Montana: Day 4

For about a year now immersion groups have been spending a little time during the week performing acts of mercy at a meal center called Medicine Bear Lodge.  This meal center is right down the street from De La Salle Blackfeet and they serve hot meals to Blackfeet, most of whom are "street people."  The Blackfeet purposely don't call them homeless as they say they have homes, they've just been kicked out of them for a reason.  Ms. Foley took half of our group to the lodge on Tuesday and I took the other half yesterday.  

When we arrived yesterday at 9am there were already some men watching TV.  There are two tables set-up and a small kitchen where the meals are prepared.  Our job was to serve the meal but also to chat with the folks.  I struck up a conversation with a woman named Tracy who loved to talk and tell jokes (especially inappropriate ones, yikes).  She told me she has moved around a lot, been in many abusive relationships (including an obvious recent one since she had a healing black eye), and "is a drunk."  But she was in a good mood and was engaging with the students.  I oftentimes took some of what she said with a grain of salt but it was evident she has had a horrible life (as did most of the people there).  Another woman sat down with her and they were chatting.  I forget who asked this question but one of the women said to the other, "Where did you stay last night?"  It was a stark reminder of the intense poverty here.  The older woman asked Tracy what she was going to do that day and she said, "Walk down and probably hustle."  I am not entirely sure what "hustle" meant but we can certainly imagine.  Later in the day I saw two of the men who were at the meal center - one was sitting in a dirt lot leaning against a fence and the other appeared to be dealing or buying drugs right outside the local grocery store next to the school.

Trying on an Indian war headdress from the 1890s

Later back at the school I was strolling around the nice little library the school has.  The librarian is a retired local man named Lyle Glatzmaier.  Lyle is not a Blackfeet but his wife was and their kids are.  Lyle and his wife are both from Browning but met near San Francisco after he was discharged from the military in 1969.  His wife had relocated to the area with her family as part of a federal program to help Indians move to different parts of the country. Lyle and his wife moved back to Browning after being married for 10 years and raised a number of children.  His wife died a few years ago and when he heard the school needed a librarian he signed right up.  He also helps with the music ministry at Little Flower Parish.  

I was struck by the way Lyle interacts with the kids - he helps them find books but also offers little nuggets of advice.  For example one boy wanted to read a book on weightlifting and Lyle chatted with him about healthy eating and exercise.  Another boy was late getting back to class and his teacher was not happy.  Lyle spoke to the boy about responsibility, staying on his teacher's good side, and encouraging him to apologize.  He has a calm, soothing, grandfatherly presence to him.   All but one of the teachers here are in their 20's so to have an "elder" from outside the classroom seems like a nice balance.

Marty explaining Blackfeet marriage rules from back in the day!

Part of our immersion program is to have three speakers in the evening, all focusing on Blackfeet history, culture, etc.  Unfortunately one of our speakers is away this week so we're having two and last night was our first speaker.  His name was Marty and he is 1/4 Blackfeet.  He spoke in general terms about the history of the Blackfeet and his history.  He brought many, many artifacts and passed them all around.  Some of the more unique artifacts were an Eagle's claw, war headdresses from the 1890s, and what appeared to be the top part of an ax.  His talk was very comprehensive (3 hours) and after he sold some of his homemade dreamcatchers and jewelry.  Ironically one of our students was having bad dreams last night, guess we should have bought one!  Tonight's speaker is a woman named Darnell Rides at the Door who also helps out at the school.  I believe her talk is on Blackfeet history as well.

Marty's talked wrapped up at 10pm and we were all beat after a long day.  The school day goes to 4:30pm here (3pm on Fridays) so we are all in bed by 10 or 11 each night (at least I am!).