I have been going through old pictures, and good memories were inspired visiting Unchi Martina Sherwood, cousins Greg Sherwood, Bobbi Sherwood-Widmann and their fathers and uncles, Lekshi's Billy, Don, Bobby, and beloved Aunts. Their family home was at Sherwood corners, not fat from Wakpala on the Standing Rock. Tahansi Greg still live there today.
I loved to go out on horseback to round up stray cattle for branding I also, carefully remembered to watch out for prairie dog towns. I was told by Ate to ride slowly on the wide-open prairies, but once I was out of sight I would ride like the wind! Prairie Dog holes never entered my mind, except out of the corner of my eye.
I remember in 1956, being with Tahansi's Billy Forte and Chuck Claymore, We would flank the calves for branding and cutting. If we were lucky, a big two-year calf would have missed branding the year before. After we finished branding, Billy, Chuck or I would get to ride the two-year calf, with nothing for our hands to hold.
At first, I had visions of being a Rodeo Bareback or Bull Rider. Then, that vision was rudely interrupted when a big calf I was riding went straight toward a tree and at the last moment went left. I kept going and very painfully crashed into the tree. At that moment I removed all intentions of riding bareback and bulls in a Rodeo. I hung my rodeo spurs and chaps at that moment!
I, also, remember my Lekshi's and my dad getting into some rough scraps with "cowboys" in Mobridge, from time to time. One time I remember my father backing up his Tahansi Sam Claymore in settling a score with three "cowboys" who had previous jumped Dekshi Sam from behind. On every occasion, even though my father sustained some black eyes and cut lips, the "cowboy's were very, very sorrowful to have engaged.
My dad always told me, " Son never give in to bullies, you may have to take some hits, but you will get your licks in, as well. After a few, times of realizing that you won't back down under any circumstances, the bullies will leave you alone." Our beloved parents, uncles, and aunts were tougher than nails but had never ending love, kindness, forgiveness and compassion for their relatives and friends.
I remember, Unchi Martina telling me about sitting on Gall's knee, how large his hands were and the scars he had from bullets from when he fought at Greasy Grass.
Thankfully, as I have grown older, I have found love, compassion, forgiveness, and prayer to be far more effective and less painful than my fists! Unchi told me that those old warriors of ours, like Gall, were so gentle and soft spoken at home. At the same time, they were "bloka" and if anyone, including the US Military, threatened their relatives or what they held Sacred, like the Paha Sapa, they would fight to the death and beyond.
