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WoLakota Project & Teachings of Our Elders

OSEU SEVEN: My Role in My Community with Ricky Gray Grass

Explore OSEU SEVEN: My Role in My Community with Ricky Gray Grass with available transcripts, learning questions and source alignments in the South Dakota and North Dakot

Interview · South Dakota · Ricky Gray Grass · OSEU 7

Themes: Kinship & family, Storytelling & oral tradition, Education & learning, Healing & resilience, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Community & responsibility, Listening & observation, Children & young people, Humor & play

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Learn About questions

What are some examples of roles and jobs in reservation communities? What is a prayer/spiritual run? Wha tis the importance of the “Run Around the Black Hills?” What is the importance of the “Run to Standing Rock?” What are some reasons to join a run like these? How do they help others? Self?

Learn From questions

What are roles that I play in my life? did I choose them all, or were some given to me? How do the roles that I have in my life impact the people around me? Have I ever taken part in a race or other activity to support a cause that is important to me? What was it and what was my experience of it?

Transcripts

My Role in My Community - Ricky Gray Grass - OSEU #7

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You know, I worked in the school systems, I worked as a counselor at treatment centers, but now I'm just more like a consultant, liaison, grandpa for hire, that kind of person. You know, I do a spiritual run every June around the Black Hills based on a creation story, the race around the Black Hills. And so, I get a lot of youth that are part of that. And then we did the prayer run to Standing Rock last year in October, I think it was the end of September and October. And then we did another prayer run with a young Hopi boy from Flagstaff, Arizona to Standing Rock. Some of my boys ran for nine days with the boys straight to Standing Rock. So, you know, we made a lot of connections and made family and friends on that run. And, you know, opened a lot of minds. A lot of the young people that, young men that went on the run with my sons were the first time experiencing out of state, you know, scenery. And so, you know, the first time they left the community or outside of South Dakota, you know, and they enjoyed that. And, you know, so, you know, have a good time, have a good life.

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My Role in My Community

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My Role in My Community - Ricky Gray Grass - OSEU #7 You know, I worked in the school systems, I worked as a counselor at treatment centers, but now I'm just more like a consultant, liaison, grandpa for hire, that kind of person. You know, I do a spiritual run every June around the Black Hills based on a creation story, the race around the Black Hills. And so, I get a lot of youth that are part of that. And then we did the prayer run to Standing Rock last year in October, I think it was the end of September and October. And then we did another prayer run with a young Hopi boy from Flagstaff, Arizona to Standing Rock. Some of my boys ran for nine days with the boys straight to Standing Rock. So, you know, we made a lot of connections and made family and friends on that run. And, you know, opened a lot of minds. A lot of the young people that, young men that went on the run with my sons were the first time experiencing out of state, you know, scenery. And so, you know, the first time they left the community or outside of South Dakota, you know, and they enjoyed that. And, you know, so, you know, have a good time, have a good life.