On the Reservation

Life on the Reservation has been emotionally and physically draining, but it is only the beginning for more and more experiences.  Everything comes at you as a surprise.  It's hard to explain, but the people, surroundings, the weather, everything; its overwhelming.  I don't think I have ever been to a more life changing place in my life.  About two weeks ago i went to the brand new elementary school on the reservation.  The old school was shut down because it was infested with molds that were making the kids extremely sick.  Our first day there, I was reading stories to the kids and there was one little boy who was maybe 7 years old.  He opened my eyes to a whole 'new reality' that I have never had to experience in 'my reality'.  When I finished reading I had them line up by the door and I was giving hi fives as they exited.  This little boy looked at me and said, "I will never touch your skin".  I didn't know what to say.  I have never in my life lived in a minority....and now I have a micro sense of what it feels like.  That was only one incident for me, but there are millions of people who get that kind of treatment everyday of their lives.  I came back that day and thought about it the rest of the night.  And I still think about it sometimes.  The Rez life is so hard.  It's been difficult listening to volunteers come in complaining about the showers and the food and the beds.  Every person on this reservation in below the poverty level.  Some people go to bed hungry, showerless, and homeless.  For the people that do have a place to stay, they are living in trailers with 10-40 people.  It varies with families.  There is so much to pay attention to and average volunteer is blind to it.  Respect is the highest priority for the natives here, and it is scarce.  Last week there was a woman who came with her volunteer group and she was a professor of Worldview and Ethics.  She was fired about two days ago from her job because the school found out about the way she treated the people here.  She was disrespectful to their home, their belongings (treated everything like it was junk), the people (homeless, mentally disabled, children, etc.) and anything she was around.  She completely disregarded the teachings of the people.  The littlest things are noticed, and people have to be careful.  I have had a really hard time watching my step because you never know what to say or how to act, but I am glad that I am learning.  I feel that over the past three weeks, my perspective about myself and my faith has greatly improved.  But tomorrow is a new day....like every day.