52 Weeks of Charity

Returning to the Blackfeet Reservation (Montana)

Some volunteer experiences stay with you long after you leave. Others call you back.

For the second year, I returned to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and once again, it reminded me how service is about so much more than the work itself… it’s about relationships, respect, and learning from the communities you serve.

The Blackfeet Reservation is breathtakingly beautiful. Wide open skies, mountains in the distance, and land that carries deep meaning for the Amskapi Piikani people, part of the broader Blackfoot Confederacy that spans the U.S.–Canadian border.

Their connection to their ancestral lands and the natural world is powerful and deeply rooted in tradition.

This year, I volunteered again with FAST Blackfeet, an organization doing meaningful work to strengthen community well-being and food access.

One of the places I most love volunteering is the Ō’yō’·ṗ’ Food Pantry, which is part of FAST Blackfeet’s broader effort to increase food security and promote food sovereignty across the Nation.

Their work includes three comprehensive programs:

• Ō’yō’·ṗ’ Food Pantry — Providing essential food support and combating food insecurity
• Nutrition Education — Helping rebuild traditional food knowledge and address diet-related health disparities
• Growing Health — Encouraging the production of local and traditional foods and medicines, helping reclaim food sovereignty

The food pantry is more than a place to distribute groceries. It’s a place of connection. Volunteers and community members work side by side, sharing stories, laughter, and purpose.

During the week, we also volunteered at the local retirement home, working in the kitchen to help prepare meals for residents. There is something deeply meaningful about preparing food for elders. A quiet act of care that connects generations.

Another memorable moment came when we helped clean up a cemetery on the reservation. Cows had broken through a damaged fence and caused disruption to the grounds, and volunteers came together to restore the space with care and respect. It was physical work, but it carried emotional weight, honoring those who came before.

We stayed in a local church during the week, sharing meals, stories, and laughter with fellow volunteers. One of the greatest joys of returning this year was reconnecting with friends I made during my first visit. What began as shared service has grown into lasting friendships. The kind that feel rooted in something deeper than time.

Beyond the volunteer work, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was learning about Blackfeet culture. Community members were incredibly open, generous, and proud to share their traditions and stories. Their willingness to educate visitors about their heritage was a gift. One that added depth and meaning to every moment of service.

Two of my now good friends, Bob Tailfeathers and Daniel Whippert, went out of their way to share Blackfeet culture, medicines, traditions, etc. They were both so generous!

We also learned how to make Indian tacos from the local recipe and learned about special herbs and recipes.

Returning to the Blackfeet Nation reminded me that volunteering is not just about helping, it’s about listening, learning, and honoring the people and places you encounter.

Each visit leaves me with gratitude for the friendships formed, the lessons learned, and the opportunity to contribute, even in small ways, to communities that welcome volunteers with open hearts.

Experiences like this are why my #52WeeksOfCharity journey continues to shape who I am, not just as a volunteer, but as a person.

Some places you visit once.
Some places become part of your story.

The Blackfeet Nation has become part of mine.