Return to Blackfeet: BIg Sky Country

Return to Blackfeet:  Big Sky Country

 With the usual pre team jitters, I packed my red duffle and backpack, stopped by Balfour for a quick visit with my mom, and headed back to Heart Butte and the Blackfeet reservation.  You may recall my week here last year, when I brought a team of youth from Sandy Hook with their chaperones.  We had an paralleled week of cultural immersion and healing rituals as well as some surprises(remember the butchering of the dead sheep?).  This year I look forward to hosting a team of 18:  ages 7 to 92.  I will be welcoming some old friends as well as new volunteers.

 Landing in Great Falls I was greeted by Jeff, the outgoing volunteer team leader.  The two hour drive to Heart Butte went quickly as we caught up on news of the reservations, the Indian Days Festival, and the usual team leader challenges:  no, the day camp can't take so many volunteers, the food bank is great, guess what?  it's a holiday on  Monday, and , oh , by the way, the church van is in the shop(lets hope its fixed in time for the airport run on Saturday!).

 The vast spaces and mountain vistas, covered in green were a welcome and now familiar site.  Arriving at the church in Heart Butte brought welcome memories, and a feeling of "home".  Jeff and his team have done a great job:  the church is ship shape this year, no linens on the floor, everything tidy and in it's place.  Labels from my team last year still on the cabinets.  It is eerily quiet right now, as Jeff's team hasn't returned from their evening BBQ and horseback ride at the Debos Ranch(always a team favorite).

 Looking forward to getting some sleep, and spending tomorrow scouting out my old "hood", shopping, and figuring out a game plan as the team arrives on Saturday.

 Thanks in advance to all of you at home who are "looking after" and feeding Phil, as well as taking care of my patients while I am gone.  As they say, it takes a village, and I appreciate all of you,

 With love and humility from Heart Butte,
Barbara

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