Our Work Camp Experiences

by Jill and Heather

Summer 2002

Have you ever seen a vibrant sunset in the Badlands National park on a clear summer's eve? Have you ever driven through Custer State Park and seen God's amazing wildlife? Have you ever experienced a grassland thunderstorm that rattles the house and lights up the sky?

Have you ever heard the Native American's song and seen their dance? Have you ever experienced the Native American spiritual ritual as one of them? Have you ever seen the beautiful land of South Dakota... littered with trash, full of drunks, scattered with homeless and needy orphans, dirty and scared? Have you ever been to a place considered a third work country, where more than 85% of the population is unemployed?

Or seen the look of sadness in their eyes as they pass you on the street? Can you imagine visiting the poorest Native American Reservation... and poorest place... in the United States of America... containing more crime than Chicago, downtown Manhattan, or even Washington, DC? Where police have to prevent family members from killing family members? Have you ever been to Pine Ridge, South Dakota?

Jill's group, consisting of one adult, 5 young adults and 2 senior highs, built a wheelchair ramp and back porch for a single wide trailer that housed several adults and children. The old porch and ramp consisted of the planks that grocery stores haul their produce on, stacked up. The area around the trailer was littered with trash and old furniture. The only source of water they had was a small water tank on the end of their trailer, probably twice the amount I use to take a bath at night. The bathroom was a two-seater outhouse about 20 feet from the trailer. The driveway was a dirt road with holes in it, kind of like driving through a field. The adults had very little communication with us; they barely even recognized we were there. However, their young children were always eager to interact and watch us work.

Heather's group, consisting of one adult and 4 senior high, repaired a perfectly fine door, built a second porch, and patched up some old roofing. Jean Good Crow's house was in a subdivision, with a clean yard and flowers, which was very unusual. Jean Good Crow always welcomed us in to use her running water and to drink her abundant supply of freshly distilled water. Good Crow's bathroom was in her house and contained a clean shower, a clean toilet and a very nice sink, which had running water 24/7. Good Crow's driveway was a very nice dirt paved road, with little or no potholes and a gate which opened and closed to create privacy. Jean was always there in the morning; we always checked in and said hello, and had a brief morning conversation before she left to run her errands. We always checked in with her as soon as she got back.

Working was a huge aspect of our trip, but the most eye-opening experience of all was the cultural exchange. As we got to work camp, we expected all the participants to be senior high; we realized that there were only 5 senior high youth, the rest being young adults. As we overcame the shock of that, we began realizing we were experiencing culture shock. The Native Americans were openly free with their worship, their language, and their way of life. They didn't let newcomers stop them from their daily routine. I had never been the minority and now I was. Seeing a pow-wow the very first night helped me to overcome the difference. The great outfits, with tinkering bells, colorful feathers, and heavy fabric made my jaw drop. The womenıs feet moved quickly along with the steady beat of the drum, creating an amazing sight, with the background laughter overpowering the music.

Not only have we seen and experienced these things, but we have lived among a group very different from us. We learned their culture, we experienced their grief and their sorrow. Pine Ridge, South Dakota is like a rotten apple. It's really ugly and horrible all around; but if you, like us, dig a little deeper, you are able to see it in it's true colors. We found in Pine Ridge a totally different world, not far from home.
Find out about opportunities to participate in a workcamp yourself!

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