Memorial Day Give Away

Memorial Day weekend on the "res" was just huge.... three days of feasting!

Saturday was graduation day at Warwick High School. We were invited by Bethany and Renell's families. It was a very sweet ceremony with twelve graduating seniors. They put together a power point presentation of each of the graduates from birth until now. We felt that be the end of it, we actually knew each one. After each was presented with their diploma, their families presented them with at least one star quilt. I have photos of each one of the quilts for the three whose graduation parties we attended. At the end of the ceremony, the graduates processed out to the drumming and chanting, and just about everybody in the gym lined up to congratulate them.

We then went to two parties. The first one was held at the church for Maressa, one of the salutatorians, and Rennell. It was a feast of heavy food, including fry bread. Then we went to the Spirit Lake Casino where there are rentable log cabins.... very nice ones, and had another party at one of the cabins overlooking the lake for Bethany. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day or setting. It was truly a great accomplishment to celebrate for these kids, many of whom have been brought up by extended family members, and have children of their own. All the girls whose parties we attended have children. I wonder if this is an unspoken requirement for high school graduation here? All of them are planning on attending the community college on the reservation in the fall.

Sunday morning was regular worship service. It is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., but it actually starts on Indian time.... closer to 12:oo. Not very many people came, so I was glad we were there. One of the members leads the services as they have no minister at this time. They did ask us to give some prayers and to introduce ourselves. Most of the hymns were from the Dakota language hymnbook, so at least we learned how to pronounce a little of the Dakota language. The worship service was followed as usual by lunch... soup, fry bread, and a couple of desserts.

Everyone left about 3:00 p.m. We made a run into town for some supplies, and spent the rest of the day quietly.

Monday, Memorial Day was just huge. We got up and did a little work on the closet building before people started arriving. It was pouring rain and the dirt roads were already becoming mud holes. Some how, the rain eased off when everyone had gathered and it was time to go over to the cemetery. Pastor Kevin from the Presbyterian Church in Devil's Lake gave a short prayer service. All weekend, people had been coming to clean and mow and weed in the cemetery, so the graves were looking really nice. At the end of the prayer service, people got into family groupings (actually, most of them are all related in some way.) and started putting gifts on the graves....food, candy, blankets, quilts..until nearly every grave was covered with gifts. Following that, Louis (the white Indian) began calling out people's names...to receive the gifts. I guess this is also a custom related to every funeral. 

We were very surprised to hear our name called and to have gifts offered to us. We got two baskets of food and candy and a star quilt! Our gifts came from the graves of Gertrude Red Fox, and Joan Red Fox. We were awestruck! These people do not have much money, probably because of the many gifts they are expected to give to others. This ceremony is call "The Give Away."

Following the "Give Away," we all retreated to the church, which was just packed with people... and lots of babies and little kids. And we had ANOTHER feast! This was the biggest feast of all...more fry bread, chicken, turkey, potatoes, other starchy, fatty dishes....and a whole table heavily laden with desserts. ( I selected the june berry pie and sauce.) 

After everyone had eaten more than they could hold and all the remaining food was sent off to those who are not able to get out, they all disappeared. Pastor Kevin stayed and talked with us for a couple of hours afterwards. The rain had come back full force and there was no incentive to go outside at all. Sleeping under our star quilt last night, I had my most peaceful night's sleep yet.

We're in Devil's Lake doing laundry, communication, and picking up more supplies, hopefully another door which we ordered last week. Tonight the food bank will be open and we will be helping with that. We are learning so much on the "res;" much more then we ever imagined and we feel we are fortunate to be so immersed in a different culture.