Day 1: Chief Mountain to Chewing Blackbones, 10 miles

4:30 a.m. is dark time.  There is only a hint of sunrise, more blue and green then yellow or red.  And it's cold.  In Montana in August, it's cold...not freezing cold...more, "why am I getting out of bed?" cold.  This morning there was good reason to, not that that made it easier.



Sunrise on Chief Mountain

Today began the Cheif Mountain Water Walk, led by Pauline Matt, to honor the sacred waters of the Blackfeet and to bring awareness of oil and gas drilling and fracking on the Reservation.  Eight women and two men set out to begin the walk, which when finished will measure80 miles, from Chief Mountain to Heart Butte.



Blackfeet women walking



This morning's walk was an "easy" ten miles on pavement, along highways 17 and 89, through the townsite of Babb.  The morning started off with the burning of sweetgrass and a quiet walk down highway 17.  Traffic is pretty light at 5:30 a.m.  Besides the scuff and slap of feet, the only sound to break the silence was the lowing of cows and yipping of coyotes, this morning was for quiet reflection.  

 

Along the way, at small and large crossings prayers, tobacco and songs will be offered to show honor to the water that all of our lives depend upon.  Today's crossings included the St. Mary's River where unbeknownst to us (until a Tribal Officer drove by and told us) was a grizzly bear hiding out.  Each woman and man offer their own prayers and blessings through the offering of tobacco...silent but profound, I like to think that they will matter.



Offering tobacco, songs and prayer to the St. Mary River


Walking on a busy highway gives you a different view of traveling.  Moving at the speed of foot, instead of 70 m.p.h. allows you to see the slow changing of views and to see what you might not have.  It also gives opportunities to help fellow creatures, no matter how small, which explains how it was a fuzzy caterpiller got an extra lift across the road; though he (she?) was probably shocked by the experience.




We probably made quite a sight to the tourists and travelers who were there to enjoy the mountains, plains and glaciers.  A pilot car, a handfull of people (and one puppy), and a tail car with a trailer full of water, camping supplies and sometimes a walker or two!  But whenever someone slowed down long enough to talk with us, to find out what we were doing, they were overwhelmingly enthusiastic and offered well wishes and hope.  Even the Montana Highway Patrol gave us a thumbs up!



Tail car

It was an experience unlike any other and I'm looking forward to the days ahead.  But for now, tired feet and lunch call.  If you see us walking give us some encouragement, or better yet join us!  This walk is not about any one person or group of people, but about how we as a people choose to treat the land and water that sustains us.

The next campground will be at Fox Creek, on the south side of the Divide.