Walking across the reservation

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION – A group of Oglala Lakota veterans walked across the Pine Ridge Reservation, in hopes of bringing awareness to veteran issues and needs.

The 107.5-mile trek began on the eastern edge of the reservation and ended on the western edge of the reservation. The 5-day walk had about 15 participants who walked in honor of the service of others and their own military experience. Along the route, the veterans shared stories, laughter and pain. The braved the elements with good spirits and Indian humor helped battle the elements.

Shawnee Red Bear, 28, (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran) organized the walk with the help of fellow veterans and friends. The veteran wanted to highlight the issues of lack of and limited resources for Native American veterans living on the reservation. She considers fellow veterans to be a part of her family, as they share a bond not many understand. Red Bear is a typical Native American woman, she has a quick wit and is tough as nails. On the first day of the All Veterans Walk, Red Bear lost a pinky toenail. This did not stop her from completing the journey.

“I’m walking for my fellow brothers and sisters. We wanted to do a walk, because it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Veterans don’t have a lot of resources on the reservations, so it had to be simple, something that would get people’s attention,” she said. “So, a walk was the thing that came to mind. All you have to do is move your legs. I wanted to raise awareness for better resources for our veterans on the Pine Ridge Reservation.”

The walk spanned the reservation. The veterans walked about 20 miles per day. They carried three flags during the trek; the American Flag, POW MIA Flag, and an Army Flag. Red Bear personally walked about 90-90 percent of the walk. She took a small break from the walking after losing her toenail, and to drive the safety vehicle for a stretch of the walk. The organizers wanted the walkers to be safe on the roads, so vehicles followed closely behind and in front of the walkers. Most vehicles were aware of the walk, and pulled over or drove slowly past in honor of the veterans’ efforts.

On the day Native Sun News Today joined the walk, there were four veterans walking; Red Bear, Jay Youngman carried the POW MIA Flag, Oroville Milk carried the Army Flag, and Oglala Sioux Tribe President, Julian Bear Runner carried the American Flag. Walking the long miles was a challenge in itself, but the wind and rain on the final day made things even harder. This did not sway the determination of the veteran walkers. They laughed and teased each other as they walked, occasionally war hooping into the prairie.

This walk was supported by the communities they walked through along the way. People in cars would stop and provide water or food. “Each community that we walked through brought us food. The third day, we were walking through Sharps Corner and at least one out of every ten cars stopped to give us water or something to eat,” said Red Bear.

In Lakota culture, as in many tribal communities, veterans are considered to be a sacred part of the tribe. They are given the highest respects at public events. Oglala Lakota veterans have served in every war since World War I, and continue to serve in the various branches stationed around the world, today. The veterans have all joined the military for various reasons, including opportunity, education, experience, employment, and to escape the impoverished conditions of the reservation.

“Where we are from, it has a high unemployment rate and a lot of graduates don’t go onto furthering their education. I didn’t really have any options, so one day I just decided to sit in with the recruiter talking to the students,” said Red Bear. “I was doing it just to get out of class, but next thing you know I signed up and went to Sioux Falls the next day to get sworn in. I was an age waiver. I was only 17 when I went to boot camp and I graduated at 17, too.”

A sacred part of the walk was to pray each morning and evening when the walkers completed the portion of the walk for the day. Providing prayers for the veterans was Rodney Bad Hand, an Army veteran who is also part of the color guard, Zuya Akicita. “He’s been offering prayers every single day, the opening and closing prayer. His son has been offering us the songs. That’s whose been praying for us every day,” she said.

The organizers had originally planned to camp for a couple of the nights, but due to weather conditions, they were only able to camp for one night, one very cold night. The safety of the veterans was paramount and the organizers put their wellbeing first. “We just camped one night and that was at the Stronghold. It was very cold. It dropped to 30 degrees last night. It was freezing,” Red Bear said. The Stronghold is located near the rim of the Badlands.

Red Bear said joining the military is a very proud thing to do. “Especially for us Oglala because we’re warriors at heart. Carrying on that tradition, especially in the military, is an honor. It’s an honor for me and for these men and women as well,” she said.

The marine veteran said she wanted people to understand that as veterans, they served for the people. She said the veterans are here for the people. “We know everybody honors us and we appreciate that all the time. We’re here for you guys. We served so we can take care of our families and carry on the proud tradition. We want to be the Wild Oglala that we’re known to be and carry on that reputation of being warriors.”

“If there is anybody out there who wants to join, high school student or children, I encourage that. It teaches you a lot about who you are, and makes you a better person through teaching you that discipline,” she said.

According to Red Bear, the military gives young people skillsets they will need for the entirety of their lives and set them up for a good life. “I really think that is something that we should strive for. If people want to go and get their education, that’s fine too, but the military was my out. I got to go out and experience my life at a very young age.”

Through her service in the military, Red Bear brought back valuable experiences which have helped in her life, and helped her become a strong advocate for reservation veterans. She encourages the youth to think about joining the military. “For those kids out there, it only takes an idea. It really only takes an idea because this walk was an idea last month. This was only coordinated last month. It just took an idea.”

After getting the green light for the walk from tribal officials last month, they organizers planned the route and outline of the walk. The All Veterans Walk was sponsored by the veterans themselves, who paid for the walk out of their own pockets. Red Bear said they wanted to make sure they were not utilizing the already diminished resources that veterans have. “Everything is out of pocket. I’m the tribal veteran’s service officer and I want to make sure that all the veterans understand that no matter what I will always advocate for them,” she said. “These veterans are walking for them, for those that can’t be here with us. I know there are a lot of elder veterans who are hurting right now, and can’t pull themselves up. We are carrying them on our backs throughout this whole walk.”

(Contact Richie Richards at richie4175@gmail.com)

Visit Original Source