Snowed In, Howard SD

It is 12 noon here in Howard, South Dakota, and it’s blizzarding outside. Today we woke up at 7am. Two beautiful women cooked breakfast this morning and Gus High Eagle’s wife Emily headed the mass cooking last night. It was their daughters, Kayla Chaske and Jessie Higheagle (Who is also a film crew member) that helped make an awesome supper last night with elk meat and bannock, also known here in the states as frybread. We are so spoiled when Emily cooks.
Sitting next to me is Kevin Sutherland, Canupa Wakpa Dakota. I’ve never really had anyone sit next to me while I write, but it is nice to have an audience because being a writer can be somewhat isolating. Kevin’s family (High Eagles) drove back to Ft. Thompson last night which is an hour and half west. The horse ride is traveling east on highway 34.
Being as Kevin is from Canada he says this weather here is nothing compared to the weather up north. Yesterday, he made me laugh when he said, “It’s like springtime down here.” Right now, he says if he could, he would take both staffs by himself and ride through this blizzard. Jim Miller and Julian Boucher left this morning to drive through and check the roads. A little bit later, they came back and decided that it’s not safe to ride because the visibility is less than a quarter mile.
We, the film crew and the riders stayed the night at a 4H building in Howard, it was like a big slumber party. Sometimes, its so hard to crash out at night. We just want to stay up and talk all night. It’s like summer camp, and every single person here feels like family. Everyday, we stay together and we pray together, it’s really beautiful and has been such a blessing to be a part of. Jim Krantz and a man from here in Howard were so gracious to put us up and the horses up in warm place to sleep.
While the film crew went out an filmed the blizzard some of the guys came back from taking care of the horses. Dave stood up, and said that it is Matt Pumpkinseed's Birthday today. We sang the regular birthday song and Dave sang him a Dakota Birthday song! It was awesome to be included in that moment, where we celebrated our relative, Matt's life.
I'm so bad with names.I was asking the guys what the name of the other man was, who opened the Armory. He gave us towels, and who’s wife is so awesome, she whipped up cupcakes and cookies for the riders. We do know the important stuff stuff about this anonymous saint, I know he watches his grandchildren while his daughter works. We (me and Dave) know he is going to be a grandpa again here in January. We send our prayers, good thoughts, and congratulations. ;)
After we pulled into Howard last night, it became apparent that some of the riders were upset with the way the schedule had played out that day. There was confusion on who was starting and we were all feeling a big loss when Marvin left.
Before we ate, we all came together in a circle and each and every single person was encouraged to talk in a good way to voice their opinions and concerns to all the people involved in the horse ride. At the community center in Ft. Thompson I spoke a few times in front of the people, I felt pretty confidant. That was not the case this time, now we were truly acknowledging each other's presence. In this circle I noticed as each person spoke, they didn’t just talk, they shared their spirits, and *most importantly they shared their hearts. Something, so powerful was moving through the room as we stood in that circle. All the barriers dissipated at that moment. Even though this is my first year, It was at this time I felt like we were a family and that I would always treasure each person for what they brought to this ride.
As of today I guess we have 30 or so riders. Yesterday we lost some riders. It is my understanding that they didn’t feel like a part of the family. But Jim talked to the head of that family, Marvin, I think his name is. And Marvin said he would be back on the 23rd. I hope he will come back, because we really do need everyone, especially Marvin. We love you guys and miss you! Like Everyone, alot of us are here on our own time and financial resources. We need more donations, because some of the families here are big, they need the help to pay for their gas and food for their horses and everything in between. The riders lose their gloves and some don’t have warm enough socks. The blizzard is going outside right now, but they believe, as I do, this is healing for our people, and everyone else. We’re cold, but our great grandparents went through so much more, unimaginable conditions compared to ours. They suffered for us, as a young woman said to me the other night, "We are the answers to their prayers." Wow, that still blows me away, how powerful that thought is. They prayed for future generations yet to come and we are going to continue that same prayer so that our people will always be. This truly is a spiritual ride for everyone involved.