lenging. When accepting students and pairing them up with big sisters, one does not know the personalities of the incoming girls and it is possible a student is placed with someone who there is not a natural connection with. While there are some challenges, the positives that come out of this program are much greater. The first few weeks at Proctor, at any new school, can be intimidating. Proctor does a great job helping students feel welcomed through wilderness orientation, but the Big Sister Program provides girls with additional support when they return to campus. When a new, female student arrives on campus, they’re greeted with a full support system. They have an older, more experienced Proctor student to help show them the ropes. Big Sisters provide advice, and also help to promote class interaction. It can be scary to approach an upper classmen if you do not already know them, so having an older female figure who you can count on is key. After speaking with a current big sister, Mikaylee Ginchereau, we were provided with some insight of what it means to be a part of this program. When asked what her favorite part of being a big sister is, she said “It’s so rewarding to help a new student acclimate to Proctor’s community. I also love how I got to be a role model for a new student on campus, someone they knew they could rely on.” The Big Sister Program is a wonderful asset to the school. It provides girls with that additional support needed to get through their first high school year away from home. Connections that may not have otherwise been made are formed, and the resulting friendships are ones that often last for years after leaving Proctor. If you are even a little bit interested in being a Big Sister for next year please consider joining this outstanding program! Please contact Kyle Tremblay, JoJo McDonald or Madison Clarke.
partook in an Inipi Ceremony led by JR White Hat. The Lakota term ‘inipi’ means ‘to live again’. JR taught us about the spiritual significance of the ceremony, which is to offer your body and mind as a sacrifice to send out goodness and prayers. The Lakota believe that the ceremony draws all the powers of the universe into the lodge during the ceremony. The lodge resembles a tent; it has a wooden internal frame with thick covering to prevent any light from entering during the ceremony, and there is a small pit in the middle of the lodge for the rocks. The rocks are heated in a fire beforehand. The first seven rocks brought in the lodge represent the seven directions, and are placed by the leader of the ceremony in a particular way. The ceremony happens in four stages, each with its own significance. Songs are sung throughout the entirety of each stage in an almost continuous chant. The leader pours water onto the hot rocks to create steam, cleansing the body. JR addressed us and the spirits as “Mitakuye Oyasin,” which means “all my relatives.” This is because it is believed that all our spirits are related, and we belong to different families and nations. Many of the prayers that are sung during the ceremony are directed towards the spirits of the different nations of animals. The prayers are sung in Lakota, so unfortunately I could not understand the words, but they were very beautiful nonetheless. This ceremony is not a religious practice. Rather, it is “a way of life,” as Lori Patriacca puts it. I also spoke to Carl Hubbard ‘17, who has been regularly attending the ceremony. He told me, “I love the ceremonies, each time I leave I feel so alive and rejuvenated”. The ceremonies take place on the first of every month. I have been twice and I would highly recommend that every student attend at least once in their time at Proctor.
The Lakota Way By Toby Bannister-Parker
This Eaarth day, I was fortunate enough to get on The Lakota Way activity. We
JR WHITEHAT SPEAKS AT EAARTH DAY