Students use their time off to serve others at Pine Ridge Reservation

OMAHA, NEB. – A group of College of Saint Mary (CSM) students elected to use their time off during fall break in service to others. CSM’s mission is one of service and compassion, and those core values were on display in a big way this month.

Nine CSM students led by Carla Gerriets, director of campus ministry, and Melissa Tiemann, research and electronic access librarian, traveled to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota for their service trip Oct. 17-20. The group helped to set up a store at the high school, packaged meals for individuals in need and participated in some traditional cultural activities, including a powwow. The students also spent one night at a farm and toured some of the local South Dakota attractions.

“The most important thing I learned on this service trip was the true importance of giving back to others,” said Sarahi Torres Alvarado ‘21, a psychology major.  

After the group arrived at the reservation, they unloaded the boxes of donations they brought and then packed 150 lunches for children at the elementary school. On the second day, they helped to set up a store at the Crazy Horse High School for students to purchase supplies they need at affordable prices. Later that day, they attended a powwow and played games and talked with girls interested in attending CSM.

“I really enjoyed the powwow,” said Maddie Ellis ‘20, nursing major. “I thought it was eye-opening to see the Native American culture. The people care so much about their culture, and it was amazing.”

The group ended their stay on the reservation by making fry bread and Indian tacos. Then they headed to the Badlands for some hiking. That night, they stayed at the farm of Gerriets’ sister and brother-in-law, where they rode four-wheelers and enjoyed a hayrack ride and a campfire. On the way back to Omaha, they made stops at a very snowy Mount Rushmore and Wall Drug.

For most of the participants, what impacted them the most was the exposure to the poverty affecting the majority of the residents on the reservation. The average annual household income is $6,000, and there are few places for employment. The town has only one grocery store, and it overprices all the food and other supplies. With no means of transportation, the people cannot travel the 30-45 miles to the nearest town to purchase groceries at reasonable prices.

“I was really surprised by all the poverty,” said nursing student Callie Gorecki ‘22. She explained how the grocery store overcharges the food and items it offers. For example, a birthday cake costs $30, and the store does not sell any cake mix. A can of baby formula, which will feed an infant for only a couple days, costs nearly $25. As a result, families at Pine Ridge cannot afford the things they need.

But in spite of these circumstances, the community members at Pine Ridge are very hospitable and resilient. “Everyone on the reservation was kind and welcoming to us,” explained Ellis.

“There are a lot of drug and alcohol problems on the reservation, but the people were some of the most warm and beautiful people I have ever met,” said Tiemann. “For them there is more to life than their situations.”

This is the second year in a row that students from CSM have gone to Pine Ridge Reservation to volunteer, and the community at Pine Ridge was happy to host them again.

Junior nursing student, Kelsey Crum ’21, went to the reservation both this year and last year, and she was struck by how little change she saw since the last trip. Despite the overall lack of progress, Gerriets emphasized that there was some evident positive change. “The fifth graders at the school raised money by selling eggs, so they were able to build a park,” she explained.

“Our trip to the reservation was very important,” added Tiemann. “We need to make sure we keep up our connection. Simply being part of their community can make change.”

This trip served as a way for the participants to live out the values of compassionate service and respect for the dignity of all people, which are part of the mission of CSM.

“This trip was very eye-opening,” said Grace Rooks ‘24, human biology major. “It taught me a lot about what different types of people are going through and helped remind me of why I want to go into the medical field.”

Gerriets agreed that the trip had much of an impact not only on the people of Pine Ridge but also on the participants.

“I am constantly reminded of how blessed I am,” said Gerriets. “The students reminded me that there can be change and good in the world.”

Students who went on the trip included: Kathleen Chance, Mariel Fierro​, Madeline Ellis, Grace Rooks, Beatriz Hernandez-Arista, Callie Gorecki​, Kelsey Crum, Sarahi Alvarado, and Alison Baquero-Cruz.