"You'll never be back. It's hopeless"

On a recent visit to the Reservation, a little girl at Frosty’s in Poplar picked me out as being ‘that guy’ that has something to do with the presents they received for Christmas. She had a very sad expression on her face and this is what she said…

“I appreciate all that you and your group are doing on the Reservation, but you’re wasting your time. It’s hopeless. Nothing will change around here; even you guys can’t do anything about it.”

For such a small kid, her words were grown up and measured. She said, “I’ve grown tired of traveling alone. There is just no hope, no direction, nowhere to go.”

I bought her a salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone and I told her that help is on the way.

I asked her if she could get some of her friends involved in the upcoming summer’s Fun Day/Boot camp and take a leadership role. Maybe have chalk drawing on the sidewalk and help the other kids.

I asked her if she spent any time in the refurbished movie theater and she said that she loves being there, it feels like her second home.

I asked her if she knew how the movie theater came to be.

She didn’t.

I told her it took LHNC and other groups over 7 years to complete and get it ready for kids like her to enjoy.

A small smile crossed her face and she said, “you guys made the movie theater?!”

I also told her that a little girl not much older than her said, we’d never be back and we’d never complete the movie theater project.

Another small smile crossed her face and she said: "I’ll see you this summer."