Four Blackfeet Noticing's

Over the past four years, I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to participate as a dancer in my friend, Tom Crawford’s Sun Dance ceremony on the Blackfeet reservation near Heart Butte, Montana. Sun Dance is a tradition that’s thousands of years old and practiced by many plains tribes across the U.S. and Canada.

About 15 years ago, Tom opened his Sun Dance up to non-Natives. My dad was a friend of Tom and danced the year before he passed away. I was there that year to support my dad but never thought I would dance.

When Tom invited me to dance, I still didn’t think it was something I wanted to do. But the idea stuck with me. In 2020 I danced for the first time. This past July, I completed my fourth Sun Dance which honors the four directions.

I’m working on a story about Sun Dance and what it has meant for me. It’s a challenge for a number of reasons but Tom told me I’ve got to talk about it, so it’s coming.

In the meantime, below are four lessons about life I’ve noticed over the course of the visits I’ve had with my friends on the Blackfeet reservation.

Laughter. Lots of it. Free and easy. One of the first things I picked up on hanging out with Blackfeet people was that laughter happens in nearly every conversation. It struck me that in general, white people suck at laughing. The power of laughter is in the signal it sends, both internal and external. Despite what life throws at us, we can (and should) have a laugh. After all, what’s the alternative?
Time. Oh, sweet time. As my friend Casey reminds me, we can never save it. No, time can only be spent. Blackfeet are masters at a time well spent. Untethered to the Western idea of scheduled time. Things happen when they happen, right on time.
Generosity. Poverty is widespread on the reservation and yet. Some of the most selfless acts of giving I’ve witnessed have been on the reservation. It seems like people aren’t just willing, they’re eager to share what they have. Giving openly, often to complete strangers, without any sign of expecting something in return. Wow.
Reverence. “Nothing has any meaning, except for the meaning we give it.” This isn’t a Blackfeet saying but it’s a deep truth I’ve come across and I see it practiced on the reservation. Honoring everything. The sun came up today. Another day on this blue-green marble spinning in the middle of nowhere, what a gift! About to take a cold drink of water on a hot day? Pour some out for those who aren’t with us. “Everything has a purpose,” Tom told me while drinking coffee on his deck. “Look at the bees,” he said. “They pollinate the medicines we use. It’s all connected, we’re a part of everything else.” Western culture tried to concur with nature. How’d that turn out for us? We’re a part of this great and mysterious web and we can honor everything. Once again, what’s the alternative?

“Sit, watch, listen, and use common sense.” Thanks, Tom.

Over the past four years, I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to participate as a dancer in my friend, Tom Crawford’s Sun Dance ceremony on the Blackfeet reservation near Heart Butte, Montana. Sun Dance is a tradition that’s thousands of years old and practiced by many plains tribes across the U.S. and Canada.

About 15 years ago, Tom opened his Sun Dance up to non-Natives. My dad was a friend of Tom and danced the year before he passed away. I was there that year to support my dad but never thought I would dance.

When Tom invited me to dance, I still didn’t think it was something I wanted to do. But the idea stuck with me. In 2020 I danced for the first time. This past July, I completed my fourth Sun Dance which honors the four directions.

I’m working on a story about Sun Dance and what it has meant for me. It’s a challenge for a number of reasons but Tom told me I’ve got to talk about it, so it’s coming.

In the meantime, below are four lessons about life I’ve noticed over the course of the visits I’ve had with my friends on the Blackfeet reservation.

Laughter. Lots of it. Free and easy. One of the first things I picked up on hanging out with Blackfeet people was that laughter happens in nearly every conversation. It struck me that in general, white people suck at laughing. The power of laughter is in the signal it sends, both internal and external. Despite what life throws at us, we can (and should) have a laugh. After all, what’s the alternative?
Time. Oh, sweet time. As my friend Casey reminds me, we can never save it. No, time can only be spent. Blackfeet are masters at a time well spent. Untethered to the Western idea of scheduled time. Things happen when they happen, right on time.
Generosity. Poverty is widespread on the reservation and yet. Some of the most selfless acts of giving I’ve witnessed have been on the reservation. It seems like people aren’t just willing, they’re eager to share what they have. Giving openly, often to complete strangers, without any sign of expecting something in return. Wow.
Reverence. “Nothing has any meaning, except for the meaning we give it.” This isn’t a Blackfeet saying but it’s a deep truth I’ve come across and I see it practiced on the reservation. Honoring everything. The sun came up today. Another day on this blue-green marble spinning in the middle of nowhere, what a gift! About to take a cold drink of water on a hot day? Pour some out for those who aren’t with us. “Everything has a purpose,” Tom told me while drinking coffee on his deck. “Look at the bees,” he said. “They pollinate the medicines we use. It’s all connected, we’re a part of everything else.” Western culture tried to concur with nature. How’d that turn out for us? We’re a part of this great and mysterious web and we can honor everything. Once again, what’s the alternative?

“Sit, watch, listen, and use common sense.” Thanks, Tom.

Over the past four years, I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to participate as a dancer in my friend, Tom Crawford’s Sun Dance ceremony on the Blackfeet reservation near Heart Butte, Montana. Sun Dance is a tradition that’s thousands of years old and practiced by many plains tribes across the U.S. and Canada.

About 15 years ago, Tom opened his Sun Dance up to non-Natives. My dad was a friend of Tom and danced the year before he passed away. I was there that year to support my dad but never thought I would dance.

When Tom invited me to dance, I still didn’t think it was something I wanted to do. But the idea stuck with me. In 2020 I danced for the first time. This past July, I completed my fourth Sun Dance which honors the four directions.

I’m working on a story about Sun Dance and what it has meant for me. It’s a challenge for a number of reasons but Tom told me I’ve got to talk about it, so it’s coming.

In the meantime, below are four lessons about life I’ve noticed over the course of the visits I’ve had with my friends on the Blackfeet reservation.

Laughter. Lots of it. Free and easy. One of the first things I picked up on hanging out with Blackfeet people was that laughter happens in nearly every conversation. It struck me that in general, white people suck at laughing. The power of laughter is in the signal it sends, both internal and external. Despite what life throws at us, we can (and should) have a laugh. After all, what’s the alternative?
Time. Oh, sweet time. As my friend Casey reminds me, we can never save it. No, time can only be spent. Blackfeet are masters at a time well spent. Untethered to the Western idea of scheduled time. Things happen when they happen, right on time.
Generosity. Poverty is widespread on the reservation and yet. Some of the most selfless acts of giving I’ve witnessed have been on the reservation. It seems like people aren’t just willing, they’re eager to share what they have. Giving openly, often to complete strangers, without any sign of expecting something in return. Wow.
Reverence. “Nothing has any meaning, except for the meaning we give it.” This isn’t a Blackfeet saying but it’s a deep truth I’ve come across and I see it practiced on the reservation. Honoring everything. The sun came up today. Another day on this blue-green marble spinning in the middle of nowhere, what a gift! About to take a cold drink of water on a hot day? Pour some out for those who aren’t with us. “Everything has a purpose,” Tom told me while drinking coffee on his deck. “Look at the bees,” he said. “They pollinate the medicines we use. It’s all connected, we’re a part of everything else.” Western culture tried to concur with nature. How’d that turn out for us? We’re a part of this great and mysterious web and we can honor everything. Once again, what’s the alternative?

“Sit, watch, listen, and use common sense.” Thanks, Tom.

Over the past four years, I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to participate as a dancer in my friend, Tom Crawford’s Sun Dance ceremony on the Blackfeet reservation near Heart Butte, Montana. Sun Dance is a tradition that’s thousands of years old and practiced by many plains tribes across the U.S. and Canada.

About 15 years ago, Tom opened his Sun Dance up to non-Natives. My dad was a friend of Tom and danced the year before he passed away. I was there that year to support my dad but never thought I would dance.

When Tom invited me to dance, I still didn’t think it was something I wanted to do. But the idea stuck with me. In 2020 I danced for the first time. This past July, I completed my fourth Sun Dance which honors the four directions.

I’m working on a story about Sun Dance and what it has meant for me. It’s a challenge for a number of reasons but Tom told me I’ve got to talk about it, so it’s coming.

In the meantime, below are four lessons about life I’ve noticed over the course of the visits I’ve had with my friends on the Blackfeet reservation.

Laughter. Lots of it. Free and easy. One of the first things I picked up on hanging out with Blackfeet people was that laughter happens in nearly every conversation. It struck me that in general, white people suck at laughing. The power of laughter is in the signal it sends, both internal and external. Despite what life throws at us, we can (and should) have a laugh. After all, what’s the alternative?
Time. Oh, sweet time. As my friend Casey reminds me, we can never save it. No, time can only be spent. Blackfeet are masters at a time well spent. Untethered to the Western idea of scheduled time. Things happen when they happen, right on time.
Generosity. Poverty is widespread on the reservation and yet. Some of the most selfless acts of giving I’ve witnessed have been on the reservation. It seems like people aren’t just willing, they’re eager to share what they have. Giving openly, often to complete strangers, without any sign of expecting something in return. Wow.
Reverence. “Nothing has any meaning, except for the meaning we give it.” This isn’t a Blackfeet saying but it’s a deep truth I’ve come across and I see it practiced on the reservation. Honoring everything. The sun came up today. Another day on this blue-green marble spinning in the middle of nowhere, what a gift! About to take a cold drink of water on a hot day? Pour some out for those who aren’t with us. “Everything has a purpose,” Tom told me while drinking coffee on his deck. “Look at the bees,” he said. “They pollinate the medicines we use. It’s all connected, we’re a part of everything else.” Western culture tried to concur with nature. How’d that turn out for us? We’re a part of this great and mysterious web and we can honor everything. Once again, what’s the alternative?

“Sit, watch, listen, and use common sense.” Thanks, Tom.