Over the past winter the Lale Gurel Metzinger project, a project of
Pathways to Spirit, helped the Wambli Wiconi Tipi (Juvenile Detention
Center on Rosebud Reservation) to purchase new, sturdy canvas tarps
for their women's and men's sweat lodges. The lodges are now well
covered and up and running and four traditional Lakota leaders are
leading these ceremonies at the center. Their participation has made
it possible for the the young people incarcerated there and staff
members to sweat and pray together.

The youth at Wambli Wiconi Tipi are now being given "creative project
time." One of the projects now available to them is sewing
instruction and practice. The youth are first learning hand sewing
from an experienced sewing teacher in preparation to learn to sew on
the donated sewing machines. For those of you who don't sew, sewing
machines are now computerized, and in these times learning to sew on
a computerized machine is a valuable life skill for both women and
men. One of the possible directions for this to go is for the youth
to make their own traditional Lakota dance outfits. Another is
projects that combine sewing and beading skills.

Thank you to Peter Metzinger, who recently held the second
anniversary memorial of his wife Lale's death. If you didn't have
the good fortune to meet Lale Gurel Metzinger during her life (she
died when she was 33), she was a lifelong Greenpeace worker, teacher,
advocate of active, cheerful life, of all children and a friend of
many families on the Rosebud Reservation. The projects funded by her
friends and also by many who never met Lale are given in respect and
in the firm belief in the ability of mankind to bring about world
peace and healing.

Pathways would like to give the Wambli Wiconi Tipi some carpeting to
cover the inside of their sweat lodges. Carpeting, usually remnants
and odd pieces, is used in most lodges these days and over time
becomes worn and damaged by mildew. If you can donate for this
project please do so through PayPal and ear mark your donation for
the Lale Project.

We are happy to report that after two very long weekends and working late into the night, we have completed construction on the Pahin Sinte (Porcupine Tail) Children's Library on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
We want to thank all those who so generously donated funds to purchase all the building materials, carpeting, extra cabinets, lighting, etc. that was needed to make the 25ft. x 18 ft. space that houses the library that was donated by Erie, Colorado.
We also want to thank all those who checked out wish list on Amazon.com and purchased Native books to make the already incredible collection more culturally correct. The native books sit on the top of the shelves and bring a strong sense of pride to the children. There are still about 20 books on the list that have not been purchased so there is still the opportunity to participate.
I want to thank the Pathways volunteers who so generously gave up their time to travel to the reservation and work well into the night for many days to complete this construction. Paul Thew led the construction as he has been a builder for 20 years. Remember, we started with a blank space. He did all the building and guided us in many ways to the completion. The rest of us were unskilled laborers but we did it - and we actually enjoyed ourselves.
This weekend (April 19th) we go back to the reservation for the Grand Opening Celebration. All are welcome to attend and we are expecting around 300 people. There will be an honoring ceremony for the women of the Erie Library who gave so much of their time and hearts to this project. After the community leaders do this ceremony there will be a huge feast for the community. A dance is planned for the children afterwards. It is truly a huge celebration.
We are sure this library is one of the most beautiful spaces on the reservation. Cheri Franke, a library volunteer from Ely, Iowa, traveled with us as we put the books on the shelves and set up the library. She told us she felt this was one of the most beautiful and up to date collections she had ever seen. She added that the condition of the books was as if they were all just purchased that day.
The library is cozy and includes a DVD player with a diverse collection of educational videos for the children. There is an entire section of magazines that offer information about the entire natural world from spiders to horses. It's just so amazing.
As soon as we are able we will place a series of pictures depicting the birth of the library on our web site and some on the blog.
Pathways responsibility will now be one of support. Support is needed for purchasing items needed for story time crafts. Also, we will need help in the installation of computers for the children in a few months.
Over time, the children and their parents will learn how a library works and how books must be returned in a timely manner. We hope the local schools will take advantage of this very up to date library and all it has to offer.

Thank you all for your encouragement and support for the children.

We would like your help in purchasing new Native American Children's Books from our wish list on Amazon.com. If you would like to buy a book we would ask that you go to Amazon through the Pathways to Spirit web site because then you will not only buy us a book but Amazon will give us a donation for your purchase. In order to do that, click on the "Shop" link at the top of any page. Then scroll down and find the Amazon box. Click there. Once on the Amazon Home Page, follow the blue bar at the top to "Gifts and Wish Lists" --click there. At that page look to the right where you will see "Find Someone's Wish List". Type in Pathways to Spirit and the entire list of desired books will appear.

We are also in need of carpeting for the concrete floor in the building. The cost is approximately $450. We also must do some electrical work so financial donations but check or Pay Pal are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all your support for Children's Library.

For many years Pathways to Spirit was receiving approximately $400 every quarter from our Albertsons Community Partner card program. About a year ago, Albertson sold many of its stores and the new corporate owners took a very long time to reinstate this progam. Many of you have the old Community Partner Cards that no longer are valid.

We are asking that all who were part of the Community Partner Program or for all who would like to be a Community Partner to write, call or email us for your new cards.

Each time you shop for groceries or pharmacy if you show your Community Partner Card, Pathways to Spirit receives a percentage of your purchase. This is such an easy way to give to us without using any extra money. Remember, you must get your FREE card from us.

Let's get that dollar amount back up there again. Many thanks to all our supporters.

On February 16th, the Pathways volunteers loaded the gift of the Erie, Colorado Children's Library onto our semi. It was an amazing day as we drove up to this lovely little children's library and really set our eyes on the gift we were receiving. We wish to once again, thank the Library Board for choosing us to be the recipients of their library. We were told that a woman had spent 11 years putting this little library together. It was obvious how much love was in and around this building. They generously gave us not only the books, but the entire contents down to the last pencil and pen.

Next task - moving it to the town of Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We have the building and it needs some tender care. We are heading to the reservation on March 16th with the library and lots of building supplies to remodel the area of the school where the library for the community will be housed.

At this time we would appreciate donations for this remodeling. We also would appreciate the help of carpenter and electricians. We have been given a space that is around the same size as the building it came from. We are trying to raise $5000 for this project. Can you help?

Also, we are in process of receiving a list of Native American Books for children and when that list is available we will be passing it on to all of you in the hopes that you will purchase a few of these books for the library.

Also, several librarians have come forth and will be guiding the training of 3 people in the community to run the library.

When all is in place, there will be a Grand Opening Celebration for the community led by the community and spiritual leaders. We hope to make it a very grand celebration for the children.

We appreciate your support --financially or with your expertise.

A $1000 donation was given to Pathways before Christmas, making it
possible for Marlene Rouillard, Director of the Native American
Women's Empowerment Circle, to buy Christmas dinner groceries for 58
families. Marlene was able to provide the families with both turkey
and ham and 3 bags of groceries. And the Pepsi Center provided
wonderful brand new toys for the children of these families--battery-
operated toy cars for the boys and Barbie dolls and toy ponies for
the girls. This is the first time Marlene has had the resources to
give such a complete Christmas gift to some of the Indian families in
Denver. She sends a great big THANK YOU to the donors. The joy this
brought to everyone is tremendous.

This is our first project. The story of our beginning. The story of 4 people who drove to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and saw something we could never forget. We saw little ones with no shoes and clothes that did not fit. We met beautiful people who live with little or no furniture, many times no beds and not enough blankets. People with very bare cupboards and little ones pouring water on their cereal instead of milk. We could never drive home and leave it all behind us. It would stay strong in our memories every day. What would/could we do? We would load pickups and horse trailers with every kind of household thing imaginable and off we went to deliver our gifts. Hundreds and hundreds showed up to receive these gifts. We needed more pickups! Instead we bought ourselves a 48ft. semi trailer by selling burgers and hot dogs in front of Sam's Club stores and they matched our earnings.

That first year we went to the reservation 11 times. Now we are averaging 4 times per year. We no longer take clothing because that is the least needed of all things. We are always desiring your good condition donation of furniture, mattresses, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and all things kitchen. We just returned from delivering a load of building materials such as used doors, windows, kitchen cabinets. Many scrambled for these items. It was a lot of fun.

Of course you do have to live in the Front Range of Colorado. But others could send funds for the fuel. This project also needs a "Project Manager" who will coordinate pickups and drop locations.

Dave Hanson and Eric Iverson completed the first Pathways' sponsored strawbale home in August of '07. We are very grateful to them for their expertise and willingness to drive all the way from Washington State 3 times during the summer to do this pilot project. Each of them has been in the home construction business for many years.

The home was built in a remote location of American Horse Creek. Look under the Summer "07 newsletter for pictures of the home. It is truly a beautiful home.

Dave and Eric are not yet convinced that straw bale is the way to go on the reservation - especially with cost incurred when the builders are coming from so far away. The home had a materials cost of $22.07 per squ ft. The per diem cost was about $16.20 per square foot. So, the total cost of the projects was $38.27 per square foot. Dave feels that is too high for that building and if donated labor was added in as a cost it would be impossible. Also, these costs do not include power or septic. On the rez, these are usually free but take anywhere from 2 - 5 yrs to get installed. We have no control over that fact.

In order to continue with straw and clay building we would have to reduce the per diem costs of the builders which would mean a lot of help from the local people in that community. Another way would be to have a team living from RV's.

The best way for this type of building to continue on the rez would be for strawbale builders to commit themselves to workshops on the rez that could train local people. This would mean builders donating their time to train the Lakota people who are interested.

Dave and Eric feel that earh-bag construction may be even more appropriate on the reservation. Much education and training for the Lakota people for this concept must take place.

With all this in mind, we would like your input and suggestions. We want to hear from builders as to a way to improve housing - in a green way - on the reservation. If you have building experience and a lot of compassion, we would like to hear from you.

An amazing gift has come to Pathways to Spirit for our Library project. As many of you know, we have been trying to put together the library for many years. Many of you have donated beautiful books and wonderful suggestions. Still we were not moving forward. Putting all the pieces together such as "Project Manager" and "Sight Manager", etc. were just not coming together in an easy way.

Then, last year, the miracle began to put itself together. I want to share with you all how that happened.

The town of Erie, Colorado has a Children's Library that took many years (11) to put together. Well, they have outgrown their library and the Board decided to build a library that would include the children's collection. They were looking for a new home for their original library. One of our supporters called and asked if we would like their library. Not just the books, but the entire contents, including shelving, computers, card catalog, everything. We couldn't pass up this unbelievable gift. The new questions began. Where can we put this because they want it to go directly into a building?

The next miracle began. Our friends on the reservation, Carolyn and Eli Tail began to put together a Lakota School. This school would be for the children who just don't do well in the regular system. It would also focus on Lakota language and culture as well as regular subjects. The tribe gave them a building in the town of Porcupine. This is the town we wanted to build in because it is in the center of the Pine Ridge Reservation. To look at their website go to: www.cokantisopaye.com and learn about them. They will house the library from the town of Erie.

We are awaiting word to begin the process of packing and loading that entire library into our 48 ft. semi and head off to the reservation and put the library back together in its new home. We believe this will happen in January or February.

If you are a librarian, carpenter or lover of children and books, we invite you to join us in this huge undertaking and be a part of bringing the first Children's Library to the reservation. We also ask you to donate a new Native American children's book to the library. We want to increase that part of the collection.

Call or email us if you can help in any way. 970-282-8573 or pathwaystospirit@comcast.net