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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