Rangers At Work

We Shared Our Experience

The following is a report by Urban Ranger Raymond Banks on a summer project at the Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation:
“It’s 5 a.m. and the Urban Rangers are sending a ranger Work Team to South Dakota to do work on an Indian Reservation… Ronald Chapman, Shon Barnes, Robert Days, Kalib Gilmore and myself, Raymond Banks, were picked to go on the trip. Mr. Elijika Valentine and Mr. John Gordon, Jr., were our adult team leaders. We loaded up the van with supplies, water and soda and other resources for the trip.

South Dakota is a place with beautiful hills, mountains and springs. Beneath the surface, the Lakota Indians at the Reservation have received the “short end of the stick.” In Rapid City you have a great community that is thriving, while about two hundred miles away the Native Americans on the reservation are struggling to make it.

For six days we had the opportunity to work and experience the Lakota culture. During the day we worked on the buildings and showed the “Res Warriors”, and what it means to be a “Ranger”. We worked together as a united Ranger Troop to paint several buildings on the Reservation.

In the evenings we had an opportunity to do some cultural events. The most sacred event that we took part in was a “sweat.” We learned the significance of it because it is prayer for family and if you are bothered by something you can leave it there. We entered the tent which represents the shape of a womb, for prayer. The steam from the water poured on the hot rocks represents the breath of life.

One of the things that the Native Americans do is play basketball like we do. After work we went to play with them in three on three tournaments. Although we lost, we realized that they were just like us.

We also learned to ride. For most of us this was our first time on a horse.

After lunch we sat in a circle and talked about our culture and shared our stories, which had an impact on the way I see life. The young men on the reservation may be poor, but they have the faith and determination to do better for themselves. The Urban Rangers and Res Warriors came together and finished painting the exterior of four buildings. What we did was not only encourage the Res Warriors but uplifted the whole community, just like we do our own community. They inspired us just like I hope we inspired them.

Our group hopes this could be the start of a great connection between the KC Urban Rangers and the Pine Ridge Reservation Res Warriors. We left the Reservation, but it will forever be a part of our hearts."
-Raymond L Banks, Urban Ranger

If you would like to help a Rangers return to Pine Ridge in 2010, please click here.