Overview of trip to Crow Creek Youth Camp from June 9th to the 13th,'
Left Independence on June 7th. Attended the Veterans Pow Wow on Pine Ridge on the 7th and 8th. Arrived at Crow Creek the afternoon of the 8th.
Operation Morning Star provided needed tents, sleeping bags, food, like new propane full size stove for cook shack, and Osage Orange limbs for traditional Lakota bow and arrow making class. We also provided needed towels and swim suits without which, most of the kids could not go swimming.
45 youth from the Crow Creek Indian Reservation attended, ages 7-18. Operation Morning Star provided the van for transportation of youth to the swimming site at St. Josephs Catholic school with pool in Chamberlin.
Richard Boyden, founder of OMS, gave a workshop/class/talk about "Suicide" to the youth. Suicide is an ongoing reality among this Tribe as well as others.
Events and activities included horseback riding, swimming, barbeque, traditional Pow Wow for the kids who danced, some in traditional regalia, harvesting traditional Lakota turnips and herds, traditional sweat lodge ceremonies, and good meals which most of the youth never get at home.
Operation Morning Star also gave away 8 working sewing machines to families who made their own clothes and for the making of Star Quilts.
It was a great success thanks to Beatrice and Ed Whiting.
Thanks to those that made this work possible!
Here are photos for your viewing enjoyment.
New propane stove and food in cook shack
Camping grounds with set up tents and tee pees.
Group of youth ready to go swimming.
Swimming in the pool at St. Joseph's school in Chamberlin
Pow Wow photos of kids dancing along with the 2 man drum group from Crow Creek
Bow making photos in front of the sweat lodge...Ed Whiting teaching youth.
Sewing machine giveaway to families
This trip included attending 2 Native suicide workshops in Rapid City, transporting a sick tribal member from Rosebud to Rapid City twice, giving away $700 personal tool set to Oglala tribal member who had his stolen and which was needed to earn monies, a "walk around" 300 acres of same member where a possible youth grounds may be set up...among other things.
Total OMS cost? Say $900 in fuel and expenses.
I either slept in the van or camped out...NO MOTELS. Showered in home or truck stop or bathed in Deerfield Lake...with clothes on under the cover of night! :)
Thanks everyone for your help...God bless.
Richard Boyden...founder.