My Standing Rock Experience

I spent last week visiting Bismarck, ND and the Standing Rock reservation in ND. This was a trip devoted to learning Native American methods of sustainable agriculture and introducing our program to the tribe members there. The people of Standing Rock, often called Sioux, are members of the Dakota and Lakota nations. We met members of several bands including the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hunkpapa, Blackfeet, and Tanktonais.

One couldn't help but despair at the 79 percent unemployment rate on the reservation. Still, we seized the opportunity to meet with the farmers, ranchers, and administrators on the reservation. With their 496,000 acres devoted to ag and 1.751 million acres devoted to grazing, we were confident we could find some common ground regarding agriculture and sustainability. I won't bore you with the technicalities of the meetings.

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About the food: Fry Bread, Fruit Pudding, and Soup prepared by Loretta Bad Heart Bull

We were greeted with open arms. We were served two native meals. I tried Wigli Aguyapi (sioux fried bread) for the first time. Fry bread is not necessarily considered a native food by all tribe members, since it originated when rationing began on the reservation. It was sweet and fried. Better tasting than a doughnut, especially when dipped in the Wojapi (fruit pudding) they served to us; they served wild chokecherry/strawberry wojapi for lunch and blueberry wojapi for supper. Wojapi is sensational.

For the noon meal they served Papa na timpsula Wahampi (dried buffalo and wild turnip soup). The wild turnip is also called breadroot. It's small and white and not spicy as compared to the traditional eurpoean turnip. In the evening, they served Hehaka Wahampi (elk soup) with homini, dried corn, and green onion. Although I didn't eat the meat, I did sample the broth and vegetables.

The generosity in the midst of poverty was notable. We were treated with warmth and courtesy. There was certainly an element of awe and respect for the natural environment and a sense of calmness that gets lost in our routine hustle and bustle. It gave us an opportunity to step away from our desks, offices, research labs, and libraries. I learned about the importance of creative vision in sustainable ag, and I nestled into an even more commited relationship with sustainability.

Other noteworthy stuff:
I slept in a sleepnumber bed for the first time. 60 was too firm. 30 was a little too soft. 45 was just right.

I witnessed blessings from elders of various tribes in their native languages.

I learned the term "forb".

I met author, professor, and lecturer Donovin Sprague. He played the flute for me.

Hibernia Highlights

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! So basically, our trip to Ireland was THE RAD.


There are too many awesome details to cover, so I'm gonna share some of my wikked cool highlights. I reckon I'll continue to mention bits about the Emerald Isle in later entries, but these are my highlights from Hibernia. Click on any of the photos to see a larger version. If you have time, the links are loaded with more images and information. We spent 12 days touring. It was cold for the first week (like 50 degrees), and warmer the second. gerg and I shared a vehicle with his sis, Kari, and her hubby Jim. Gerg's parents and aunt and uncle, (Bev and Ken) shared the other vehicle. Friends Jen and Euchre joined us in a third vehicle.

Staying in Temple Bar, Dublin was an eye-opener, despite jet-lag. Staying out late. Shopping for high heels. Getting lost. Getting hailed on. Lots of sites within walking distance of Temple Bar, including the Guiness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, the Book of Kells, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Brazen Head (Ireland's oldest pub), and the Ha'Penny Bridge.


Becoming a certified whiskey taster at the Jameson Distillery. I have a certificate and all that jazz. That means I drank a bunch of shots. I made a sour face when I had to drink JW Red Label. Ew.



Visiting the Dingle Pennisula was an adventure due to stormy conditions and mountain roads. Still, it was eerie and totally cool. The waterfalls running down the sides of the road were a bit freaky.



Tiny sinks. These run rampant in Ireland's pubs. Either that, or my hands grew.









Playing golf at Connemara Championship Golf Links. The first time I've played on a course without trees.








Visiting the Burren and the Poulnabrone portal tomb. The tombs here are so old, you feel wierd and kind of lame in the scheme of things.






Drinking a pints at The King's Head. The gent who opened this place in 1649 was rumored to be the man who beheaded King Charles I! We also ate here. The food there isn't worth mentioning, as is the case with most of Ireland.


The Xanax Trio. They first grabbed my attention at OHare cuz they were discussing Xanax for the plane ride complaining about generic versions of the benzodiazepine. We spotted them again at Blarney Castle and again in Killarney. It was fun making up hilarious tales about the Xanax Trio....What sort of adventures did they have? How many pills had they popped?

Stopping for sheep to cross the road. Sheep run this country, or at least run all over it. Best be paying attention on those rural routes unless you want wool in your grill!





Eating foreign candy. I liked the Galaxy Bar. It was just like Dove Chocolate. Not gourmet, but melty and good. gerg liked the Catch bar. Not surprising since he's such a catch! *insert sound of his sister Kari gagging here*


Finding a pair of leopard print peeptoe pumps in Galway. Two new lines of shoes that I fell for: Firetrap and Fly.









Mounting Blarney Castle. Despite all the various local rumors and stories about the blarney stone, gerg kissed it. I didn't.








Drinking pints with gerg's family every night. Hearing stories about gerg as a kid, and laughing at each other's Guiness moustaches.







Seeing rhododendron EVERYWHERE. Gigantic bushes of vibrant blossoms. The blossoming patches along Galway Bay towards Clifden were simply crucial.




Seeing Loop Head on a gloriously sunny day.













Receiving a crucial claddagh ring from gerg. He bought it at Fallers Jewelers in Galway.









Drinking with, talking with, listening to local musicians at the pubs and on the street. We recorded some Irish musical FLAVA. Found these chaps at a pub in Ennis, with Christy McNamara on the push-button accordian.

Taking photos of Ireland is way too easy!! Check out our collection from Ireland by clicking here. We still need to label the photos and organize them. We will do so soon.

So Far, so Beered in Ireland

Stout stout and more stout.















For the past 8 days I've quaffed at least 4 pints per day, not to mention "drops" of Jameson here and there. In fact, I became a certified whiskey taste tester or something at the distillery in Dublin. I have pics of the certification process. It involves shots. I will show them latron.

hiccup

Just checked out of the skeffington arms hotel in Galway...proceeding to shoe shops in search of the elusive leopard print peeptoe pumps.

Oh, and a rosary for me mum.

Much more to come and photos galore. Cheers!