Megan- Cheyenne- Day Five

Today was our last day on the reservation at the youth center. This morning we helped run an Indian taco sale at the teen center. A few members of both groups woke up early to help out the executive director make the special bread early in the morning, others helped serve the food, and a handful of people also went out into the community (some dressed up as tacos) to spread the word about the sale. With the sale going on and cleaning the building, the morning was very busy.

Today we also had a speaker from the community. A man who was born here in Lakota territory and was sent off to a boarding school at age 6 in which the school attempted to take his culture away from him. After years of abuse and brainwashing, he was expelled at age 16. He returned to the community a harden man. He answered so many questions for us and his story was incredible.

He talked about the Lakota people and their values, how they are not materialistic at all. He talked about how the Lakota people are a family, and they share everything. He told us a story about how he felt at one point that he wasn't living up to the standards he wasn't end to. He began to choke up as he said that one day he invited everyone he knew over to his house, and by the end of the day, he gave away everything he owned.

Another strong point that he made was something that we had already discussed in class and as a group here that we felt like the other group was struggling with. He talked about how these people are fine; they don't need to be fixed. They are fine with outsiders coming in to learn and to help, but not to fix. They don't need to be fixed, they may be one of the poorest counties in America but they are rich in their cultures and their values.