Almost there!

Made it to Billings, Montana last night. The roads were great up to that point. Once we passed through Bozeman, Mt. and then turned towards the road to West Yellowstone things seemed to change

The route is a long winding road along an icy river this time of year. Did I mention the roads were icy also. The pictures below show the river and the roads to through West Yellowstone and Island Park, Idaho.

We stopped to see my cousin Mary Lundstrom Winterton at her cabin on Bills Island, near Island Park, Idaho.


Nothing like arriving the evening of Christmas Eve, and having a cookie decorating party. We all gathered at Damons' family home since they offered the use of their home for housing. Damons folks went to Arizona for Christmas.... they are really the smart ones to go to where it is warm.

On our way to Rexburg, Idaho

It has been three months since we have seen all of our children. Boy were we anxious to see them all again.

The trip to Idaho was uneventful, except for.....the spare tire we changed when we arrived in Bismarck from Ft. Yates (Due to our fear that the tire on the trailer at the time was very worn and seperating and would blow!) was not very stalwart. As we pleasantly traveled along the freeway towards Billings, Montana, our "newly" placed spare tire's lug bolts had another plan to escape along with our spare tire down the interstate on it's own. Roger looked back in his side mirror as he felt a big bump and pulled over just as our spare tire went flying by us into the median and independently traveled for over 150 yards in two foot prairie grass. The search was on for the escaped tire! (My fear of snakes in the grass did not help the search.) Thankfully a couple in a truck stopped to help us and drove down the median until they found our tire and brought it back to us.

We felt lucky that our delay was only two hours to get a repair man to come and bring new lug bolts, and for us to limp along to Dickinson, North Dakota. (One of the new oil capitols of the United States) We bought a new tire and continued on our way. It sure beat the five hour repair truck wait we had this past summer after our tire blew on our U-Haul truck when moving to Ft. Yates, North Dakota this summer. All I can say is that I will take tire problems over engine problems any day.

Smilebox Playback

Click on the Smile Box reference below to check out our Christmas Card greeting with Pictures.

Smilebox Playback

Rubber Meets the Road

My observations regarding our experience here on the Reservation. Sometimes reality is worst than what you could ever imagine. That's where the rubber meets the road.

The reality on the reservation is as follows:

1. Addiction to alcohol and illegal drugs is rampant.
2. Government dependency is debilitating to the soul.
3. The hope level among the people here on a scale of 1 to 10,with 1 being low and 10 as great hope.....on the "Res" as they call it, is at a "1.5".
4. No economic prosperity
5. Few intact families (Father, Mother, and children living together)High level of
physical and sexual abuse due to alcohol consumption and associated behavior.
6. Diabetes is out of control, along with kidney failure (Due to diet, but mostly
alcohol) High level of dialysis patients and early death associated with these
diseases. (Not to mention the number of people dying in alcohol related
accidents).
7. Poverty level is high.
8. Teen Pregnancy and single parenthood common and promoted.
9. Victim-hood is a way of thinking,and the US Government and the white man owes them!
10. National, state, and Local (Trival) Government enabling and dependent on the
dependency of the people on the reservation. Power through subjugation.

Is there a way out.... possibly with the following changes in the mind set of individuals?

1. Positive Community and religious Influence
2. Education or skill development valued and sought beyond high school
3. Work opportunities developed by individuals
4. Benefit of economic development by local community leaders
5. Personal accountability and integrity.
6. Self reliance
7. Alcohol and illegal drug consumption stopped.
8. Dietary changes with excercise.
9. Intact family unit valued by individuals and promoted in the community.
10. Work ethic developed by each individual.


Development of Basic service businesses needed on the Reservation:

Hardware store
Hair cutting
Recycling
Trading post - to sell local crafts
Landscape Nursery or Landscape maintenance businesses
Flower Shop
Clothing shops
Shoe Shops
Craft and Fabric stores
Bakery
Food establishments -Pizza, Sandwich shop, Soup and Salad
Appliance Repair
Gas Station on Highway (Take advantage of travelers needing services)
Movie Theatre
Public Park - with Indian statues
Second Hand Stores for Clothing, appliances, etc.
Summer Indian Folklore Entertainment - to generate Tourism Industry
Manufacturing businesses
Sports shop - Fishing and Hunting Tour guides
Boat Dock -
History Museum of the Standing Rock - Sioux people
Drug Store