Habitat for Humanity

Okiciyapi Tipi
Eagle Butte, South Dakota

From June 5 to June 13, nine people from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley traveled to South Dakota for a Habitat For Humanity Mission Trip to the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Located in north central South Dakota, the volunteers worked with the local affiliate to renovate an existing home, for a young family. In addition to the travel and work of the team, UUCB contributed over $5,500 to Habitat, with most of the amount going to the local affiliate in Eagle Butte.

Photo: UUCB Habitat volunteers (left to right) Sharon Culver-Rease, Alicia Forde, Bob Moore, Jean Moore, Linda Laskowski, Lois Schneider, Peter Schneider, and Susan Lankford in front
of Crazy Horse Monument. Not pictured Jane Tocher.

In addition to the Habitat work, the team met most evenings for a “ spiritual journey” led by co-team leader and UUCB intern minister Alicia Forde. The local Habitat affiliate contact, Jerry Farlee, turned out to be a “pipeman” (shaman) who practices the Lakota earth-centered religion. Jerry was a walking encyclopedia of Lakota history, and opened his home, and heart to us during the week, declaring “mitakuye oyasin”: We are all related.

Photo: About-to-be new homeowner Clem and his daughter Margaret

Photo: Plaque at base of statue in downtown Rapid City, SD. The words are Lakota, and describe the various sacred objects to the Lakota.

• The Work
• Sweat Lodge
• The Land