Every time we're in the car, I put in a CD of Hochunk music. My personal favorites are Bearheart Singers, my tega (uncle) Ken Funmaker and family. Although he and his son Nelson have passed, their dedication to preserving our beloved Hochunk drum songs will live on in the cds and tapes that they produced. When mom listens to this music, she sings along and pats her hand on her leg in time with the music. It's great to see her so animated. Often times I wish I wasn't driving because I'd like to jot down what she says, those great memories that comes to her when hearing this music. She'll share something with me about the song -- why it was composed, the last time she danced to the song, and where she heard it last. I like to remember the last time that I'd dance alongside my mom at pow wows or the Stand Rock Indian Ceremonial. The two step has always my favorite, and back in the day, my mom was quite the dancer, too! We've also been watching the VHS and DVD format movies that the Hocak Wazija Haci (our tribe's language program) has distributed to tribal members. The videos that are produced, most specifically stories told in Hochunk (with English sub captions) are her favorite. She actively listens; I can tell because of her body language and the fact that she waves me off when I ask her a question during each film. I've learned to use the pause button, get her attention, and then ask a question. Otherwise she's so in to the story that my side conversation is too much of a distraction and she gets frustrated when she can't concentrate. It's something to witness, because this doesn't happen when she's watching regular TV or a movie in English. Both TV and movies are just background noise, she doesn't really follow the storyline or plot -- but the sound of the TV must be calming to her because she always wants it turned on.
Since my last posting I've been successful at getting Nani into the tub. It was a challenge, and I was not going to give in to her stubbornness. I do my little "happy dance" every time we finish our bath time, and she always comments, over and over again how good the scrubbing and warm water feels on her back and how good it feels when she gets her lotion rub-down afterward.
This weekend marks Mom's third month away from Wisconsin. She still regularly asks for my older sister, Roxi and I have to share that Roxi doesn't live with us in Arizona. Then she asks about what the other Hochunk elders are doing, and I have to share that I'm not sure. I've recently received information about the elder programs at the Arizona Intertribal Council office, so I'm hoping that I can get mom involved with other wak sik xate (Native elders) in the near future. In retrospect, I wish that we had more family members that live closer to us. It means to much to mom to have family around and converse with others in Hochunk. Even though she often says that she's so thankful to us and for the care that we're giving to her her in Arizona, she's looking forward to returning to her homeland in June.
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