Native Americans like to profess their love for the land the Creator has given them. But, unfortunately, a few of us use the land as our garbage dump. They just toss waste out their car window rather than carry it to a garbage barrel. The wind moves this stuff around to collect in tall grasses, fences, and outside of buildings.
For five years, the Tribal Council has set up "clean up" Saturday twice a year. They ask for volunteers and pickup trucks to pick up trash around the reservation. The crew meets at The Store and divides into groups to go to different places. We are given pickup sticks and big garbage bags. The nation foreman seems to know where most of the garbage has been piled up.
I've attended a few of these in the past. There are a couple of councillors and a couple of Reservation employees. Maybe another 10 to 15 people come out as volunteers. Even a few hours of this crew’s efforts has our land looking happier.
But this time, I got the idea of having our TDG be part of this process. After a few phone calls and email among the executive committee, we agreed to let Justine give an encouraging message through our TDG social media.
This time, the project had a crew of about 40 people. Our land looks happier than usual. A happier land circles into happier people. Hopefully there will be fewer litterbugs. Another circle is forming.
