Letter to the Editor:

On Native American Day at the Kila School, many adults and children from kindergarten to eighth grade gathered for celebration.

Nadine, the organizer taught Indian games. Ray brought a tepee and had backrests and animal hoof rattles. Elke was the documentary filmmaker present. Kara and Justin had the tables of hides, skulls, and horns. Some of these were on loan from the Forest Service in Libby, thanks to Jeremy and Ian.  

On behalf of the Montana Wilderness Association, Silver Cloud’s instructor, Brian, presented animal tracking, sign interpretation and birds of prey to the students.  We also talked about animal guides that many native peoples have deep beliefs connecting to several types. Some believe messenger guides come to us as wake up calls to alert us.  Shadow guides teach us lessons that we need to learn from our mistakes. Journey guides, many believe, appear at forks in our life paths. Our life animal guides can reflect our inner selves. These guides, it is believed, can take the form of an animal, bird, other human, spirit, the wind, a stone, a cloud or a lightning bolt, among other forms.

The kids had a great time and we all noticed that these kids were definitely Montana-type kids, meaning they were very into the outdoor aspects of life. The teachers and teachers’ aides also agreed that the children were very into it and were having a ball learning more about the animals, their habitats, predator/prey relationships, butterflies and scoping out birds of prey.

Surely, one does not have to be from Montana to appreciate the natural world, as folks from all over the planet revel in the splendor of the beauty and diversity of nature, but it sure helps. Montana is home to some of most wild and scenic places left in the world. In northwest Montana, we have room to roam and the various types of wildlife stuns the imagination.

But another factor was present. In talking after the program, many of the adults noticed something about many of the kids. A large percentage of these young people obviously had parents that took them out hunting, fishing, birding and on wildflower walks and other activities.  Quite a few of them had camouflage and pink camouflage outfits on and were well trained in outdoor pursuits. But many of them seemed lost, alone and afraid. In an almost eerie fashion they reached out to us, as if searching for the parental guidance and adult advice that perhaps they were not getting at home. It was in their eyes and their little voices.  They seemed to be crying out for some type of help, for some type of guidance.

Folks, it is definitely a crazy world out there. Most adults cannot find a balance in a world without ethics, where right and wrong are not clearly defined.  Imagine being a child and trying to figure this insanity out.

Father’s Day is around the corner. One does not have to be a biological dad to be a mentor. Summer recreational season is here. Families can include a neighbor’s kid in an outing. There are many free hikes and outings planned through conservation groups like Friends of the Scotchman Peaks and Montana Wilderness Association.  April Rainey does some great outings for the Society of American Foresters and April Rewerts has some awesome programs through the Outdoor Adventure Clubs.

Join us in helping to guide America’s youth. Who knows, besides putting a smile on a kids face and yours, you also may be guided. Stranger things have happened.

— Brian Baxter is an  outdoor educator and professional woodsman