“off the Rez…” – Girl Scouts from Duck Valley Indian Reservation attend nationwide conference

by Monique Johns

A little more than a week ago, I had the good fortune to accompany a group of girls and adult leaders from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation to the 52nd Annual American Indian Scouting Association Conference in Pocatello, Idaho. This is a nationwide conference for Girl and Boy Scouts, and it was only the second time in their long history that the conference was held in Idaho.

I was fortunate to meet and get to know the leaders and girls who attended the five day conference. I was surprised (and slightly relieved) to find that the girls from Duck Valley were not unlike other girls I had worked with in the Treasure Valley. They laughed, talked about boys, told silly jokes, and hoped that their summer would never end. They drank “Monster” energy drinks and dressed in jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes. They played basketball, wore make-up, and sometimes teased each other.

Adrianna, age 11, was one of the younger girls that attended the conference. Her playful demeanor, smile, and laugh made it very obvious that she is at that very precious time in her life when the world seems filled with butterflies and rainbows. But when she donned her “Miss Shoshone Paiute Princess 2009” pageant sash for the Conference powwow and began her fancy shawl dance, a routine steeped in American Indian tradition, Adrianna looked forward, smiled slightly, and remained focused on each movement. I was in awe of both her carefree nature and the homage she paid to her heritage through dance. She represented her tribe and the Girl Scouts beautifully.

I watched Adrianna affectionately hug her mom, the co-leader of the troop, chase after other girls at the conference during a friendly game of “tag,” and obediently follow after some of the older girls who appreciated having a dutiful follower. Like any other girl her age, Adrianna has many sides to her personality. And like any other girl her age, the world is her oyster.

Throughout the duration of the conference, I kept asking myself, “what impact can the Girl Scouts really, truly have on girls who live in such a remote location?” The answer, which I’ve known all along, is this: The only way we can make a difference is to make ourselves available to these girls and to provide support to the adult volunteers who lead them. Girls like Adrianna are the reason the Girl Scouts exist. We provide opportunities for girls to discover themselves and connect with other girls their age. This conference will remain with the girls for many years to come.

The regular membership year will begin in October, which is when the traditional troop program will begin for these participants. Although I was only able to interact with them for less than a week, I feel a very strong bond – the kind that is felt when you meet someone unforgettable. These girls and the adult leaders have slowly grown to trust us more over the last month. We are fortunate to have this trust, and we are going to do everything in our power to assure that we do not lose it.

Final Note
The Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council is appreciative to the Whittenberger Foundation, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Harry W. Morrison Foundation, and the Brown Family Foundation for their contributions to help bring Girl Scout programs to the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.