Just Allie: Pine Ridge Reservation.. Day 1

During my honors course this year our main over arching topic is identity. One of the cultures we talked about pertaining to how they identify is Native Americans. We talked a lot about the real history of what happened between Whites and Natives. We talked about what the history books conveniently left out. As I started to research the topic of Native Americans I began to find my love for their culture. I kept wanting to find more and more about what really happened. So here I find myself on Spring Break serving on Pine Ridge Reservation. God called me here to fuel my passion, to help others understand another world in our very own state.

Yesterday was full of driving to where we will call home for the next week. We will be staying at Chanku Waste Ranch which is a Christian ministry run by a Pastor Mike and his wife Monica.

Check out their Facebook page Here.

During our week we will be painting and laying carpet in the buildings here. As well as sightseeing and spending time with some young girls for a girls night the ministry puts on. Our first day here we visited:

The Massacre sight of Wounded Knee. Just beyond the sign lies the ground where these Natives were circled upon and viciously shot at. 146 men, women and children lay scattered dead for a two mile radius after the massacre. This was the last armed conflict between the United States Army and the Sioux Natives.

On the hill overlooking the massacre grounds lies the mass burial sight where the 146 men, women and children were buried. This is a somber sight to see as these Natives were brutally murdered.

We continued on our way and visited the Red Cloud Indian School which has a heritage museum inside. We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but there were many pieces of artwork done by the locals. There were quilts, beadwork and paintings. Everything was so ornate and beautifully made.

At the school if you continue up a large hill there is the burial sight of Chief Red Cloud. This is who the school is named after. He was the chief of the Oglala Lakota tribe. He was resistant to whites moving into their land, but he was known for peace. He was a peaceful fighter for Native Americans and their rights.

Red Cloud’s burial grounds. He is buried next to his wife.

Red Clouds prayer that he delivered to the Peace Council.

We ended the night with a spaghetti and cornbread supper back at the ranch. We played some games of carpet ball and giant Jenga. As well as snuggling up to one of the ranches dogs, Marley, for a good long night sleep.

Good Morning! Today is a new day on the ranch! We are off to church and to do some more sightseeing before our long work week ahead. I hope you continue to follow my new serving journey!