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Ready how do you think we should do

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it?

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Okay we'll pick it up

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come this way more you guys pick

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those up and then put them through

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those stakes yeah hopefully

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we'll clear this up and go there.

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I'm out in the middle of the desert,

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near the southern Texas border,

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watching as half a dozen men prepare

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to hoist up the frame of a teepee.

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This is a South Dakota lodge.

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We have a lot of relatives from

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South Dakota here representing

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themselves

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The teepee is for a peyote ceremony,

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to be led by a road man named Sandor

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Ironrope.

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Sandor is a spiritual guide and

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leader.

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He's Oglala Lakota from

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the Pine Ridge Reservation in

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South Dakota.

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There's going to be more teepee

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setting up. We have some Crow

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relatives over here and some other

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Dine relatives going to come and

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setting up lodge.

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There are three teepees in total,

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each one set up for a different

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tribal nation.

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This annual ceremony will

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bring together some 150

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people from various tribal nations.

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And while there are peyote

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ceremonies all over the country,

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this one is different because we're

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in the place where peyoti cacti

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grow.

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The only place where indigenous

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people can come harvest peyoty

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buttons themselves for religious

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and cultural purposes.

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It's called The Peyote Gardens.

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This is my first time watching a

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teepee go up and I'm captivated.

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So to get a better view, I

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circle my way around, careful not

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to step over any of the teepee

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poles.

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Alright, we'll have to pick them up.

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So while we're tying this, my

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brother made a prayer, made an

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offering, water, tobacco,

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and then we're gonna put the shell

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of this.

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It's a teepee, so for your

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audio, this is Julius Not Afraid.

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Julius is also Oglala

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Lakota.

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Where's Chacha? We need our rope
runner.

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Hold on boys.

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Hold on, hold on.

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This is how you see Chachi try to

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run.

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Someone say, "migra", "migra" I'll

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go faster. All right.

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Justin Dorry, who everyone calls

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Chachi, hitchhiked around

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1,500 miles from South Dakota

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down to Texas to be here

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at ceremony.

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He's what's called a rope runner.

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Chachi has been tying up teepees

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since he was a kid on the Pine

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Ridge Reservation, and

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with every lap around the teepee...

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My legs ain't that long. My mouth
goes faster than my legs.

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He  can't help but make a joke.

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Oh that's three, that's 3!

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Hold the bottom.

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Oh, watch that. That's good.

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One right here.

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So we learned all this from our

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uncles, our dads.

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These teepee poles, they represent

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our family members.

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This one here is a Lakota style

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of a tie.

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Every tribal nation that

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sets up a teepee does it

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a little differently.

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The Lakota style is special.

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Looking from the inside out,

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the opening is in the shape of a

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star.

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I'm also a member of the Lakota

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Oyate, and for us,

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the star is more than just a shape.

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It's a symbol of who we are and

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where we come from.

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We are star people.

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Go on, just. One, two, one, two. Keep
going. Keep going, all the way

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down.  Go in the Front. Yeah

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I've been been running faster if I

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hadn't had that second bowl . Okay

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First time Chachi has started

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running again.

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Yeah, yeah. I wasn't running from the

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police, so...

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Okay.

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You didn't cramp up

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Last summer, Adreanna Rodriguez

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attended the Native American Church

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of North America's annual conference

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and produced a story about

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efforts to protect peyote for season

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one of our show.

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Her goal was to try to understand

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how this tiny cactus became

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the center of an indigenous-led

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ecological fight.

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After the story aired, dozens of

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indigenous people reached out to

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Adriana to talk about peyoti.

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Then, last November, she got an

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invitation to go to south Texas to

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the peyote gardens.

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Without a second thought, she said

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yes. She didn't have an assignment.

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She went on her own dime.

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She just knew that she needed to go.

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So she brought her audio equipment

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with her to document her trip.

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In this episode, the results of

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that trip.

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Adreanna heads to Texas to find

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peyote in its natural habitat and

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to dig into what the cactus means

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to indigenous communities

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and to herself.

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I'm Arielle Duhaime-Ross and this is

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Altered States.

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Sound good.

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All right, we're tightening it up a

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little bit.

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So you were saying there's a lot of

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relatives that are going to be

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setting up?

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Yeah, they're gonna be setting up

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lodges up here, so what we're

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looking at is the setting up of

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a lodge for Friday night ceremony

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here

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When I packed my bags for Texas,

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I brought along my audio recorder

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and mics, but I wasn't

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sure. Was I there first as

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a journalist or was I on

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more of a personal quest?

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All I knew was that I had questions.

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Questions I hoped Sandor

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could answer.

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Can you introduce yourself?

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Yeah, my name is Sandor Ironrope.

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I'm a Teton Lakota,

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and my mom, my dad, my

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grandpa, my grandpa Sam Lone Bear

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was instrumental in kind of

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sharing this way.

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Sandor is 55 years old.

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As a young boy, he participated

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in the Native American church peyote

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ceremonies.

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He learned the teachings, prayers,

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and responsibilities from his elders

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and went on to be a leader in

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the church for decades.

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You know, we're interconnected to

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all things, and

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we have to be able to

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unify as indigenous people

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around our mother Earth.

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Sandor has spent decades

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advocating for the protection of

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peyote, which he considers part

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of his commitment to protecting his

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people and their traditions.

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Today, he sits on the board of

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directors for the Indigenous Peyote

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Conservation Initiative,

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or IPCI, a

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nonprofit group working to conserve

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the delicate ecosystem in

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southern Texas where peyote grows.

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We're going to repopulate this area.

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The group runs a cacti nursery,

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they replant peyote back into the

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wild, and they protect the habitat

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with the help of ranchers.

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We're giving back because it gives

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to us.

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So now it's really teaching

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the basics, the spiritual,

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ecological, harvested medicine

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to the next generation.

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The next generation are those who

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are here, setting up the teepee

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in front of us.

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So capturing the essence of what

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we're doing here is really,

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as we said, for the youth.

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She's one of the youths.

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Sandor points to a young girl and

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her mom, who have been quietly

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listening to our conversation.

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My name is Charyce Not Afraid,

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and I am Oglala Lakota from

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the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation up

220
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in South Dakota.

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Charyce is married to Julius Not
Afraid.

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The man who was explaining to me

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that the teepee poles represent

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family members.

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And then this is your daughter,

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okay?

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Yep, this is our youngest daughter.

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My name is Abilene Renos.

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My mom is Charyce Not

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Afraid.

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I'm 13 years old and I'm

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from the Pine Ridge Indian

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Reservation.

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This is Abby's first time here

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at the peyote gardens, but

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not the first time she's

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participated in a peyote ceremony.

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Last year, Sandor guided their

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family through ceremony back

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at their home in South Dakota.

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The first time I used it,

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I was thinking about it.

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They asked me if I wanted to go into

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the meeting, and then I decided to

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do it.

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It's just something that really

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stuck with me, and so then

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we went harvesting yesterday,

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you know, it's just a real beautiful

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thing. I really enjoyed it.

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Harvesting peyote is inseparable

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from the work of reclaiming

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identity, which includes culture

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and language,

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but it's an experience that

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not many Indigenous people have,

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given how scarce peyoti cacti have

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become.

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00:08:48,220 --> 00:08:49,639
I'm happy I'm able to do stuff like

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00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:50,579
this, because a lot of people

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00:08:50,580 --> 00:08:51,739
aren't.

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00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:53,919
They're not able to get peyote

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00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:55,579
and stuff like this to go harvesting

264
00:08:55,580 --> 00:08:57,559
again. So I'm grateful I get to

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do this stuff.

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Abby is only.

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13 years old, and she's

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00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,799
learning things that many of her

269
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elders have not had the chance to

270
00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:06,560
learn.

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00:09:07,123 --> 00:09:09,509
She gets to learn all this stuff at

272
00:09:09,510 --> 00:09:11,989
a young age where me

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00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:13,529
being older, that was my first time

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00:09:13,530 --> 00:09:14,969
harvesting.

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00:09:14,970 --> 00:09:17,209
For Charisse and Abby,

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00:09:17,210 --> 00:09:18,729
it's not just about reclaiming

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identity and culture.

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00:09:20,350 --> 00:09:23,229
It's also about reclaimin joy.

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I'm trying to learn our language,

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00:09:25,490 --> 00:09:27,309
because I'm not very good,

281
00:09:27,310 --> 00:09:29,389
and I can understand it to a bit,

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00:09:29,390 --> 00:09:30,529
but I want to know it.

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00:09:30,530 --> 00:09:32,189
I want speak it.

284
00:09:32,190 --> 00:09:34,029
I want understand all the

285
00:09:34,030 --> 00:09:35,030
medicines.

286
00:09:36,350 --> 00:09:37,589
Charyce asks her daughter to

287
00:09:37,590 --> 00:09:39,769
introduce herself in Lakota.

288
00:09:43,390 --> 00:09:44,419
(Speaking in Lakota) What is your
name in Lakota?

289
00:09:49,630 --> 00:09:50,630
(Speaking in Lakota) Strong-Thinking
Woman.

290
00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:54,139
And that comes from, she always had

291
00:09:54,140 --> 00:09:56,399
an opinion, a strong opinion

292
00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:57,439
and thoughts.

293
00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,119
And so it just kind of worked with

294
00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:00,959
her. Her Lakota name fits

295
00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,069
perfect.

296
00:10:02,070 --> 00:10:03,230
It's fitting, huh?

297
00:10:05,780 --> 00:10:07,619
But it's true what you said,

298
00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:09,479
like, being Native is

299
00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,179
more than just in existence.

300
00:10:11,180 --> 00:10:12,599
It's all these other components that

301
00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,319
make up culture and make up people.

302
00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,479
Because it's our everyday walk

303
00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,238
of life is what it is.

304
00:10:19,239 --> 00:10:20,559
Charyce grew up on the Pine Ridge

305
00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:22,019
Reservation with her

306
00:10:22,020 --> 00:10:23,979
great-grandmother, who only

307
00:10:23,980 --> 00:10:25,919
spoke Lakota.

308
00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,240
And when she passed away, Charyce

309
00:10:27,241 --> 00:10:28,241
stopped hearing their language

310
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:31,969
Even if we didn't speak it back

311
00:10:31,970 --> 00:10:33,309
to her we knew exactly what she was

312
00:10:33,310 --> 00:10:35,729
saying how to do it everything and

313
00:10:35,730 --> 00:10:36,730
then when she passed away...you

314
00:10:38,610 --> 00:10:40,199
don't use it you lose it

315
00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,079
So for Charyce, being

316
00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,039
in ceremony with Sandor,

317
00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,139
who is fluent, and hearing him

318
00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:47,042
speak Lakota, brings the language to

319
00:10:47,043 --> 00:10:48,043
life.

320
00:10:50,050 --> 00:10:51,769
It's that the yearning of what

321
00:10:51,770 --> 00:10:53,809
you're missing or what you

322
00:10:53,810 --> 00:10:55,089
are supposed to know.

323
00:10:55,090 --> 00:10:56,169
You know that's our language that

324
00:10:56,170 --> 00:10:58,089
should be our first language but

325
00:10:58,090 --> 00:10:59,659
we didn't get that.

326
00:10:59,660 --> 00:11:01,839
Having her children understand

327
00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,679
and speak Lakota is the

328
00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:05,899
goal because our language

329
00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:07,639
is a part of us.

330
00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:08,919
That's our culture, that's our

331
00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:10,299
everyday walk of life.

332
00:11:10,300 --> 00:11:12,639
That's the language, that the dance,

333
00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,219
that's the movements, that just what

334
00:11:14,220 --> 00:11:16,199
we should do and

335
00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:16,899
should know.

336
00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:18,359
I don't speak the language you know

337
00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:19,899
either, I only grew up knowing a

338
00:11:19,900 --> 00:11:21,919
couple of songs that my uncle shared

339
00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:22,920
with me.

340
00:11:23,052 --> 00:11:24,929
But at that feeling that you get

341
00:11:24,930 --> 00:11:26,769
from hearing the songs from it,

342
00:11:26,770 --> 00:11:28,529
it's engraved in us where we don't

343
00:11:28,530 --> 00:11:30,129
even know it is.

344
00:11:30,130 --> 00:11:31,849
And, but we know we're, we're

345
00:11:31,850 --> 00:11:33,649
yearning for it because if a song

346
00:11:33,650 --> 00:11:35,589
can get you emotional or,

347
00:11:35,590 --> 00:11:36,649
you know, there's, there is a bond

348
00:11:36,650 --> 00:11:37,569
there and you didn't even know there

349
00:11:37,570 --> 00:11:38,570
was a bond.

350
00:11:40,049 --> 00:11:40,909
It's true. I've also had this

351
00:11:40,910 --> 00:11:42,349
thought before.

352
00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:43,909
Even when the language is not

353
00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:46,249
understood, there's an undeniable

354
00:11:46,250 --> 00:11:48,349
connection, a familiarity

355
00:11:48,350 --> 00:11:50,269
in the sounds,

356
00:11:50,270 --> 00:11:51,270
a sense of home.

357
00:11:53,270 --> 00:11:55,529
My grandmother was relocated

358
00:11:55,530 --> 00:11:57,409
from the Standing Rock Reservation

359
00:11:57,410 --> 00:11:59,229
to San Francisco back

360
00:11:59,230 --> 00:12:00,989
in the 50s.

361
00:12:00,990 --> 00:12:03,549
I was born and raised in California,

362
00:12:03,550 --> 00:12:06,489
distant from our Lakota traditions.

363
00:12:06,490 --> 00:12:08,849
I spent half my childhood living

364
00:12:08,850 --> 00:12:10,370
with a white foster family.

365
00:12:11,650 --> 00:12:12,650
Listening to Charyce,

366
00:12:13,770 --> 00:12:15,729
I began to wonder if I was here

367
00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:17,429
to reclaim something too.

368
00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:20,339
And then Charyce asked me.

369
00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:21,499
Will you be going into any

370
00:12:21,500 --> 00:12:22,500
ceremonies tomorrow?

371
00:12:23,510 --> 00:12:25,330
Um, I mean,

372
00:12:26,350 --> 00:12:27,969
I haven't been invited to one yet,

373
00:12:27,970 --> 00:12:29,809
um, but

374
00:12:29,810 --> 00:12:31,589
I, yeah, I don't know.

375
00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:32,989
I'm just, it's always interesting

376
00:12:32,990 --> 00:12:34,589
when I come for something for work.

377
00:12:34,590 --> 00:12:35,829
Like, I'm mean, technically I'm

378
00:12:35,830 --> 00:12:37,389
always, like, representing myself

379
00:12:37,390 --> 00:12:39,009
as, like a tribal member first, but

380
00:12:39,010 --> 00:12:40,309
I'm kind of just assessing again,

381
00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:42,269
like my, where I'm at spiritually

382
00:12:42,270 --> 00:12:44,510
with myself, so.

383
00:12:46,170 --> 00:12:48,909
When I was invited to South Texas,

384
00:12:48,910 --> 00:12:50,569
I wasn't planning on participating

385
00:12:50,570 --> 00:12:51,570
in ceremony.

386
00:12:52,450 --> 00:12:54,309
I wasn't exactly sure what I'd be

387
00:12:54,310 --> 00:12:55,310
doing, honestly.

388
00:12:56,390 --> 00:12:58,429
I brought my audio equipment in

389
00:12:58,430 --> 00:13:00,669
part because the work of reporting

390
00:13:00,670 --> 00:13:02,649
gave my time a certain structure.

391
00:13:03,970 --> 00:13:05,809
My role was clear when I was being a

392
00:13:05,810 --> 00:13:08,229
journalist, but deep down,

393
00:13:08,230 --> 00:13:10,129
a part of me might have known that I

394
00:13:10,130 --> 00:13:11,809
was here for something deeper.

395
00:13:13,330 --> 00:13:15,249
I was in search of connection

396
00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:17,169
to a spiritual practice,

397
00:13:17,170 --> 00:13:19,289
and I was hoping for a feeling of

398
00:13:19,290 --> 00:13:20,789
grounding and understanding.

399
00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,119
I couldn't answer Charyce's question

400
00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,179
yet.

401
00:13:25,180 --> 00:13:27,239
I needed to know more first,

402
00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:28,899
so I went to where the stories were

403
00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:29,900
being shared.

404
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,539
It wouldn't be a Native event

405
00:13:32,540 --> 00:13:34,499
without an open mic,

406
00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,179
and one of the people who stood up

407
00:13:36,180 --> 00:13:38,659
to speak was Charyce's his husband,

408
00:13:38,660 --> 00:13:39,848
Julius.

409
00:13:39,849 --> 00:13:41,099
Say, uh, good morning to your

410
00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:42,019
relatives.

411
00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:43,679
Good hearty handshake to each one of

412
00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:44,680
you.

413
00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:46,711
My name is Julius Not Afraid,

414
00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,419
I come from uh two relatives

415
00:13:50,420 --> 00:13:53,219
of the siliki,

416
00:13:53,220 --> 00:13:55,299
people of the big bird, of the crow,

417
00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:57,980
a child of the greasy moth.

418
00:13:59,410 --> 00:14:01,369
His childhood was spent in

419
00:14:01,370 --> 00:14:04,169
a place called Allen, South Dakota,

420
00:14:04,170 --> 00:14:06,669
a small, close-knit community.

421
00:14:06,670 --> 00:14:08,609
In there, you know,

422
00:14:08,610 --> 00:14:10,949
this medicine, it showed me a

423
00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:12,789
way of life from the beginning of

424
00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:15,109
my birth, generations before

425
00:14:15,110 --> 00:14:16,929
me. It helped me in a

426
00:14:16,930 --> 00:14:19,609
time of struggle with substances,

427
00:14:19,610 --> 00:14:21,449
with alcohol, drugs,

428
00:14:21,450 --> 00:14:23,669
at a time where I almost

429
00:14:23,670 --> 00:14:25,689
lost my life.

430
00:14:25,690 --> 00:14:27,569
And the truth of it is, it

431
00:14:27,570 --> 00:14:29,569
was self-influenced.

432
00:14:29,570 --> 00:14:31,669
And so I had the

433
00:14:31,670 --> 00:14:33,889
courage to ask for

434
00:14:33,890 --> 00:14:34,889
help.

435
00:14:34,890 --> 00:14:37,289
And I wasn't alone.

436
00:14:37,290 --> 00:14:38,790
I have beautiful relatives.

437
00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,739
In 2019,

438
00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:43,719
he traveled to Texas and spent about

439
00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,319
two months working for IPCI.

440
00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,159
He fixed miles of fence and

441
00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:49,609
herded cattle.

442
00:14:49,610 --> 00:14:51,689
And it allowed me time to

443
00:14:51,690 --> 00:14:54,109
heal. And I know there's opportunity

444
00:14:54,110 --> 00:14:56,009
for others that might

445
00:14:56,010 --> 00:14:57,909
take my story and be

446
00:14:57,910 --> 00:15:00,179
able to utilize it as their own.

447
00:15:00,180 --> 00:15:02,039
Since getting sober,

448
00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,359
he's toured all over Indian country,

449
00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:05,539
sharing his story.

450
00:15:05,540 --> 00:15:07,619
You know, I got to make travels,

451
00:15:07,620 --> 00:15:09,859
I've got to make travels through

452
00:15:09,860 --> 00:15:11,739
this Indian country, through a

453
00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,459
performance, a song, the dance,

454
00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:14,959
along with this peyote and our

455
00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,199
traditional practices, Wala Kota,

456
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,079
the Lakota ceremonies.

457
00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:20,959
Sure, amazing feeling to be able

458
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,919
to go, be able partake

459
00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,739
in a harvest, to be a

460
00:15:24,740 --> 00:15:26,599
able to make a prayer, to shed

461
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,779
a tear out there amongst grandma,

462
00:15:28,780 --> 00:15:29,889
grandpa, peyote.

463
00:15:29,890 --> 00:15:31,849
After a long day of talking to so

464
00:15:31,850 --> 00:15:33,869
many Lakota people,

465
00:15:33,870 --> 00:15:35,709
I couldn't help but think that

466
00:15:35,710 --> 00:15:37,709
it's not just about peyote.

467
00:15:37,710 --> 00:15:39,909
It's about connection, healing,

468
00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:41,809
love, and the ways in which

469
00:15:41,810 --> 00:15:43,889
culture persists.

470
00:15:43,890 --> 00:15:45,890
It's about Indigenous survival.

471
00:15:48,050 --> 00:15:50,069
As the sun sets, the desert

472
00:15:50,070 --> 00:15:52,029
air cools, and

473
00:15:52,030 --> 00:15:54,469
the day comes to an end.

474
00:15:54,470 --> 00:15:56,429
I'm reminded of how interwoven

475
00:15:56,430 --> 00:15:58,869
our lives are with this land,

476
00:15:58,870 --> 00:16:00,769
and how ceremonies are threaded

477
00:16:00,770 --> 00:16:03,009
through a larger story of

478
00:16:03,010 --> 00:16:05,579
survival and reclamation.

479
00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:06,870
Oh, everybody!

480
00:16:08,820 --> 00:16:10,740
Oh, come over here.

481
00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,599
Gather round.

482
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,599
Before you go out, we're gonna have

483
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,179
a little talk here.

484
00:16:18,540 --> 00:16:19,719
How many of you guys have been out

485
00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:20,659
here before?

486
00:16:20,660 --> 00:16:21,679
I've been here.

487
00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,499
So can we have all the volunteers

488
00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:24,500
raise their hands?

489
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,039
It's peyote harvesting day.

490
00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,619
I'm surrounded by about 40 people,

491
00:16:30,620 --> 00:16:32,579
nearly all indigenous.

492
00:16:32,580 --> 00:16:34,419
Most of the land where peyote grows

493
00:16:34,420 --> 00:16:37,019
in the US is privately owned.

494
00:16:37,020 --> 00:16:38,459
A local rancher granted us

495
00:16:38,460 --> 00:16:40,039
permission to harvest peyoty on

496
00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:41,879
their land, but we only have

497
00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,559
an hour and a half.

498
00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:45,439
I'm grouped up with the other Lakota

499
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:46,440
relatives.

500
00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,839
No one is ever going to be out into

501
00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,739
the brush alone, okay?

502
00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:52,059
You're going to harvest only

503
00:16:52,060 --> 00:16:53,959
medicine that have more

504
00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,459
than eight ribs and are

505
00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:58,679
bigger than two inches across.

506
00:16:58,680 --> 00:16:59,999
If you see those flags on the

507
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,959
ground, don't go past that line.

508
00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,569
Does everybody have the vests?

509
00:17:03,570 --> 00:17:05,439
There are all kinds of rules.

510
00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,479
If you want to continue to harvest,

511
00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:08,659
you're going to have to follow the

512
00:17:08,660 --> 00:17:09,659
rules.

513
00:17:09,660 --> 00:17:11,399
These rules are not our rules, these

514
00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,588
are the land owner rules.

515
00:17:13,589 --> 00:17:15,068
And there are ceremonial

516
00:17:15,069 --> 00:17:16,069
requirements too.

517
00:17:17,690 --> 00:17:19,328
It's very important that you give

518
00:17:19,329 --> 00:17:20,848
your offering.

519
00:17:20,849 --> 00:17:22,389
So it's important that we all

520
00:17:22,390 --> 00:17:24,149
understand that integral part of

521
00:17:24,150 --> 00:17:25,150
this offering.

522
00:17:25,829 --> 00:17:27,629
This is important because it changes

523
00:17:27,630 --> 00:17:29,549
the way we think about things, how

524
00:17:29,550 --> 00:17:30,929
we're doing things.

525
00:17:30,930 --> 00:17:33,029
This is all peyote territory.

526
00:17:33,030 --> 00:17:34,569
This is still our grandma's house.

527
00:17:35,630 --> 00:17:37,589
So how we do it and how we respect

528
00:17:37,590 --> 00:17:39,449
it is important. We only

529
00:17:39,450 --> 00:17:41,409
have a little bit of time, that's

530
00:17:41,410 --> 00:17:43,469
why it's important to get together,

531
00:17:43,470 --> 00:17:44,289
organized.

532
00:17:44,290 --> 00:17:45,299
That sun's already going down.

533
00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:47,159
There's some ceremonies to happen

534
00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:48,139
tonight.

535
00:17:48,140 --> 00:17:50,429
So according to the white man watch,

536
00:17:50,430 --> 00:17:51,769
it's about 20 till 3.

537
00:17:51,770 --> 00:17:52,770
And so how much time? Hour and a
half.

538
00:17:58,470 --> 00:18:00,389
And all of it has to be

539
00:18:00,390 --> 00:18:02,549
meticulously counted,

540
00:18:02,550 --> 00:18:04,489
from the number of ribs to the

541
00:18:04,490 --> 00:18:05,969
size of each cactus.

542
00:18:05,970 --> 00:18:08,169
We're going to count 13

543
00:18:08,170 --> 00:18:10,329
ribs at the mature medicine and

544
00:18:10,330 --> 00:18:12,049
we're going to count how many eight,

545
00:18:12,050 --> 00:18:14,069
how many seven, nine

546
00:18:14,070 --> 00:18:15,969
like that and

547
00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:16,989
we are going to document it.

548
00:18:16,990 --> 00:18:18,969
A rib is one of the vertical lines

549
00:18:18,970 --> 00:18:21,949
that run up the body of the cactus.

550
00:18:21,950 --> 00:18:23,909
More ribs mean the cactus is

551
00:18:23,910 --> 00:18:24,910
more mature.

552
00:18:25,630 --> 00:18:27,549
Harvesting requires a bag and

553
00:18:27,550 --> 00:18:29,649
a small knife, which volunteers

554
00:18:29,650 --> 00:18:31,489
can get from IPCI for

555
00:18:31,490 --> 00:18:33,289
a small donation.

556
00:18:33,290 --> 00:18:34,309
They have a knife in there these

557
00:18:34,310 --> 00:18:36,269
ones are 20 like this with the knife

558
00:18:36,270 --> 00:18:38,131
in the bag, but the bags are 10.

559
00:18:38,132 --> 00:18:39,969
Which one?

560
00:18:39,970 --> 00:18:41,179
Can I have a knife and a bag please?
Yep.

561
00:18:41,180 --> 00:18:42,180
The whole set to go.

562
00:18:43,110 --> 00:18:44,579
Thanks for our credit cards.

563
00:18:44,580 --> 00:18:45,419
It's in there?

564
00:18:45,420 --> 00:18:46,420
Thank you.

565
00:18:50,050 --> 00:18:51,142
Am I teamed up with you? You know
what you're doing?

566
00:18:55,030 --> 00:18:56,509
Not really, but I don't even got a

567
00:18:56,510 --> 00:18:56,967
knife, so yeah.

568
00:18:56,968 --> 00:18:57,968
You want a knife?

569
00:18:58,150 --> 00:19:00,109
Make a donation and get a bag.

570
00:19:00,110 --> 00:19:01,110
Yeah, I just got one.

571
00:19:01,990 --> 00:19:02,939
here, here, here.

572
00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:03,420
God bless you.

573
00:19:03,421 --> 00:19:05,429
In our small group,

574
00:19:05,430 --> 00:19:06,709
we step off the dirt road.

575
00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:12,539
The brush is so thick and prickly,

576
00:19:12,540 --> 00:19:14,079
it's nearly impossible to walk

577
00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:15,080
through it.

578
00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:19,319
Okay, now I definitely see how you

579
00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:20,579
can get lost out here.

580
00:19:20,580 --> 00:19:21,979
And this is thin.

581
00:19:21,980 --> 00:19:22,980
Oh, God.

582
00:19:25,990 --> 00:19:26,990
Marco! Polo!

583
00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,019
You found one?

584
00:19:35,380 --> 00:19:36,380
Found one!

585
00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,019
We just have to share the message
behind

586
00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:40,141
us. Found one.

587
00:19:42,750 --> 00:19:44,769
Someone finds the first peyote

588
00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:46,789
of the day, so everyone

589
00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:48,219
makes their way over to see it.

590
00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:50,159
Right here so we have

591
00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,039
to understand this

592
00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:53,839
is this grandma right here this

593
00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,799
grandma right here she gave us

594
00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,679
all our food all

595
00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:58,969
our medicines right here

596
00:19:58,970 --> 00:20:00,909
The Sandor points to a cluster of

597
00:20:00,910 --> 00:20:02,749
peyote cacti poking out of

598
00:20:02,750 --> 00:20:03,659
the ground.

599
00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:05,599
And so what we have to do is

600
00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:06,600
talk to grandma.

601
00:20:07,190 --> 00:20:08,669
Let grandma take care of us.

602
00:20:08,670 --> 00:20:10,569
So we have to recognize grandma

603
00:20:10,570 --> 00:20:12,209
right here and grandpa and give

604
00:20:12,210 --> 00:20:13,969
offering and talk to grandma and

605
00:20:13,970 --> 00:20:15,689
grandpa and say, thank you, grandma.

606
00:20:15,690 --> 00:20:17,449
It's gonna be you.

607
00:20:17,450 --> 00:20:19,009
You, you're gonna have to lead the

608
00:20:19,010 --> 00:20:19,809
way.

609
00:20:19,810 --> 00:20:21,689
Sandor looks over at the two

610
00:20:21,690 --> 00:20:24,149
youngest members in our group,

611
00:20:24,150 --> 00:20:25,629
children who are somewhere between

612
00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:27,539
five and seven years old.

613
00:20:27,540 --> 00:20:29,559
You're going to have to learn how

614
00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,519
to respect grandma and grandpa

615
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,159
and come out here.

616
00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,139
Come out here and show

617
00:20:36,140 --> 00:20:37,039
yourself.

618
00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:38,859
You have a Lakota name?

619
00:20:38,860 --> 00:20:39,999
You can say your name.

620
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,599
Say your name four times, grandma.

621
00:20:42,770 --> 00:20:44,649
It's important to identify yourself

622
00:20:44,650 --> 00:20:46,649
by your indigenous name,

623
00:20:46,650 --> 00:20:48,429
by your Lakota name.

624
00:20:48,430 --> 00:20:51,189
And at least have a

625
00:20:51,190 --> 00:20:52,809
thankful thought.

626
00:20:52,810 --> 00:20:54,849
Like thank you for my mom, my

627
00:20:54,850 --> 00:20:56,629
dad, and then you can put that

628
00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:57,409
tobacco down.

629
00:20:57,410 --> 00:20:59,109
Thank you for being here.

630
00:20:59,110 --> 00:21:00,879
This is really important.

631
00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,719
We all huddle around the cacti.

632
00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,819
This is an emotional

633
00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:06,749
moment.

634
00:21:06,750 --> 00:21:09,449
You should know how it lives,

635
00:21:09,450 --> 00:21:11,269
know the soil, these plants in

636
00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:13,109
here, how it lives about

637
00:21:13,110 --> 00:21:14,509
its life.

638
00:21:14,510 --> 00:21:16,289
This already knows us right here.

639
00:21:16,290 --> 00:21:18,149
As Sandor talks,

640
00:21:18,150 --> 00:21:20,469
some people around me start quietly

641
00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:21,229
weeping.

642
00:21:21,230 --> 00:21:22,949
It knows I got ache right here.

643
00:21:22,950 --> 00:21:24,329
It already knows that.

644
00:21:24,330 --> 00:21:26,669
It knows where my heart is already.

645
00:21:26,670 --> 00:21:28,929
But it's up to us to voice it

646
00:21:28,930 --> 00:21:30,829
in our prayer, in our offering

647
00:21:30,830 --> 00:21:31,789
here.

648
00:21:31,790 --> 00:21:33,329
This is part of our mental health

649
00:21:33,330 --> 00:21:34,330
and our healing.

650
00:21:34,850 --> 00:21:37,449
Before we start our prayer,

651
00:21:37,450 --> 00:21:39,509
Sandor looks over at Chachi,

652
00:21:39,510 --> 00:21:41,289
the Oglala rope runner who tied up

653
00:21:41,290 --> 00:21:42,290
the teepee.

654
00:21:43,090 --> 00:21:45,309
Sandor knows he's struggling with

655
00:21:45,310 --> 00:21:47,029
taking care of his two boys as a

656
00:21:47,030 --> 00:21:48,269
single father.

657
00:21:48,270 --> 00:21:49,450
I want you to be well.

658
00:21:50,970 --> 00:21:51,970
I want you to be well.

659
00:21:52,850 --> 00:21:54,250
I know your heart's hurting in many

660
00:21:54,251 --> 00:21:56,209
ways. I know that already.

661
00:21:56,210 --> 00:21:57,609
It's okay to have fun.

662
00:21:57,610 --> 00:21:59,029
It is also okay to cry.

663
00:21:59,030 --> 00:22:01,209
And be serious here too.

664
00:22:01,210 --> 00:22:03,269
For your own sake, for your sonny

665
00:22:03,270 --> 00:22:04,269
boys.

666
00:22:04,270 --> 00:22:06,229
Things are tough, but I was happy

667
00:22:06,230 --> 00:22:07,589
that you made that effort right

668
00:22:07,590 --> 00:22:08,729
here.

669
00:22:08,730 --> 00:22:09,849
So I'm happy you're here.

670
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,119
Sandor bows his head and

671
00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:14,979
closes his eyes as the group

672
00:22:14,980 --> 00:22:15,980
begins to pray.

673
00:22:23,450 --> 00:22:25,610
May they have a beautiful harvest.

674
00:22:55,950 --> 00:22:57,649
So we're gonna go hunting, so don't

675
00:22:57,650 --> 00:22:59,309
get lost.

676
00:22:59,310 --> 00:23:00,529
Stay with your people.

677
00:23:02,110 --> 00:23:03,489
You volunteers.

678
00:23:03,490 --> 00:23:05,589
Ah, you don't get lost.

679
00:23:05,590 --> 00:23:06,429
Make a lot of noise when you're

680
00:23:06,430 --> 00:23:07,769
going because there's pigs still

681
00:23:07,770 --> 00:23:08,770
out.

682
00:23:11,030 --> 00:23:14,369
It's okay to sing too,

683
00:23:14,370 --> 00:23:15,370
sing your songs.

684
00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,619
Before we disperse, someone

685
00:23:18,620 --> 00:23:20,579
passes around a bag of peyote

686
00:23:20,580 --> 00:23:22,759
buttons, and everyone,

687
00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:24,380
even the children, eat a piece.

688
00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,419
Suddenly I spot peyote under

689
00:23:30,420 --> 00:23:32,279
the brush, and I crawl in

690
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,359
to get a closer look.

691
00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:36,019
I'm not sure if it's old enough or

692
00:23:36,020 --> 00:23:37,999
how to cut it properly, so

693
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,299
I call out for help.

694
00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:41,899
Hey Adrian, I just wanted to ask a

695
00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:43,660
quick question really, really quick.

696
00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:46,619
Do I cut as deep as I can or

697
00:23:46,620 --> 00:23:47,659
is it just straight across?

698
00:23:47,660 --> 00:23:49,179
Yeah, usually straight across, just

699
00:23:49,180 --> 00:23:49,869
ground level.

700
00:23:49,870 --> 00:23:50,409
Okay.

701
00:23:50,410 --> 00:23:52,669
As long as you can see it exposed

702
00:23:52,670 --> 00:23:54,189
and that means it can regrow from

703
00:23:54,190 --> 00:23:54,339
it.

704
00:23:54,340 --> 00:23:56,159
Okay, I'm still going with you

705
00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:57,519
guys now I kind of have to separate

706
00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:58,520
it from my team.

707
00:23:59,740 --> 00:24:01,699
Adrian Primo first came down to

708
00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:03,839
the peyote gardens nearly 10 years

709
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,019
ago.

710
00:24:05,020 --> 00:24:06,779
He now brings his two children with

711
00:24:06,780 --> 00:24:07,769
him.

712
00:24:07,770 --> 00:24:09,749
I am a member of

713
00:24:09,750 --> 00:24:10,709
the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

714
00:24:10,710 --> 00:24:12,329
I reside in South Dakota.

715
00:24:12,330 --> 00:24:14,269
I teach the language

716
00:24:14,270 --> 00:24:16,549
and culture in

717
00:24:16,550 --> 00:24:18,089
the public schools in Rapid City,

718
00:24:18,090 --> 00:24:19,209
South Dakota

719
00:24:19,210 --> 00:24:21,429
In Texas, he saw firsthand

720
00:24:21,430 --> 00:24:23,769
how badly this ecosystem needed

721
00:24:23,770 --> 00:24:25,049
protection.

722
00:24:25,050 --> 00:24:27,229
So that turned into

723
00:24:27,230 --> 00:24:29,349
a movement of

724
00:24:29,350 --> 00:24:31,229
conserving the culture along

725
00:24:31,230 --> 00:24:32,789
with the plant.

726
00:24:32,790 --> 00:24:34,709
So these go hand in hand and

727
00:24:34,710 --> 00:24:37,169
it's something that's not,

728
00:24:37,170 --> 00:24:39,109
I think, is a

729
00:24:39,110 --> 00:24:41,549
common everyday conversation of how

730
00:24:41,550 --> 00:24:44,149
all of these are intertwined.

731
00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:46,369
And that conversation includes

732
00:24:46,370 --> 00:24:48,089
a kind of etiquette.

733
00:24:48,090 --> 00:24:50,669
Etiquette meaning that when you

734
00:24:50,670 --> 00:24:52,869
take something you have an exchange

735
00:24:52,870 --> 00:24:55,069
an equal exchange of energy at

736
00:24:55,070 --> 00:24:56,909
this current time because of this

737
00:24:56,910 --> 00:24:58,609
initiative I feel comfortable

738
00:24:58,610 --> 00:25:00,629
bringing my children to

739
00:25:00,630 --> 00:25:02,189
to the peyote lands and harvesting

740
00:25:02,190 --> 00:25:04,229
so for me I

741
00:25:04,230 --> 00:25:06,189
am laying eyes upon

742
00:25:06,190 --> 00:25:08,649
an answered prayer it's an amazing

743
00:25:08,650 --> 00:25:10,569
feeling and testimony to

744
00:25:10,570 --> 00:25:13,089
say eight years ago elders

745
00:25:13,090 --> 00:25:15,109
uncles and grandpas

746
00:25:15,110 --> 00:25:17,049
shed tears they put their knees on

747
00:25:17,050 --> 00:25:18,069
the ground and they...

748
00:25:18,070 --> 00:25:19,889
And they cried and they asked the

749
00:25:19,890 --> 00:25:21,729
creator help us make

750
00:25:21,730 --> 00:25:23,609
a way for us so that we can

751
00:25:23,610 --> 00:25:25,330
heal our generations and so that, we

752
00:25:25,331 --> 00:25:26,989
can connect our people to the land

753
00:25:26,990 --> 00:25:28,889
so that they can have a better

754
00:25:28,890 --> 00:25:31,009
chance at overcoming the

755
00:25:31,010 --> 00:25:32,159
odds.

756
00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,259
Now, Adrian is passing along

757
00:25:34,260 --> 00:25:35,659
what he's learned in the peyote

758
00:25:35,660 --> 00:25:37,579
gardens to his children.

759
00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:38,979
We want to prepare our children to

760
00:25:38,980 --> 00:25:40,239
be able to do that.

761
00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,139
We want them to have the ability to

762
00:25:42,140 --> 00:25:43,439
take the hats on and off, the

763
00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,639
spiritual hat, the emotional

764
00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,239
hat. We wants them to put on the

765
00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,039
father, the mother hat, be good

766
00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:50,379
teacher, the good relative.

767
00:25:50,380 --> 00:25:52,678
We wanted them to wear all those

768
00:25:52,679 --> 00:25:54,419
graciously. So by my children being

769
00:25:54,420 --> 00:25:56,479
able to put their direct hands

770
00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,559
in the ground

771
00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,479
here and to ask the mother earth and

772
00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,939
the medicine that we

773
00:26:02,940 --> 00:26:04,759
want to live, we want

774
00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:06,799
a way of life, who want to

775
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:07,800
survive.

776
00:26:08,510 --> 00:26:10,389
For Adrian, peyote

777
00:26:10,390 --> 00:26:12,519
is part of that survival.

778
00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,719
Generations ago indigenous people

779
00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,599
were put on reservations

780
00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:17,999
and they were putting away all of

781
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:19,239
their traditional ceremonies and

782
00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:21,199
they're outlawed and then

783
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,199
they they prayed for help and

784
00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,119
what came to us was this way of life

785
00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:26,819
this Native American church now it's

786
00:26:26,820 --> 00:26:28,839
an intertribal practice across

787
00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:30,099
Canada all the way through the

788
00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:32,959
United States and in Mexico and

789
00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,799
it was an answer to a prayer

790
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,899
so this prayer wasn't

791
00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:38,719
just today, it wasn't just last

792
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,319
year or eight years ago.

793
00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:41,249
It's been.

794
00:26:41,250 --> 00:26:43,189
50, 60, 120

795
00:26:43,190 --> 00:26:44,609
years in the making since the

796
00:26:44,610 --> 00:26:46,089
reservation area.

797
00:26:46,090 --> 00:26:48,229
While we talk, Adrian's children

798
00:26:48,230 --> 00:26:49,469
play nearby.

799
00:26:49,470 --> 00:26:51,409
And so now, fast forward to

800
00:26:51,410 --> 00:26:52,849
our children, we brought them with

801
00:26:52,850 --> 00:26:54,329
us and we see them walking around

802
00:26:54,330 --> 00:26:56,649
and it's because we want to

803
00:26:56,650 --> 00:26:58,129
pay special attention to what

804
00:26:58,130 --> 00:27:00,609
they're absorbing on a daily basis.

805
00:27:00,610 --> 00:27:01,689
So everything they're doing around

806
00:27:01,690 --> 00:27:03,269
this land, putting their hands in

807
00:27:03,270 --> 00:27:04,729
the soil, feeling the thorns in

808
00:27:04,730 --> 00:27:06,289
their hand. And for us indigenous

809
00:27:06,290 --> 00:27:07,669
people, we believe that this

810
00:27:07,670 --> 00:27:09,269
malleable age, they're building this

811
00:27:09,270 --> 00:27:10,889
neural networks, everything that

812
00:27:10,890 --> 00:27:12,649
they see they're downloading as

813
00:27:12,650 --> 00:27:13,930
their formula for life.

814
00:27:15,070 --> 00:27:17,129
I went off to find more peyote and

815
00:27:17,130 --> 00:27:18,829
spotted some big enough to harvest.

816
00:27:22,370 --> 00:27:24,049
Oh, it's right between this cactus

817
00:27:24,050 --> 00:27:26,489
thing. That's why it's still there.

818
00:27:26,490 --> 00:27:27,549
Go this way.

819
00:27:27,550 --> 00:27:29,129
Where'd it go now?

820
00:27:29,130 --> 00:27:30,130
Lost sight of it.

821
00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,420
Oh my god stickers.

822
00:27:37,778 --> 00:27:40,159
I squeezed through the brush and

823
00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,359
with a quick slice of my knife cut

824
00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:43,360
off the crown

825
00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,219
How'd you do, son?

826
00:27:50,220 --> 00:27:51,039
Did you do a good one?

827
00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:52,999
Look at

828
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:54,000
all my boo-boos.

829
00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:57,189
These are good boo-boos though, man.

830
00:27:57,190 --> 00:27:58,029
Yeah.

831
00:27:58,030 --> 00:27:59,009
Thank you.

832
00:27:59,010 --> 00:28:00,949
The group reconvened to share

833
00:28:00,950 --> 00:28:02,330
what they found and give thanks.

834
00:28:02,331 --> 00:28:03,331
Thanks

835
00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:14,742
How much did you get?

836
00:28:14,743 --> 00:28:14,769
Shit, I got a couple pounds?

837
00:28:14,770 --> 00:28:14,770
Whoa.

838
00:28:14,771 --> 00:28:15,771
Now bad for my first, huh...

839
00:28:18,610 --> 00:28:20,569
Hey, relative, let's gather

840
00:28:20,570 --> 00:28:21,570
around, uncle.

841
00:28:22,550 --> 00:28:24,269
Let's sing a thank you song.

842
00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:25,229
I don't know what time we're

843
00:28:25,230 --> 00:28:27,169
leaving, but this looks pretty cool,

844
00:28:27,170 --> 00:28:28,079
you know.

845
00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,659
Come on, brother.

846
00:28:29,660 --> 00:28:30,660
Sing the old thank

847
00:28:32,020 --> 00:28:33,020
you peyote song.

848
00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:02,459
Well that medicine started kicking

849
00:29:02,460 --> 00:29:03,579
in and I was pretty sure I just

850
00:29:03,580 --> 00:29:04,539
didn't want to look, I just wanted

851
00:29:04,540 --> 00:29:05,540
to sit down and sing.

852
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,519
I figured, I said hey where's uncle?

853
00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:10,899
No one checked on our chief leader

854
00:29:10,900 --> 00:29:11,379
man.

855
00:29:11,380 --> 00:29:12,179
Which way is back?

856
00:29:12,180 --> 00:29:13,919
Ow, ow, ow.

857
00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:14,920
Hey we all point different

858
00:29:15,580 --> 00:29:16,890
directions. Thanks for the reaction,
y'all.

859
00:29:19,570 --> 00:29:20,689
That way!

860
00:29:20,690 --> 00:29:22,149
That way y'all? That way.

861
00:29:22,150 --> 00:29:23,150
Gary's right there. Let's go.
Vamonos.

862
00:29:34,620 --> 00:29:36,579
After we returned to camp and the

863
00:29:36,580 --> 00:29:38,759
sun set, two dozen people

864
00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:40,819
entered the teepee meeting to

865
00:29:40,820 --> 00:29:42,359
participate in ceremony.

866
00:29:43,500 --> 00:29:45,359
Inside the teepee Charyce

867
00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,219
invited me to sit with her and her

868
00:29:47,220 --> 00:29:49,039
family, and I said yes.

869
00:29:50,540 --> 00:29:52,639
In that moment, I stepped out

870
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,699
of my observing journalist self

871
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,179
and into my own self,

872
00:29:57,180 --> 00:29:58,180
a Lakota woman.

873
00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,199
I didn't bring my audio equipment

874
00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,039
out of respect for the medicine and

875
00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:05,559
those around me.

876
00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,539
And I allowed myself to simply be

877
00:30:07,540 --> 00:30:08,540
present.

878
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,719
Sitting in the teepee,

879
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,559
I wept for all that has been taken

880
00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:15,560
from us.

881
00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:18,599
Sandor looked over at me and

882
00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,739
said, you may not speak

883
00:30:20,740 --> 00:30:22,639
Lakota or understand

884
00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:24,599
the words of these songs,

885
00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,519
but your spirit understands and

886
00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:27,599
that's why you are crying.

887
00:30:30,930 --> 00:30:32,749
After the ceremony, when

888
00:30:32,750 --> 00:30:34,709
we all exited the teepee to greet

889
00:30:34,710 --> 00:30:37,529
the morning sun and each other,

890
00:30:37,530 --> 00:30:40,189
Sanor told me I needed to come home,

891
00:30:40,190 --> 00:30:42,929
to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

892
00:30:42,930 --> 00:30:44,749
Other Lakota people in Texas

893
00:30:44,750 --> 00:30:46,829
said the same, come home.

894
00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:52,579
I kept thinking about this

895
00:30:52,580 --> 00:30:54,439
invitation to come home to

896
00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,299
South Dakota, a place

897
00:30:56,300 --> 00:30:58,239
I've never lived.

898
00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:59,479
Even after I went home to

899
00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,280
California, it stuck with me.

900
00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:03,779
I told my best friend Raven about

901
00:31:03,780 --> 00:31:05,719
the idea, and a couple months

902
00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:07,739
later, I found myself in a rental

903
00:31:07,740 --> 00:31:09,759
car, speeding down the highway

904
00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:11,599
toward the Black Hills with Raven

905
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:12,900
in the passenger seat.

906
00:31:14,260 --> 00:31:16,379
Raven is also Lakota,

907
00:31:16,380 --> 00:31:18,339
Sicangu, and when she heard

908
00:31:18,340 --> 00:31:19,939
I was planning a trip to the Black

909
00:31:19,940 --> 00:31:22,259
Hills. Near her reservation,

910
00:31:22,260 --> 00:31:24,819
she insisted on joining me.

911
00:31:24,820 --> 00:31:26,799
And to be honest, I couldn't

912
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,499
have brought a better travel buddy.

913
00:31:30,660 --> 00:31:32,859
Raven was raised in South Dakota

914
00:31:32,860 --> 00:31:34,959
between her mother's community

915
00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:36,799
on the Yankton Sioux Tribal

916
00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,859
Reservation, known as

917
00:31:38,860 --> 00:31:41,339
the Ihanktonwan Lakota Oyate,

918
00:31:41,340 --> 00:31:43,859
and her father's community,

919
00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:45,619
where she is an enrolled member of

920
00:31:45,620 --> 00:31:47,619
the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,

921
00:31:47,620 --> 00:31:49,479
known the Sicangu Lakota

922
00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:50,480
Oyate.

923
00:31:51,260 --> 00:31:53,239
We listen to powwow

924
00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:54,240
music.

925
00:31:57,720 --> 00:31:59,859
And we laughed and then

926
00:31:59,860 --> 00:32:01,739
my mom looks at him and

927
00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:03,819
looks at the sage and he goes,

928
00:32:03,820 --> 00:32:04,820
alright, have a nice day.

929
00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,699
And Raven put on her grandfather,

930
00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:10,639
reading his book, The Lakota

931
00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:11,640
Way.

932
00:32:12,389 --> 00:32:16,029
Chapter 2, Perseverance.

933
00:32:16,030 --> 00:32:17,909
More watching to overcome,

934
00:32:17,910 --> 00:32:19,909
to persist, to strive

935
00:32:19,910 --> 00:32:21,150
in spite of difficulties.

936
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,099
With Raven navigating,

937
00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:26,239
we traveled through South Dakota,

938
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,319
stopping along the way to pick sage.

939
00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:29,459
Is there a sage down there?

940
00:32:29,460 --> 00:32:30,439
Cause I'm like, maybe if I go in

941
00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:31,979
that road.

942
00:32:31,980 --> 00:32:33,199
Hella grasshoppers.

943
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:34,119
Oh yeah.

944
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:35,480
You can be afraid of grasshopper.

945
00:32:37,540 --> 00:32:38,540
We'll just be right back.

946
00:32:45,390 --> 00:32:47,929
You never take the

947
00:32:47,930 --> 00:32:48,930
tallest.

948
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:54,879
Raven taught me to be gentle and

949
00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:56,759
leave the tallest stock to watch

950
00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:58,939
over the rest of the medicine.

951
00:32:58,940 --> 00:32:59,940
How about this one?

952
00:33:02,150 --> 00:33:03,170
They're not too big, huh?

953
00:33:04,230 --> 00:33:06,689
It's like a family, they're

954
00:33:06,690 --> 00:33:09,169
family. Take these ones here, huh.

955
00:33:09,170 --> 00:33:10,609
I'm waiting for a grasshopper to hop

956
00:33:10,610 --> 00:33:11,610
right in my mouth.

957
00:33:14,710 --> 00:33:16,309
I want to get some for my mom.

958
00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:21,780
I never picked sage before.

959
00:33:23,260 --> 00:33:24,779
I never felt it not dried out.

960
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:30,359
When I was in Texas and Sandor

961
00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:32,159
told me to come home to the Black

962
00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,019
Hills, he also said

963
00:33:34,020 --> 00:33:36,839
to come visit him when I got there.

964
00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,119
With fists full of sage,

965
00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:40,679
Raven and I climbed back into the

966
00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,859
car and headed to Sandor's house.

967
00:33:42,860 --> 00:33:44,320
I mean it's beautiful out here.

968
00:33:45,500 --> 00:33:47,579
Sandor greets us outside his home

969
00:33:47,580 --> 00:33:49,539
and points to the open prairie

970
00:33:49,540 --> 00:33:50,679
land.

971
00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:52,099
It's more peaceful out here.

972
00:33:53,260 --> 00:33:55,239
It's been a blessing to be here to

973
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:56,559
help people.

974
00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:58,279
We have a ceremony here.

975
00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,099
We have Sweat Lodge here, and

976
00:34:00,100 --> 00:34:01,599
that other ceremonial lodge is over

977
00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:02,980
there in the wintertime.

978
00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:15,899
That's your altar place on your dash,
huh?

979
00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:17,678
He points to the sage we collected

980
00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:19,360
that's drying on the dashboard.

981
00:34:21,650 --> 00:34:23,069
You can arrange your chairs however

982
00:34:23,070 --> 00:34:23,839
you want.

983
00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,059
We take a seat under some pine trees

984
00:34:26,060 --> 00:34:27,860
and Sandor turns to Raven.

985
00:34:28,969 --> 00:34:29,969
Where's your folks at?

986
00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,259
My dad passed away a

987
00:34:33,260 --> 00:34:35,718
few years ago from cancer.

988
00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:37,619
He's the Sichangu side, because both

989
00:34:37,620 --> 00:34:40,039
my parents, my mom is Yihangtawan,

990
00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:41,959
my dad was Rosebud.

991
00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:43,839
And my grandpa is,

992
00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,718
on my dad's side, is the Marshall

993
00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:47,579
family, the Joe Marshall, the

994
00:34:47,580 --> 00:34:48,988
third, the author.

995
00:34:48,989 --> 00:34:51,329
Um, didn't he just pass away like?

996
00:34:51,330 --> 00:34:52,149
April.

997
00:34:52,150 --> 00:34:52,968
Yeah, yeah.

998
00:34:52,969 --> 00:34:53,908
Super recent. Didn't he write a

999
00:34:53,909 --> 00:34:54,899
couple books?

1000
00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:57,039
He wrote the Lakota Way,

1001
00:34:57,040 --> 00:34:58,599
the Journey of Crazy Horse.

1002
00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:00,819
I looked up to him a lot.

1003
00:35:00,820 --> 00:35:02,379
It was really special, special to

1004
00:35:02,380 --> 00:35:03,760
have him in my life.

1005
00:35:05,310 --> 00:35:06,929
It's a blessing to be able to tell

1006
00:35:06,930 --> 00:35:09,229
the stories through that medium.

1007
00:35:09,230 --> 00:35:11,229
You could imagine, you

1008
00:35:11,230 --> 00:35:13,469
know, old, old camps,

1009
00:35:13,470 --> 00:35:15,729
old camps where you sit down and

1010
00:35:15,730 --> 00:35:17,549
you're visiting with Ji

1011
00:35:17,550 --> 00:35:18,399
or you know.

1012
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,159
Aside from the time I spent with him

1013
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:21,999
in Texas, I didn't know

1014
00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,779
much about Sandor, or his story,

1015
00:35:24,780 --> 00:35:26,299
and I was looking forward to asking

1016
00:35:26,300 --> 00:35:28,159
him about all his various

1017
00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,139
roles, acting as a spiritual

1018
00:35:30,140 --> 00:35:32,399
guide, working with IPCI,

1019
00:35:33,810 --> 00:35:35,789
I think all indigenous people

1020
00:35:35,790 --> 00:35:37,090
are born into policy,

1021
00:35:38,190 --> 00:35:40,409
whether we like it or not.

1022
00:35:40,410 --> 00:35:42,249
I think that

1023
00:35:42,250 --> 00:35:44,289
being Lakota, understanding

1024
00:35:44,290 --> 00:35:46,289
a little bit of our history, we

1025
00:35:46,290 --> 00:35:47,129
all are leaders.

1026
00:35:47,130 --> 00:35:49,429
It's just a matter of where

1027
00:35:49,430 --> 00:35:51,330
are you going in your leadership.

1028
00:35:52,690 --> 00:35:54,589
And so Lakota woksapé really

1029
00:35:54,590 --> 00:35:57,069
teaches us a fundamental

1030
00:35:57,070 --> 00:36:00,529
concept about prayer,

1031
00:36:00,530 --> 00:36:02,659
you know, will check you.

1032
00:36:02,660 --> 00:36:05,939
About what wotakui is, kinship,

1033
00:36:05,940 --> 00:36:08,119
what compassion is,

1034
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,099
you know, wonshila, what

1035
00:36:10,100 --> 00:36:12,999
generosity is, wachantognaka,

1036
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:13,999
you know.

1037
00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,859
What fortitude is, whatchitanka,

1038
00:36:16,860 --> 00:36:19,759
what it means to have ,

1039
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:21,719
knowledge, to understand

1040
00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:24,499
something, wawbleza,

1041
00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:26,259
to understand it, not just to know

1042
00:36:26,260 --> 00:36:28,179
it, but to understand that these

1043
00:36:28,180 --> 00:36:30,629
values have to continue on.

1044
00:36:30,630 --> 00:36:32,189
And when you understand all of that

1045
00:36:32,190 --> 00:36:34,069
in the outside world, go get

1046
00:36:34,070 --> 00:36:35,689
an education, come back and help

1047
00:36:35,690 --> 00:36:36,749
your people.

1048
00:36:36,750 --> 00:36:39,109
It's always been about policy,

1049
00:36:39,110 --> 00:36:40,309
the suppression of indigenous

1050
00:36:40,310 --> 00:36:41,309
rights.

1051
00:36:41,310 --> 00:36:43,389
It's there always been a fight with

1052
00:36:43,390 --> 00:36:44,390
this government.

1053
00:36:45,550 --> 00:36:47,149
Whether you have indigenous people

1054
00:36:47,150 --> 00:36:49,649
in Congress or not,

1055
00:36:49,650 --> 00:36:51,309
it has always been fight for our

1056
00:36:51,310 --> 00:36:52,549
rights.

1057
00:36:52,550 --> 00:36:54,909
And so knowing that and

1058
00:36:54,910 --> 00:36:56,769
having a responsibility

1059
00:36:56,770 --> 00:36:57,709
to...

1060
00:36:57,710 --> 00:36:58,729
Your prayer.

1061
00:36:58,730 --> 00:37:00,389
And we all have a responsibility to

1062
00:37:00,390 --> 00:37:01,309
our prayer.

1063
00:37:01,310 --> 00:37:02,929
You can't just be sacred for these

1064
00:37:02,930 --> 00:37:04,039
days.

1065
00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:05,959
As you know, obviously, I'm very

1066
00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:07,959
new to this medicine, but also still

1067
00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,079
on my own journey

1068
00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:11,899
of just learning about where I come

1069
00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:13,419
from and who I am.

1070
00:37:13,420 --> 00:37:14,979
I guess for me, there's just a lot

1071
00:37:14,980 --> 00:37:16,939
of things that I'm trying to

1072
00:37:16,940 --> 00:37:18,360
balance with,

1073
00:37:19,780 --> 00:37:21,559
like making sure that I am being

1074
00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:23,099
respectful. It's just like a lot

1075
00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:24,679
things that i'm balancing when doing

1076
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:26,619
my work, but feeling the privilege

1077
00:37:26,620 --> 00:37:28,559
of like, I get to learn

1078
00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,239
about who I'm through my work at the

1079
00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:32,179
same time and I think it's really

1080
00:37:32,180 --> 00:37:33,199
a blessing.

1081
00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:34,479
But one of the things that happened

1082
00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:36,579
when I was in Texas,

1083
00:37:36,580 --> 00:37:37,919
it's something that a few people

1084
00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:39,419
have said to me and also you said to

1085
00:37:39,420 --> 00:37:41,019
as well when I mentioned that I'm

1086
00:37:41,020 --> 00:37:42,699
from Standing Rock, most people

1087
00:37:42,700 --> 00:37:44,919
said, oh, you need to come home now.

1088
00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:46,499
And I guess I just wanted to kind of

1089
00:37:46,500 --> 00:37:48,339
ask you, what did you mean when you

1090
00:37:48,340 --> 00:37:49,959
said that to me with coming back?

1091
00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:51,199
You said, you know, you come to the

1092
00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:52,200
Black Hills, you need come back.

1093
00:37:54,380 --> 00:37:56,539
Well, because you have spirit.

1094
00:37:56,540 --> 00:37:58,199
This is like all Lakota people.

1095
00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,539
When you find out that

1096
00:38:00,540 --> 00:38:02,899
you are Lakota,

1097
00:38:02,900 --> 00:38:04,879
I think there is a rejuvenation

1098
00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:07,179
into understanding

1099
00:38:07,180 --> 00:38:09,939
what your world view really is.

1100
00:38:09,940 --> 00:38:12,179
You know, wea, we,

1101
00:38:12,180 --> 00:38:14,839
the moon, we the sun,

1102
00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,779
ampewi, iya,

1103
00:38:16,780 --> 00:38:18,599
it's like a rock,

1104
00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:21,039
wea tuk'a iya is

1105
00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:22,619
creation stories.

1106
00:38:22,620 --> 00:38:24,539
How we look at a woman is

1107
00:38:24,540 --> 00:38:26,719
very strong,

1108
00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,079
very backbone, generational

1109
00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:30,539
keepers.

1110
00:38:30,540 --> 00:38:32,399
So I guess empowerment of

1111
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:34,659
yourself as

1112
00:38:34,660 --> 00:38:37,079
Lakota and to understand that.

1113
00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:38,959
I think for you

1114
00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:40,799
to come home is really

1115
00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:42,619
to reground your spirit

1116
00:38:42,620 --> 00:38:45,359
and to find yourself.

1117
00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:47,439
And everybody has a Lakota

1118
00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:48,440
name.

1119
00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:50,979
I don't know if you have a Lakota

1120
00:38:50,980 --> 00:38:51,769
name.

1121
00:38:51,770 --> 00:38:53,549
You know, but you should identify

1122
00:38:53,550 --> 00:38:55,569
yourself in your

1123
00:38:55,570 --> 00:38:57,129
nāghi, in your spirit, in that way

1124
00:38:57,130 --> 00:38:58,169
to honor yourself.

1125
00:38:59,410 --> 00:39:01,449
I felt good for you and I felt right

1126
00:39:01,450 --> 00:39:03,289
here, you know.

1127
00:39:03,290 --> 00:39:05,189
And that's how I said it, come

1128
00:39:05,190 --> 00:39:07,210
back, you come home.

1129
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,939
We sat in silence,

1130
00:39:10,940 --> 00:39:12,780
and then Sandor smoked a cigarette.

1131
00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:15,560
Tears welled in my eyes.

1132
00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:18,519
I felt glad to be there,

1133
00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:20,809
but there was sadness, too.

1134
00:39:20,810 --> 00:39:22,329
You know, the way I feel about

1135
00:39:22,330 --> 00:39:24,289
things is that I'm

1136
00:39:24,290 --> 00:39:25,290
getting older.

1137
00:39:27,370 --> 00:39:28,670
We don't live forever.

1138
00:39:30,950 --> 00:39:34,429
And I have a

1139
00:39:34,430 --> 00:39:36,249
desire to be as

1140
00:39:36,250 --> 00:39:38,509
useful as I can.

1141
00:39:38,510 --> 00:39:41,169
Be as useful I can to

1142
00:39:41,170 --> 00:39:42,610
help the spirit of somebody.

1143
00:39:44,430 --> 00:39:46,609
That is the responsibility

1144
00:39:46,610 --> 00:39:48,969
that we are supposed to have.

1145
00:39:48,970 --> 00:39:50,769
Help heal each other.

1146
00:39:50,770 --> 00:39:53,049
Onshiki chilapi,

1147
00:39:53,050 --> 00:39:55,309
have pity for each other.

1148
00:39:55,310 --> 00:39:56,769
Ihaki chappi.

1149
00:39:56,770 --> 00:39:58,290
Have heart for one another.

1150
00:40:00,210 --> 00:40:02,169
So, that morning with that

1151
00:40:02,170 --> 00:40:04,129
teepee and after that,

1152
00:40:04,130 --> 00:40:05,789
and then I knew that there was

1153
00:40:05,790 --> 00:40:07,729
something in that fire,

1154
00:40:07,730 --> 00:40:09,929
in that medicine to help you.

1155
00:40:09,930 --> 00:40:11,889
I knew there was a good

1156
00:40:11,890 --> 00:40:13,149
seed planted, there's a good

1157
00:40:13,150 --> 00:40:14,189
spiritual seed for you.

1158
00:40:15,420 --> 00:40:17,299
If I'm honest, I wasn't

1159
00:40:17,300 --> 00:40:18,999
sure what would come from my visit

1160
00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:20,000
to the Black Hills.

1161
00:40:21,020 --> 00:40:22,979
But being here, listening,

1162
00:40:22,980 --> 00:40:25,199
observing, learning,

1163
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,119
it's like it all allowed me to

1164
00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:29,039
feel a connection to the medicine,

1165
00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:30,919
the people, and the land

1166
00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:33,809
in a way I hadn't anticipated.

1167
00:40:33,810 --> 00:40:35,449
But I'm happy you came here today,

1168
00:40:35,450 --> 00:40:37,269
you know, to really get a

1169
00:40:37,270 --> 00:40:38,969
little piece of us.

1170
00:40:38,970 --> 00:40:41,209
And we don't like to be out and

1171
00:40:41,210 --> 00:40:43,229
open too much, you now.

1172
00:40:43,230 --> 00:40:44,909
It's a different world.

1173
00:40:44,910 --> 00:40:46,909
We like to more away

1174
00:40:46,910 --> 00:40:47,929
from people.

1175
00:40:47,930 --> 00:40:49,499
And we were blessed to be here.

1176
00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:50,969
Yeah, thank you for inviting me.

1177
00:40:50,970 --> 00:40:53,269
It's just feels

1178
00:40:53,270 --> 00:40:55,029
like a blessing even just to be here

1179
00:40:55,030 --> 00:40:57,229
to be able to talk to you and

1180
00:40:57,230 --> 00:40:59,229
yeah catch up with you again and

1181
00:40:59,230 --> 00:41:01,029
slowly be more so introduced to this

1182
00:41:01,030 --> 00:41:02,229
medicine even if it's not

1183
00:41:02,230 --> 00:41:04,189
necessarily that I'm going to it's

1184
00:41:04,190 --> 00:41:06,149
not always what it's about so

1185
00:41:06,150 --> 00:41:07,649
there's still a lot of things that I

1186
00:41:07,650 --> 00:41:09,629
am able to be in

1187
00:41:09,630 --> 00:41:11,569
relationship with so I'm

1188
00:41:11,570 --> 00:41:12,649
really appreciative for it.

1189
00:41:15,050 --> 00:41:16,609
I take a moment to breathe,

1190
00:41:17,750 --> 00:41:19,449
to let the weight of the journey,

1191
00:41:19,450 --> 00:41:21,489
the conversation with Sandor,

1192
00:41:21,490 --> 00:41:24,189
and my emotions settle in.

1193
00:41:24,190 --> 00:41:26,549
I think of our Lakota teachings,

1194
00:41:26,550 --> 00:41:28,749
and how we are star people,

1195
00:41:28,750 --> 00:41:30,209
and we all move through the

1196
00:41:30,210 --> 00:41:32,069
universe, guided by the teachings

1197
00:41:32,070 --> 00:41:34,209
of our ancestors, like Raven's

1198
00:41:34,210 --> 00:41:35,210
grandpa.

1199
00:41:35,950 --> 00:41:37,589
As we make our way back into the

1200
00:41:37,590 --> 00:41:39,749
city and towards the airport,

1201
00:41:39,750 --> 00:41:41,009
my phone lit up.

1202
00:41:41,010 --> 00:41:44,079
It was a voice message from Sandor

1203
00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:46,739
I'm going to send you with the song

1204
00:41:46,740 --> 00:41:48,779
so that you remember the

1205
00:41:48,780 --> 00:41:50,739
Lakota people,

1206
00:41:50,740 --> 00:41:52,459
where you come from.

1207
00:41:52,460 --> 00:41:53,780
Ocete Shako'i,

1208
00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:55,800
you and Raven.

1209
00:41:58,610 --> 00:42:02,448
(Sandor

1210
00:42:02,449 --> 00:42:03,449
Singing)

1211
00:42:50,410 --> 00:42:52,169
And then you text.

1212
00:42:52,170 --> 00:42:53,529
You all have a good journey.

1213
00:42:53,530 --> 00:42:55,249
You will come home again.

1214
00:42:55,250 --> 00:42:56,769
Remember your Lakota.

1215
00:42:56,770 --> 00:42:57,770
See you later.

1216
00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:03,239
Yeah, I mean, it's really sweet to

1217
00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:04,240
be.

1218
00:43:05,990 --> 00:43:08,249
Sent off with

1219
00:43:08,250 --> 00:43:10,249
a song like

1220
00:43:10,250 --> 00:43:11,570
that, which I think...

1221
00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:17,879
It feels good to

1222
00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:20,619
hear Lakota being spoken and

1223
00:43:20,620 --> 00:43:22,839
it feels good to

1224
00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:24,739
be seen as a

1225
00:43:24,740 --> 00:43:26,279
Lakota person by another Lakota

1226
00:43:26,280 --> 00:43:27,280
person.

1227
00:43:28,010 --> 00:43:28,889
It's always a little bit

1228
00:43:28,890 --> 00:43:30,949
overwhelming for me because a

1229
00:43:30,950 --> 00:43:32,690
lot of it is very new,

1230
00:43:34,150 --> 00:43:36,169
a lot of first times for me,

1231
00:43:36,170 --> 00:43:38,049
but I think for the most encouraging

1232
00:43:38,050 --> 00:43:39,689
thing that I've gotten from this

1233
00:43:39,690 --> 00:43:41,649
relationship with not

1234
00:43:41,650 --> 00:43:43,809
only like

1235
00:43:43,810 --> 00:43:45,689
with the medicine but also just

1236
00:43:45,690 --> 00:43:47,329
like with the relationship of like

1237
00:43:47,330 --> 00:43:48,929
knowing Sandor and starting to know

1238
00:43:48,930 --> 00:43:51,989
that ceremony a bit is just like

1239
00:43:51,990 --> 00:43:54,689
the openness and

1240
00:43:54,690 --> 00:43:56,849
the inviting.

1241
00:43:56,850 --> 00:43:57,880
And also, like,

1242
00:43:59,450 --> 00:44:00,769
something you've talked to me about,

1243
00:44:00,770 --> 00:44:02,669
which is like, this is your

1244
00:44:02,670 --> 00:44:04,189
homelands, too. Like, this your

1245
00:44:04,190 --> 00:44:05,709
coming home, like this is your

1246
00:44:05,710 --> 00:44:07,869
language, this is your space

1247
00:44:07,870 --> 00:44:09,789
to take up and to be

1248
00:44:09,790 --> 00:44:10,790
present in.

1249
00:44:10,970 --> 00:44:13,110
So I just really,

1250
00:44:14,190 --> 00:44:16,189
I'm grateful as well for him to be

1251
00:44:16,190 --> 00:44:17,559
offering that to us.

1252
00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:19,340
What Sandor shared with us about.

1253
00:44:22,300 --> 00:44:24,619
How important it is for

1254
00:44:24,620 --> 00:44:26,899
you to come home

1255
00:44:26,900 --> 00:44:28,919
and for us to be

1256
00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:31,839
home and for us to even be

1257
00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:34,279
doing this journey together

1258
00:44:34,280 --> 00:44:36,619
as two Lakota women.

1259
00:44:36,620 --> 00:44:38,979
You know, for me personally,

1260
00:44:38,980 --> 00:44:40,859
as a Lakota person not

1261
00:44:40,860 --> 00:44:43,199
living in my homelands,

1262
00:44:44,240 --> 00:44:46,459
it's always in

1263
00:44:46,460 --> 00:44:48,419
the back of my mind that I

1264
00:44:48,420 --> 00:44:50,239
need to come back home and...

1265
00:44:51,810 --> 00:44:54,369
Coming home is

1266
00:44:54,370 --> 00:44:55,670
hearing the language.

1267
00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:00,120
And hearing the songs.

1268
00:45:02,930 --> 00:45:05,329
Taking part in traditional

1269
00:45:05,330 --> 00:45:08,309
crafts and stuff, and people,

1270
00:45:09,550 --> 00:45:10,569
all the Lakota people. Those are the

1271
00:45:10,570 --> 00:45:11,769
instances that I feel like I'm

1272
00:45:11,770 --> 00:45:13,179
coming home.

1273
00:45:13,180 --> 00:45:14,699
I've gotten to the point with this

1274
00:45:14,700 --> 00:45:16,879
trip where obviously

1275
00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:18,739
we're here with

1276
00:45:18,740 --> 00:45:21,019
like these intentions of excitement

1277
00:45:21,020 --> 00:45:22,899
to like be going home, to be home

1278
00:45:22,900 --> 00:45:24,819
and I

1279
00:45:24,820 --> 00:45:27,839
think at a certain point I

1280
00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:28,779
felt some ease.

1281
00:45:28,780 --> 00:45:30,239
The one thing I've come to just

1282
00:45:30,240 --> 00:45:31,639
accept was like, wait, this is not

1283
00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:32,499
the end of anything.

1284
00:45:32,500 --> 00:45:34,359
This is just a continuation of

1285
00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:36,619
our journey and

1286
00:45:36,620 --> 00:45:38,499
it's really exciting and this

1287
00:45:38,500 --> 00:45:39,579
is just like a part of it.

1288
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:42,339
Sometimes I'm like, are we ever

1289
00:45:42,340 --> 00:45:43,939
gonna get bored of talking to each

1290
00:45:43,940 --> 00:45:44,799
other?

1291
00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:45,800
Like we just.

1292
00:45:49,169 --> 00:45:50,650
At one point I was like, damn, what

1293
00:45:50,651 --> 00:45:51,749
if...

1294
00:45:51,750 --> 00:45:52,789
What if we just give up?

1295
00:45:56,730 --> 00:45:58,409
No, we're just in one long

1296
00:45:58,410 --> 00:46:00,059
conversation.

1297
00:46:00,060 --> 00:46:01,139
That's what it feels like.

1298
00:46:02,980 --> 00:46:05,029
Okay, I think we're really...

1299
00:46:05,030 --> 00:46:06,250
Do you have to head off?

1300
00:46:07,370 --> 00:46:08,849
Probably do have time to listen to

1301
00:46:08,850 --> 00:46:10,769
you a bit more on the drive, so I

1302
00:46:10,770 --> 00:46:12,769
don't know if you wanted to

1303
00:46:12,770 --> 00:46:13,929
try and listen to some of your

1304
00:46:13,930 --> 00:46:15,749
grandpa's book again and pick a

1305
00:46:15,750 --> 00:46:16,979
chapter.

1306
00:46:16,980 --> 00:46:19,259
Yeah, let's do this.

1307
00:46:19,260 --> 00:46:20,869
It's a nice send off.

1308
00:46:20,870 --> 00:46:23,389
Chapter 8, Compassion,

1309
00:46:23,390 --> 00:46:25,289
Wa'ooshilapi,

1310
00:46:25,290 --> 00:46:28,929
To Care, To Sympathize,

1311
00:46:28,930 --> 00:46:30,229
The Story of the Eagle.

1312
00:46:31,410 --> 00:46:32,989
Some of our elders like to tell of

1313
00:46:32,990 --> 00:46:34,649
how our people came up out of a hole

1314
00:46:34,650 --> 00:46:36,189
in the earth, in the southern edge

1315
00:46:36,190 --> 00:46:37,729
of the Black Hills.

1316
00:46:37,730 --> 00:46:38,790
That's a creation story.

1317
00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:48,639
Altered States is a production of

1318
00:46:48,640 --> 00:46:50,059
the UC Berkeley Center for the

1319
00:46:50,060 --> 00:46:52,599
Science of Psychedelics and PRX.

1320
00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:54,139
This episode was reported and

1321
00:46:54,140 --> 00:46:56,519
produced by Adreanna Rodriguez.

1322
00:46:56,520 --> 00:46:57,999
This story was reported with the

1323
00:46:58,000 --> 00:46:59,799
support of the Ferris UC Berkeley

1324
00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,459
Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship.

1325
00:47:02,460 --> 00:47:04,379
Adizah Eghan is our senior editor.

1326
00:47:04,380 --> 00:47:06,039
Our executive editor is Malia

1327
00:47:06,040 --> 00:47:06,999
Wollan.

1328
00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:08,159
Jennie Cataldo is our Senior

1329
00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:10,159
Producer and our researcher is

1330
00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:11,739
Cassady Rosenblum.

1331
00:47:11,740 --> 00:47:13,519
Our associate producer is Jade Abdul

1332
00:47:13,520 --> 00:47:15,669
Malik. And our audio engineers are

1333
00:47:15,670 --> 00:47:17,989
Terence Bernardo and Jennie Cataldo.

1334
00:47:17,990 --> 00:47:19,869
Fact-checking by Graham Hacia.

1335
00:47:19,870 --> 00:47:21,469
Special thanks to Raven Marshall and

1336
00:47:21,470 --> 00:47:22,669
Michael Pollan.

1337
00:47:22,670 --> 00:47:24,229
Our executive producers are Malia

1338
00:47:24,230 --> 00:47:26,829
Wollan and Jocelyn Gonzales.

1339
00:47:26,830 --> 00:47:28,309
And our project manager is Edwin

1340
00:47:28,310 --> 00:47:29,329
Ochoa.

1341
00:47:29,330 --> 00:47:31,049
Our theme music is by Thao Nguyen

1342
00:47:31,050 --> 00:47:32,549
and Nate Brenner.

1343
00:47:32,550 --> 00:47:33,814
And I'm your host, Arielle

1344
00:47:33,815 --> 00:47:34,815
Duhaime-Ross.

1345
00:47:35,150 --> 00:47:36,989
Be sure to subscribe, rate, and

1346
00:47:36,990 --> 00:47:38,649
review Altered States wherever you

1347
00:47:38,650 --> 00:47:40,359
get your podcasts.

1348
00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:41,859
Most well-known psychedelics remain

1349
00:47:41,860 --> 00:47:43,579
illegal around the world, including

1350
00:47:43,580 --> 00:47:45,539
in the United States, where it is

1351
00:47:45,540 --> 00:47:47,359
a criminal offense to manufacture,

1352
00:47:47,360 --> 00:47:49,299
possess, dispense, or supply most

1353
00:47:49,300 --> 00:47:51,439
psychedelics, with few exceptions.

1354
00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:53,079
Altered states does not recommend or

1355
00:47:53,080 --> 00:47:55,119
encourage the use of psychedelics or

1356
00:47:55,120 --> 00:47:56,920
offer instructions in their use.