Being Family

The group descends the Buffalo Jump

Have you ever been away from your family for a week?  Have you ever gone to another state with your friends and not know what to expect? Well this week was the first time I wasn't just away from my immediate family for a extended period of time, but also my first time away with my peers. This week started with a fun and interesting voyage to the great state of Montana. We departed from Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday both nervous and excited. After many connecting flights, long waits, and a ten hour train ride, we arrived early Sunday morning in Browning, Montana. Once we reached our destination, Brother Ray was waiting with open arms eager to greet us and show us this place he calls home. Our first night on the reservation consisted of going to the mission, meeting the teachers, and getting a home cooked meal from Brother Dale. As I chatted with the teachers and Brothers, they informed me what was in store and to have an open mind about the school and the students. After hearing their kind words of advice, I was anxious to go to sleep and prepare myself for the challenge ahead.

The group returns from a hike

The next day, I was awoken by the voice of Mr. Sudnik at about 6:15am. Tired and grumpy, I awoke and got a quick shower, had breakfast, and then we were off to school. School started with playing a very intense game of basketball, followed by morning prayer. After that, James Stupar and I made the long walk down the hall to the sixth grade classroom not knowing what to expect. We went into the classroom and were greeted by the students. We observed how the students act and how the teacher instructs the children throughout the day. The long, eight hour school day was not what I had anticipated but was definitely worth it. I learned a lot about my students and each one's personalities and work ethic. When the day came to an end, I was excited to come back and help the students more, and also anxious to see what kind of dinner Sam and Mike were cooking for us. Dinner was very good (not as good as mine), and the subsequent group discussion was necessary to properly reflect on our experiences of the day. During the discussion, we reflected on how the day went, what problems we faced, and how we can make each day better and better.

Snacking and talking around the table

The next days of class continued to get better, and the students began to like me more and more. I was able to become friends with many of my students and connected with them in a way I did not anticipate. Some students embraced my presence more than others, but I was not upset because I probably would have felt the same way if I had different groups of visitors come to my school every week.

Herding horses back to their field

Nevertheless, I am truly glad that I had the opportunity to enter into these kids' lives and see what it is like being in another place and culture. I think the most significant thing I gained from this week is that we are all family no matter where we are from, what color our skin is, what language we speak, or in what we believe. Being a family and having others think about you and care for you is something that is saldly not experienced by all people. This family connection is why I'm so thankful that I was able to experience another part of the world and interact with other people that made an impact in my own life. 
I would just like to say thanks to the Blackfeet Nation, the sixth grade students, my family, and my school for letting me travel across the country and experience Montana and all the wonders of it. 

Bill Butterfield '14

St. Kateri Tekakwitha photobombs our group photo.

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Kindness Defines This Community

John Wolfe '14 and Nick Walnoha '14 at the JV basketball game

Throughout the week, I have seen things on the Rez that I've never imagined before coming here.  When we first arrived in Browning, I was struck immediately by the poverty I witnessed. However, I soon came to know that the Native Americans on the Rez are some of the friendliest, most welcoming group of people that I have ever met.

For example, when we visited the Medicine Bear Shelter that serves the area's homeless, we did not know how the people would take to us. To our surprise, they were immediately friendly with us and praised our actions at the De La Salle School. I think that they really were grateful that white people were paying attention to them on the Rez, because the Blackfeet, as with other tribes, have been traditionally ignored or abused by "the white man" aka the US government. I think that this makes the residents here on the Rez appreciative of our presence. Many Native Americans are suspicious of the federal government for good reason, due to years of mistreatment they have experienced. At the shelter, I was told stories of mistreatment by the federal government, which sickened me to hear. I could not believe that the government had treated the Native Americans with such disrespect. I hope that one day the government will realize their mistakes in the past pertaining to the Native Americans, and make up for the years of suffering that they were forced to endure.

John Wolfe '14 tutors his 5th graders in math

At the school, I have been working with the 5th grade. The kids are great kids, with a strong love of basketball. They are all very smart, but they sometimes get pulled off task. For example, when I was helping someone, all they needed was a gentle nudge to work, and they would go above and beyond the expectations of the teacher. They have also touched me with their kindness and their willingness to accept us. On our first day, some of the kids acted up, while others were really shy with us. However, as the week went on, the kids started to open up with us, they asked us to eat lunch with them, and they realized that we cared about them and their success. I know now that the kids in the 5th grade class are creative, smart, and have a great senses of humor. Some of the kids are also in Kindness Club, where it is their job to do kind acts throughout the week. While we were here, they wrote letters to the teachers telling them how grateful they were for their dedication and presence here. They also visited a local nursing home where they distributed cookies they had baked and art work they had created. More important than their gifts was the opportunity the kids had to interact with their elders.

These kids will make great leaders on the reservation one day because they love their home and their community. I hope that the 5th grade students have been as affected by my presence as I have been by theirs. I will never forget my experience here, and I hope that I can one day return to the De Lasalle Blackfeet school and the beautiful Blackfeet Reservation.

John Wolfe '14

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Appreciating Differences

With my week slowly coming to an end, I have noticed that the life of people on the reservation is quite different from my own. Whether it be the school, the community, or their beliefs, it is very different. This immersion experience has taught me to appreciate differences, especially when it comes to culture.

My own experience has been quite sheltered which is quite different than many of the students here. The De La Salle Blackfeet School serves as a safe haven for these students. They come in early to play basketball, and after their long school day, stay and take part in various enrichment activities. From what I can tell, these kids truly enjoy coming to this school. I believe that the school is impacting their lives, and it will help them in later years. Though their classroom behavior may not always show it, they are happy coming here.

Nick Walnoha '14 in action with the 5th grade

The Blackfeet reservation is a very interesting place. While lacking some of the material possessions that we are accustomed to seeing around Pittsburgh, one thing that stands out is how kind the people are. Every car that drives past us on the road waves to us. During my experience at the Medicine Bear shelter, where I personally got the opportunity to serve and talk to many of the community's homeless, I met many kind people who, despite life's challenges, retained a positive attitude. For example, I met a man named Tony who used to be a firefighter. He talked about his experiences fighting wildfires, his past and his family. I also talked to a woman who was very depressed about the bad decisions that got her to where she is today. She explained that she started with drugs and alcohol when she was very young and how it messed up her life. Yet, despite her past difficulties, she remains positive. The people in the Blackfeet community are truly very kind with no one acting rude or saying anything unkind to us.

Marty Martin teaches Mike Gibbons' 14 a history lesson

Last night, we were able to meet a man named Marty Martin, or as he's also known within the Blackfeet community,BEWARE OF SLEEPING WOLF. He told us stories about the history of the Blackfeet people. He also showed us many artifacts hundreds of years old. He was a very interesting man, and he further explained all of the unique religious beliefs of the Blackfeet




The Blackfeet Tribal Nation, through history, has always had a great tradition of spirituality. They have their own culture and beliefs and have many sacred objects and places. One thing that the Blackfeet believe is sacred is the mighty buffalo. The Blackfeet depended on the buffalo for food and shelter back when the roamed the praries. Today the Blackfeet community still believe in the significance of buffalo. They treat all buffalo objects as sacred, including the very place where they used to kill them, The Buffalo Jumps. I had the opportunity to visit these cliffs, and the sheer size and the very thought of what happened there was very cool. Another sacred place is Chief Mountain, which is the most sacred mountain for the Blackfeet. It is surrounded by cliffs and is nearly impossible to climb and we can see it every day as we approach town.

Having the amazing opportunity to visit the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, and helping out at the De La Salle Blackfeet school, I have learned so many interesting things. I have met very nice people and learned so much about the history of the Blackfeet people. I am truly blessed being able to take part in this amazing program. The De La Salle Blackfeet school impacts many lives, and I believe that it is making a big difference, giving the kids the future they deserve.

Nick Walnoha '14

Nick Walnoha '14 and James Stupar '14 listen intently as Marty shows his sacred artifacts.

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Patience

Before we departed for our immersion trip to the De La Salle Blackfeet school, we had several meetings after school (a sort of pre-game for what we had in store). As the meeting went on Mr.Allen gave a presentation of the Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher, a classic Lasallian text by Brother Agathon. Several of the virtues he discussed were gravity, silence, wisdom, patience, zeal, gravity, prudence, vigilance, and piety to name a few. Our group of students then discussed the virtues and gave examples of where we have seen these virtues practiced and so on forth. Many of these virtues we immediately saw in almost all of our teachers at CCHS. As the meeting dispersed we were told to remember these virtues and practice them when at DLSBS.

As we left the mission on our way to the school for the first time, I recall sitting there thinking to myself, "What am I getting myself into?" The night before we were told about what to expect from our class, and, to be honest, I was slightly worried. However, I did my best to remember what we were told. My classroom partner, Bill Butterfield, and I made our way toward our classroom and, as we walked in, we saw a room of kids sitting quietly in their seats. We met the teacher, Mr. Hairsine, and I was impressed with his classroom management. When kids were talking out of order he would sit there without saying anything. The students soon realized that they were not getting any attention and immediately stopped talking. I realized that he was practicing the virtue of silence. Silence is golden, while duct tape is silver, and in this case, it truly was.

Mr. Garesche teaches his students about the Holy Rosary

Mr. Hairsine and his fellow faculty members also practiced several of the other virtues in his classes. As we watched the class with each subject and teacher we saw the same thing. Patience. At times, all of these teachers had it rough, but they had to ignore the snide remarks from the kids and continue on with class. When teaching class, each teacher had an idea of what they hoped to accomplish that day and had a plan to make sure each student could reach that goal. After introducing the concept and handing out the worksheet, the kids were so excited that questions were spurting out of their mouths. Most of the students would raise their hands, but many others would start yelling without being called on. The teacher would tell the student they need to raise their hand quietly and wait to be called on before talking. The teacher would wait patiently until the student would finally raise their hands and correspond with the rules before being called on. The amount of time it took for kids to finally listen to the rules and wait patiently to be called on seemed interminable, but the teacher would sit there and wait patiently for them to do so. These teachers really did not care how long it took but would wait until their students chose to obey the rules.

Patience is something I have not really needed to use much, but during this immersion my personal patience has been tested. I have never needed to exercise much patience other than waiting for a test grade or a cast list to be posted. However, during the week, a situation arose with a particular student that caused me to lose my patience and speak harshly to her. I realize that I could have handled myself more appropriately because it caused quite a ruckus. However, realizing my mistake, I confronted the problem in a mature way and now things are better than ever.
Long story short - be patient! There are times when you need to really bite your lip and buckle down. These kids are absolutely amazing and have great potential, but, just like me, they just need buckle down and put their heads in the books.

With Respect,
James Stupar '14

P.S Shout out to my family and friends back home in Pittsburgh who are praying for my friends and me on our journey. Also, a special shout out to Miss Corda for literally changing my life in Kindness Club.

James Stupar '14 (far right), with his fellow "Noblemen" (L-R), John Wolfe '14, Nick Walnoha '14 and Bill Butterfield '14

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The Scenic Way Home

Every New Encounter

Abraham Kabazie '15 composing
his blog post.

Our third day on the Blackfeet reservation has finally come and it feels as if the group has just arrived. The endless fields, larger-than-life sky, and the frigid wind made the biggest impressions on my first experience in Montana. As I started to dwell on these first encounters on our way back from the vistas of the revered buffalo jump, the first thought that came to mind was: "How can there be such poverty in such a beautiful place?" This question still continues to manifest with every new encounter I have in Browning.

I kept this question in mind as we walked a couple of blocks to Medicine Bear, the local shelter that feeds and gives care to anybody who stumbles in the door. The other immersion students and I served lunch and sat with the people. As the morning proceeded, almost every preconceived notion we had of this impoverished community was challenged by this new encounter. The context of the conversations I had ranged from sports to government conspiracy theories, but these discussions always included something about the Blackfeet reservation, whether it be the landscape or the hardships that the community faces everyday. The visitors of Medicine Bear told us of the helplessness they feel when confronted by this seemingly endless trend of distress. These claims were reinforced by the presentation we heard from Harry Barnes, a local business owner, who explained the challenges of reservation economics and clearly put into historical context the tough spot in which the Blackfeet are forced to live. Blame is often assigned to the federal government, who had, in history, taken action to control and limit the power of all Native Americans. These events are still fresh in the minds of the Blackfeet and are always the underlying context of a discussion on the state of the reservation.

Though I still have a couple more days to discover an answer to my question, I continue to hold on to my positive experience with the students at De La Salle Blackfeet School and take in the word-illusive (description-defying; mind-boggling; breathtaking; eye-pleasing) landscape that we observe everyday on our ride to and from the school as well as the "born free" aura that is sensed at the Holy Family mission.

Abraham Kabazie '15

P.S. Hi Mrs. Graffia! I'm so glad you're back!

The dizzying pace of pick-up basketball

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A Positive Attitude

It is hard to believe that after two-and-a-half days, we already are halfway through our immersion experience at De La Salle Blackfeet. It's really been a great, eye-opening experience. All of the children seem to be really nice. They have taken to us pretty well and are excited to have guests in their school. I've truly enjoyed being able to learn with them, and I feel as if I have established meaningful connections with them. Despite some of the challenges that exist on the reservation, I am impressed to see the children come into the school every day with a positive attitude, and I think we should all model this positive attitude in our own lives.

There have been a couple exceptional events over the past three days, starting with our experience of the scenery every morning on the bus ride to school. There's a good reason that Montana is called "Big Sky Country" - just look up and see how big the sky appears. The mountains, hills, and flat plains altogether create a picturesque and dreamlike landscape. I'm not sure if I've ever seen more beautiful lands in person, and words cannot describe everything that I've seen, from the mountains of Glacier Park to our experience on the Buffalo Jumps.

Also equally eye-opening was my trip to the Medicine Bear shelter yesterday morning. I was able to serve a hot meal to some of the local homeless and sit with them, listening and making conversation. The atmosphere was very welcoming, and the woman who runs the shelter even gave our group of immersion students a meal to enjoy as their guests. All of the residents were incredibly nice to us and seemed to carry that same positive attitude with them, despite the troubles that they face. We talked to these people for almost two hours, and they were happy to open up and talk to us about themselves and about their lives. It was a moving and eye-opening experience that I'll never forget.

I look forward to the rest of the week at De La Salle Blackfeet School, and I can't wait to share my experiences when I return to Pittsburgh.

Matthew Wisneski ’15

 

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Investing in the Local Economy

After a long weekend of traveling and interesting first day of getting to know the students and the landscape of Montana, we finally got to hear from our first speaker. Harry Barnes, a successful local business owner, chairman of the DLSBS school board, and respected Blackfeet elder, gave us some expert insight on the history of the Blackfeet tribe, how tribal government works and how tribal spending effects the economics of the reservation.

Harry Barnes addresses our immersion group

The history of the Native Americans is one that is rich in culture and spirituality, but, at the same time, is also filled with tragedy and despair. The Indian Wars on the Great Plains with battles such as The Battle of Little Big Horn eventually lead to the Native Americans signing treaties and losing their land to the "white man." By being placed on reservations, the time honored tradition of self-sufficiency was disrupted. Ever since, Native Americans have faced many financial and social problems. Although complying with applicable state and federal law, the Blackfeet reservation has its own tribal laws and government that the people on the reservation must follow. The tribal government is headed up by the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, which pretty much have final say in all Blackfeet reservation affairs.

Governments, at the local, state or federal level, have enormous power when it comes to purchasing. Instead of investing in local, Native-owned businesses like his that could create local jobs, the tribal government purchases goods such as office supplies and janitorial supplies from vendors not located on the reservation. Another idea Harry proffered was to open up a local oil change business which would be the exclusive vendor for the tribal government's fleet of 600 vehicles. By investing in these locally owned businesses, local jobs could be created and wages earned would be spent locally as well. More importantly, employment promotes a sense of self-worth that poverty diminishes. These examples of purchasing decisions have the potential to reinvigorate the local economy and community if the tribal council chooses to set the example.

Sam Heaps '15

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Like the Dewfall

We are often reminded of the presence of the spirit in our Catholic faith. During Mass each week, we respond to the priests greeting "The Lord be with you" with "And with your spirit". The cornerstone of Eucharistic Prayer II, my personal favorite, asks God to make the gifts of bread and wine holy by "sending down his spirit upon them like the dewfall".

Just like the dewfall, God has certainly sent his spirit upon the students, teachers, and immersion participants at the De La Salle Blackfeet School. Saint John Baptist De La Salle once said, "To touch a students heart is the greatest miracle that a teacher can perform," (Med 139.3 - Feast of St. Peter) and that is exactly the situation here. After two days observing and helping the students in fourth grade, my partner Patrick Connolly and I observed the close relationship the students share with their teachers. While we all have our shortcomings at times, the students generally respond to their teachers' questions and instructions with respect, diligence, and thoroughness. The admiration that the children have for their teachers is also very clear through our discussions with them,showing that their hearts have been touched by their work and presence.

I also noticed the presence of the spirit in our interaction with the children during class and at lunch. On Monday, they were clearly shy and nervous about having an immersion group visit them. Because De La Salle Blackeet School begins enrollment at fourth grade, these children have never experienced a visiting immersion group before. By the end of the day, after we had an interactive Q/A session, they were eagerly asking us if we would return the next day. Our presence in their lives quickly touched their hearts, presenting them with positive role models and caring mentors during the week.

The Holy Spirit is with us this week at the De La Salle Blackfeet School and is helping us do our part in the immersion experience. Our work so far seems to be paying off - the children enjoy us helping them and the teachers appreciate our assistance during their lessons and activities. I am grateful that I was inspired by the spirit to journey to Browning, so far from home and my comfort zone, to take part in this rewarding experience. The Lord sent down his Spirit upon all of us, just like the dewfall.

Joseph Rogers '14

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New Perspectives

Climbing: It took some effort to hike up there…

Montana has provided us with a change in scenery. While Pittsburgh is pretty nice and fairly scenic this time of the year, nothing beats the rolling Montana hills with snow-covered mountains towering over the landscape in the distance. It all sounds pretty perfect and picture-esque, but there are a lot of hardships on the reservation. As another immersion participant, Abraham, questioned, "how can a place so beautiful have such poor living conditions?" I think that seeing this stark contrast to the way we live has given us all a better sense of perspective.

...But the view sure did pay off

While the living conditions are often difficult, the De La Salle Blackfeet school serves as somewhat of a silver lining on the reservation for children that might not otherwise have much opportunity in their future. Brother Ray, the DLSBS immersion coordinator, says that two graduates of the DLSBS have even gone on to attend Stanford. Just being here the past two days, I've witnessed the connection that the students have with each other and the self-sacrifice that all the teachers have for their students. It's really incredible the things that this school is able to provide for the Blackfeet children.

My partner Joe and I have been assigned to fourth grade, and while it was a little uncomfortable yesterday when we first got here, the students quickly got to know us, and they really enjoy having us here just as we enjoy spending time with them. I got to work one-on-one with a few different students yesterday, and later on we had a Q+A session in which the students asked us questions ranging from, "what's your heritage?" to "what's your favorite food?" The DLSBS has grades 4-8, and since we're the first immersion group here this school year, the fourth graders had never experienced having an immersion group in the school before and were especially curious.

Aside from spending time in the school, all of us in the immersion group have spent some time getting to know each other and talking about how this trip has affected each of us so far. We've also had a few opportunities to explore the land. On Sunday, we hiked up the steep hillside beneath some cliffs known as the "buffalo jump," because it was off those cliffs that the Blackfeet Indians herded buffalo. The view from the top was breathtaking, and although I got some good pictures, those certainly don't do the landscape justice. Last night, Brother Ray drove us out to the "edge of the middle of nowhere," a very remote area where we could see millions of stars.

Overall, our time here thus far has been good and very eye-opening. Throughout the rest of the week, I look forward to getting to know the fourth grade students better and continuing to gain new perspectives into their lives and my own.

Patrick Connolly '14

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