The Butte-iful People in Eagle Butte, SD are having fun. Too much fun, honestly. The group is getting along so well and we are having outstanding conversations about social issues, personal experiences, hilarious stories, and so much more. We are also learning a lot from the community members of Eagle Butte. Hap and Hilda are an awesome elder couple who live down the block from where we are staying, and they have shared so many stories with us while we painted the outside of their house - a huge project that Hap was endlessly appreciative of us doing.
We've been working on a lot of projects all throughout the neighborhood. We are building two decks and a wheelchair ramp, painting a house, cleaning and organizing a church, and completely painting and remodeling the mud room in the Volunteer House. All of our participants are utilizing their skills and developing new ones, and the teamwork is really making the dreamwork (sorry (not sorry) for the cliché).
Along with working, we've had a decent amount of down time in the late afternoons and evenings, so we have been trying to immerse ourselves in the Sioux culture as much as possible by listening, learning, visiting stores and centers in the community, and participating in cultural events. On Wednesday night, half of the group took part in a Sweat Lodge ceremony; a sweat is a very symbolic, spiritual, deeply emotional practice that is an outlet for prayer for the self, the world, and loved ones. Our participants were very moved by the intensity and beauty of the sweat, and the rest of us can't wait to take part this Friday evening!
Overall, there's an endless amount of laughter and fun that the Eagle Butte-ers are creating, despite the biting cold wind that knocks us to the ground on a daily basis. It's quite the struggle.
Sincerely,
Eagle Butte-iful People
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