Lately I
have noticed that some of my housemates and I have been picking up phrases from
the community here and starting to talk like people here. I was telling one of
my housemates who works at the school that she is starting to sound like the
students when yesterday I found myself talking like them too. Many people
especially the Native elders will use the phrase “in a good way”. Earlier in the
year we had many spirits bothering the students in the dorm and so we had it
blessed by the elders and they spoke of how many of the spirits come in a good
way to protect us and check on us. Some recent events have really helped me experience
how we can experience things “in a good way”. The past two months at St. Labre
have been marked with great sorrow and grief. We have lost too many people in the
community including three young women who took their own lives, and one of
these young women was a student at St. Labre. The suffering and grief of the
students here was almost unbearable. To see so many people who already face so many
struggles in their lives overcome by pain was incredibly hard to witness. Seeing
their sorrow and pain I faced my own struggle but was able to find hope in the
love and care of the St. Labre community. In being part of this community and
caring for those who were suffering I was able to be with my students in their
sorrow in a good way. I did not let their sorrow overwhelm me but instead I was
present to them in their grief and offered them comfort. Although many days
were difficult to get through I was able to find grace in the experience and
grow in love for those who were struggling. In the past I have let times like
these consume me and bring down my spirit, but the Crow and Cheyenne have
taught me how to experience these things in a good way. I have learned to not
only listen to the language of the people here, but to let it become a part of
me and my experience. Please pray for the community here as they continue to
recover from their grief. I know that will all the love in this community we
can continue to heal and grow as a community in a good way.
