If you throw yourself into everything that is offered to you, it will be a week well spent. We are particularly excited that you’re going to be here on Thursday when Father Ed is publicly honored for all that he is done in the Parish, particularly for his total dedication and support of De La Salle Blackfeet School. Have a great week, and thanks for coming. I can’t wait until Sunday afternoon when you arrive.

Brother Ray

A Word from Br. Paul

Greetings from the Highline!
We are very much looking forward to your visit to De La Salle Blackfeet and the Reservation. Your are our first group of Immersion students for the year, and we are happy to get back in the swing of things, sharing our ministry and students with young people from all over the country. Let’s pray we have a great week!
God Bless, Br. Paul Ackerman, President.

FALL BREAK – Browning, MT

Fall Break is here and we are getting ready to depart for another immersion experience. We are going to Browning, Montana and to the De La Salle Blackfeet school. I am personally really looking forward to this trip and the chance to be a part of all of the great things happening at the school as well as the hospitality of Brother Ray Bonderer and Brother Paul Ackerman and all of the teachers at the school. This will be our third visit to the school in the last year.

Students will spend the week in classrooms helping teachers with whatever is needed and building relationships with the kids. In the evening we will listen to speakers from the Blackfeet community talk about history, culture, economics and life in Browning as well as spend time in prayer and reflecting on our experience.

We will also get a chance to see the work Fr. Ed Kohler has done for the community and what has led to his nomination for the Lumen Christi award from the Catholic Extension Society.

The following students are participating this week:

George Lund
Ryan Anderton
Chelsea Ford
Samantha Anderson
Maddie Woodruff
Colleen Hoag
Angela Keller
Hayley Dahlem
Elizabeth Thompson

Thank you for following us on our immersion!

Colleen Dunne