So, for spring break I did what is called an ABE (alternative break experience) which is basically a mission trip. We spent the week with the McArthur family on White Earth Reservation. The family was wonderful. The mother, Lisa, worked at the tribal headquarters and was such a great hostess, she made us feel right at home. The father, John, is a cop on the reservation, we didn't see as much of him. Then they had 4 kids, 1 foster child and a grandchild. The kids were 25,22,19 and 15 and the foster kid was 14 then the grandchild was 4 (a very cute little boy).
The food at their house was great too. The meals included: homemade chicken noodle soup, indian tacoes (frybread tacos), spaghetti, venacin stew, and wild rice soup and then one night we made them homemade pizzas.
During the day we were off doing various things. The first day we helped out at the Circle of Life school (a school for kids that have at least 25% native american blood in them). While there the principle explained that most of the kids live in families that were below the poverty income level. Also that about only 25% lived with thier biological parents. We saw some of the problems this caused in the kids lives when getting to know them, but mostly they were just happy carefree kids that had not the greatest home lives. That day I was in with the kidergardeners and they were so much fun.
The second day I shadowed a home health nurse for most of the day. We visited some older patients during the morning and I got to talk with them while the nurse filled pill containers for the week. In the afternoon I went out with a different nurse. We went out a little ways to this families house to check on the little boy. The mom was hurt in an accident and only had the mental capacity of a 6th grader. She had 4 kids, but only 2 living with her (the youngest 2) the others lived at her grandmothers and mother's houses. After the home health nurse I finished off the day at the Indian school then we went to the boys and girls club and helped out there.
The third day we got nice and dirty :). Most of us hung out with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for alot of the day. In the morning I went out with the wilderness guy and we drove out on a lake and looked at some duck boxes (trying to see if there were any egg pieces left and to get them ready for this coming season). While on the lake we saw 2 bald eagles and their nest, that was pretty cool. In the afternoon we went out with some other people. They showed us around the reservation (which is actually quite large like 1000 square miles) and took us into the forest where they had a logging camp and to a sugar bush.
On Thursday we went to one of the public high schools on the reservation and helped out in those classrooms (not as fun as the elementary school) and stayed there until the last class. Then Lisa gave us a tour of the new Circle of Life school that is being built and after we went to the boys and girls club.
Friday was our fun day. We drove up to Itasca State Park and went hiking. We also saw the Mississippi River headwaters and walked across the river. It was a pretty fun day. After we went back to the boys and girls club, then went back to the McArthurs house. When we arrived, there was a suprise, a baby, Lisa was taking care of him for the night (he was very cute). So we took turns playing with him, and after a while more people showed up, Lisa's mom, sister, niece and grandniece (another baby). Needless to say there were many people in that house for dinner that night, and plenty of people to play with the babies and Kael (the 4 year old).
Overall it was a rewarding experience. I learned some about the Indian culture and spent my break doing something other than sitting around.
No comments:
Post a Comment