Reflections From The Rez

15 miles of dirt "road" separate you from the world. Your back yard is a National Park, you cook outside, in the shadow of your trailer. Your kids miss more than twenty days of school a year because the bus isn't able to get to your driveway, as determined each morning by a man on a four wheeler who has the job of driving Bombing Range Road to decide whether it's safe or not to send the bus out. Such are the conditions of the family of Keith Janis. Re-Member launched a project at his two trailers, amazingly connected with a breezeway/loft that form one of the most unique homes I have yet to see on the rez. Getting to the house is nearly as unique. After passing through the town of Kyle, and heading back into the countryside, a signpost on the side of the road indicates that you have arrived at "Bombing Range Road" -- a reflection on the historic use of the area by the U.S. Military for target practice. The trip begins, through cattle pastures -- and at time...

At some point, after you've been on the Rez for a while, everything starts to become the same. The scenery never becomes less inspiring, the stories never become less heartbreaking, the people never become less important, and the work never becomes easier, but everything and everyone becomes an amalgamation of need and stories that wrap up into one unending experience. It will wear you out, and despite the best efforts of anyone, there doesn't seem to be a good cure. Leaving the R ez (as I've now done eight weekends in a row) for trips to Rapid City are one respite from the monotony of Pine Ridge, yet the city only brings out other inequalities that screw with your mind... Everything from the television that hangs over the baggage claim at the RAP Airport, to the sterile environment inside shopping centers. When you are on Pine Ridge, it's almost easier to clear your mind than when you are off. Here, we are surrounded by the good and the bad all the time, but it'...

Photos from Sheep Mountain Table, Badlands National Park, South Unit. More at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/corytrue/

A busy few weeks (which is a partial explanation for a lack of blogging lately) is about to wrap up with a 3:30 a.m. run up to Rapid City to drop off a group from CT at the airport. Last weekend was the Oglala Nation Pow-Wow in Pine Ridge, the largest pow-wow of the summer on the Rez. Over 300 dancers filled the arena, and we were fortunate enough to be able to attend on Friday night (without volunteers) and on Saturday with our new volunteers. Saturday morning was also the Pine Ridge parade, allowing Re-Member to haul the shell of an outhouse through town on a trailer, throwing out about $200 worth of candy to what seemed like the entire population of the Rez packed into a one-mile stretch. With the departure of Phil, the Assistant Director, who was also one of the Construction Managers, Bryan and I have taken on our own work-crews. We spent this week out past Kyle skirting a trailer and building a deck/ramp/stairs. More soon, in the meantime, new photos at: http://www.flickr.com/phot...