The Sweat and no Indians in here

You do just never know what's around the corner. When you are guided through an area, as we have been the last few days by Jim Books, you get to see and do some amazing things.

So yesterday saw us move from the Black Hills to the Badlands of South Dakota.

Bad because the land is not good.

We came onto a modern ghost town, let me explain, the small town of Scenic has one inhabitant just now,  the post mistress.

The village was thriving a couple of years ago and was owned by just one person, she died and it fell into disrepair.

What was amazing though was something all together more subtle.

The eagle eyed will see that the sign has Indians allowed, but this wasn't always the case, in fact the sign used to say NO Indians allowed. That was until a Life magazine photographer saw the sign, photographed it and the resultant photo ended up on the front cover of the magazine.  Things changed then. You can almost still make out the outline of the word.

That was in 1959. Later in the day I was able to confirm the story with local Native Americans.

From left to right....Alvon, and a headstand follows folks, Kurt, Jim, Tom VK.

Then pure serendipity, for lunch we stopped at the visitor centre for the Badlands. There we had a picnic but were joined by members of  Primigi School, Minnesota on a field trip.  Great youngsters and staff and all very interested in the project. Also 'into' social media and more than happy to have a group photo.

And then on thorough this very different country....  (Geologists please note)

And yes it had to be here....

So an already great day, people often say, "......you must be meeting and seeing the most amazing things..." well yes we are, and the day continued to the most amazing.

We were able to hold our ceremony of names at the site of an Indian massacre. Wounded Knee. the rain swirled around as the names were read. we were able to remember the many names of Native Americans that have died in the fighting since 9/11.

The tribe locally is the Lakota tribe. nomadic hunters and a tribe always on the move in the past.  We met the spiritual Chief, Sid Has No Horses.

A very gentle and thoughtful man. He arranged for us to visit and take part in a sweat.

The best way to describe, no photographs here, is to say that a sauna is made within a traditional wood and skin building. This is made in the shape of an igloo. Into this brought, stones, and a lot stones, still glowing from the fire they have been in for several hours.

The door is sealed, water is applied and the heat soares.  Singing and drumming continues within the 'room'. The heat rises, to an almost unbearable level and then, finally the doors are opened and the structure, and us cool.  This is repeated a number of times. Prayers are said, those with worries or concerns can voice those concerns in a style of group therapy.   A stunning experience and quite outside any experience in my life.

Our deep thanks to go to the people of the Oglala tribe of the Lakota nation tribe that allowed us to join them last night.