Faculty Sponsors:
Alan McCoy & Anna McCoy
978-468-4415 ex. 427 (Alan)
Faculty Chaperones:
Alan McCoy, Adam Logan ’08, 1 additional TBA
Overview: Student
participants will have the opportunity to live and serve in a culture that is
wholly different from their own. Participants will spend the entire week on the
Rosebud Reservation engaging with the community in different ways. They will be
introduced to the Lakota culture in a hands-on manner; something that school
alone cannot offer. This group will work hard on forming a cohesive bond that
will support them while serving and also once they return to their own
communities.
The Rosebud Reservation is home to the Sicangu band of the
Lakota (Sioux) Tribe. They are also known as the Brule and Rosebud Sioux. It is
located in Todd County, South Dakota and abuts the Nebraska state line as well
as the Pine Ridge Reservation. Some of the more famous Sicangu Lakota are
Chiefs Spotted Tail and Iron Nation, the Crow Dog family (Henry Crow Dog and
Leonard Crow Dog, both spiritual advisors to the American Indian Movement) and
Mary Brave Bird Crow Dog, the author of Lakota Woman.
The community of Rosebud faces many challenges including an
80% unemployment rate, severe poverty and one of the lowest male life
expectancies in the Western Hemisphere. It is also one of the most beautiful
places on earth, with rich culture and amazing people. These people offer much
more to us than we are able to bring to them. They allow us into their sacred
places, invite us to traditional ceremonies, prepare fry bread so that we can
partake of delicious Indian Tacos, bring us to visit their tribal buffalo herd
and celebrate our presence with a dance at the Veterans Memorial Powwow.
Dates: July
30th -August 6th, 2016
Airfare: $ 500
Supplies: $100
Food: $150
Chaperone cost: $200
Ground Transportation: $200
Community donations: $100
Total: $1250
Access funding is available
Accommodations:
We will live at Sinte Gleska University, with shared bathroom and kitchen
facilities. Participants need to bring sleeping bags and tents.
Food: The
university is equipped with a full kitchen. Participants will take turns
preparing meals for the group. Food budget is covered in program costs. We eat
our meals “family style” – sitting around a large table and sharing in a “go
around” (such as: “Who is your favorite superhero and why?”) Because this is a shared facility, we
cannot guarantee an allergen free cooking environment.
Transportation:
The group will fly from Boston to Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 30th,
2016. Upon arrival, we will rent minivans for our trip to Rosebud.
Activities:
This year’s activities will be different from previous
years, in that we will not engage in as many hands-on service opportunities.
Instead, student participants will focus on building and strengthening
relationships between the Rosebud community and Pingree. Prior to leaving for
South Dakota, students will establish contacts with people on the reservation
who work in the following fields
-
Education
-
Language restoration
-
Art
-
Athletics
-
Social Work
-
Tribal Historic Preservation
-
Tribal government
-
Community outreach
-
And more!
Students will have the opportunity to meet with these
contacts and discuss possibilities for relationship building. We will share
these ideas as a group and work together to fine-tune plans once we return to
Pingree.
Participants will also engage in many cultural activities
such as a powwow, sweat lodge and traditional meals.
- Free
time:
- Hiking
- Attend
powwow
- Participate
in cultural activities (such as a sweat lodge)
- Journal
writing and photography
Requirements:
- Student application, parent
questionnaire, faculty recommendation are due on Wednesday, May 11th. PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATES RIGHT NOW -- get them the rec form ASAP!
- Student
participants must attend several orientation sessions. There will be a
parent orientation as well.
- Students
are required to keep a journal prior to and during their stay on the
reservation.
- Students
need not be in good academic standing, but must show commitment,
enthusiasm and open-mindedness toward the service trip.
- Flexibility,
resiliency and kindness are key to this trip. Many plans change
last minute, days are long and hot, and we spend A LOT of time together.
Students will not have regular access to their cell phone, and will not
have much “alone time.” We model our trip structure after the Lakota tiospaye (community), which places
group needs above individual.
Selection Process:
- Student
applications will be reviewed by former chaperones, and input from
advisors, teachers, coaches and other adults will be sought
- In
order to encourage on-going relationships with the Rosebud community, as
well as encourage peer leaders to assist in the cultural acclimation
necessary for a trip such as this, we reserve at least four spots for trip veterans. Prior participants are
not guaranteed a spot but will be considered for leadership positions.
Follow-Up:
- Student
participants will meet throughout the 2016-2017 school year to execute
some of the plans made over the summer.
