Reznet

VERMILLION, S.D. — The Freedom Forum has extended the deadline — and is still accepting applications — for the eighth American Indian Journalism Institute summer session, the premier journalism training, scholarship and summer internship program for Native American college students, June 1-20, 2008.

 This past weekend I took a group of students from SMSU to the University of Minnesota for the AP press fair.  The Fargo Forum and the St. Cloud Times stated that Chuck was a wonderful mentor.  It was enjoyable hearing the praise of a program that is 7 years old.  AIJI certainly has had many wonderful successes.  It has been a busy semester. 

The Upper Sioux Community will expand in size to hold their traditional wacipi at the state park located 8 miles east of Granite Falls, MN on Hwy 67.  Tipi rental is $25.00 a night for the tipi's at the state park but they  reserve fast.  The state park is has beautiful hiking trails.  Cat fishing is great near this area.  Tree branches blew over the roof of the arena last year leaving a wonderful sent to go with the breeze.  A memorial was done last year for a family that lost a buckskin dress that was returned.  Chris Mato Nunpa did a memorial for Dakota woman.  The pow wow is Au

Early this year SMSU in Marshall, Minnesota hosted Ward Churchill as a speaker.  His talk lasted for over four hours and he addressed a large crowd.  Many people asked questions about blood count and his comment was that people were not cattle.  In an 8-1 vote he was terminated for his comments about 9-11.  How free is speech.  The college stated it needed to fire Churchill to protect the image of the school.  The Marshall Independent recieved several letters to the local newspaper about his arrival.  Funding for his speech was provided by the Ford Foundation.

The noise was light but the scratching continued.  Brad grabbed the flashlight and spotted a raccoon hovering over the grill.  I decided standing on the picnic table might be helpful until the my husband Scott laughed.  He said the racoons can climb.  Are they harmless?  Oh, they don't bite they  just scratch you to death my daughter Kari teased.  That's it.  Its bedtime.  I locked the camper door.  I discovered my husband shutting the top window saying they could come through the window.  Your kidding?  They all laughed.  Nagi Wowiha Win you would never have survived t

I've only been in the small community of Hot Springs, S.D., for one week and already I feel connected.

I'm covering the Alabaugh Fire today and found out that a gentleman from here died in the blaze. This man -- if the reports I've heard are correct -- is the same man that I talked to earlier this week while taking photos of the Fourth of July activities.

I was shocked when I found out he died. I didn't know him well, but I did know him. That probably wouldn't have happened in Missoula, Mont., and it sure as hell wouldn't happen in Denver, my new home.

What is that red stuff?  No, not the rock mom.  The red plant.  POISON IVY!  Wow, when they say stay on the trail they mean it.  Red, green and dancing in the wind the poison ivy lives on.  Kari tugged at her pant leg and said "I still have scares from camp."  She must just attract the stuff.  The red rock was more appealing at the Pipestone National Monument were you can sit and listen to flute music.  The quarry for harvesting the sacred stone was filled with some water and a walk in honor of the red rock monument is being held in July.  This could be fun to attend if

The last few days of the AIJI Institute were ones in which I could hardly concentrate.  I had not been able to reach my daughter the entire week.  Finally I called her father, a task which is a daunting to me as crossing Antarctic in winter time.  She had been hospitalized on Monday and no one had bothered to call me.  She, of course, could not.  After finding out on Wednesday were she was, I was told as well, that she would get out that day.  Thursday, a call to check, she was not out yet but expected to be that day.  Would graduation ever get here.  Finally the ceremony over, I

The river flowed softly all night and the air was hot and humid.  The Santee Sioux Nation is close to Yankton Sioux Nation so we climbed into the car to check out the reservation.  It had a great big gas station with lots of specials and a cool bingo hall.  The view from the road was spectacular.  Darn, we missed the wacipi.  Nebraska has hills compared to the flat lands of Southwestern Minnesota.  Kari is still wondering if she can continue to collect spoons from Mc Donalds.  The lady behind the counter knew Princella Parker.  Small world she laughed.  AIJI was  tons of fun.  Yankt

"38 miles to Hot Springs"

That's when I allowed myself to start crying.

I'd missed my son, Egan, horribly during the three weeks at AIJI, but I tried not to really think about him. I knew I missed him -- he creeped into my thoughts daily -- but I didn't allow myself to really give into the intense feelings that were surely there.

I couldn't.

I had way too much going on at the institute and I knew I needed to focus. After all, what lessons I take from AIJI will affect Egan for the rest of his life.