Category Archives: Block 2: 2014-15

During the morning of our second day at Pine Ridge, the class stopped at the nearest place for coffee. This place is a combined gas station and grocery market, of shockingly limited options for nutritious eating and serves as the … Continue reading →

I left the final pipe ceremony feeling absolutely euphoric. My emotions were soaring and I could not wipe the smile off my face. The ceremony was the perfect combination of prayer, reflection, honesty, and connection. To begin the ceremony we … Continue reading →

It blows my mind that the alcoholism rate for adults in Pine Ridge is 80%. The US National alcoholism rate is only 15%. This is just one of the many statistics that highlight the stark differences between life off and … Continue reading →

I find it almost impossible to reflect on the trip as a whole, so I thought I would start at the beginning. Driving into South Dakota, I was expecting nothing but feeling a small sense of familiarity. Not because I … Continue reading →

This class came at a time in my life where I crave more spiritual understanding. In the weeks leading up to second block, I became increasingly aware of how little exploration I’ve done into my spiritual self. At this point, … Continue reading →

Our time in Pine Ridge was informative about Lakota culture and transformative in the spiritual realm and self-exploration. I’ve been trying to be aware of how I’m telling the story of my time there to friends and family since being … Continue reading →