Making Fry Bread with Grandma

The thing you should know about powwows is that it�s not all dancing and eating, although that may be the best part. It�s also a time for education and everybody doing whatever they can to lift up the tribe. If you have a skill, share it or teach it. Watch the children, give someone a ride. If you have nothing to offer but a strong back, someone will find something for you to do.

During powwow weekend Ol Doc Hawk provides well baby checks and Mikey screens the powwowers for hypertension and diabetes. He also massages feet, bless his heart. Traditionally gay men were often the healers of the tribe and considered Holy Men, so the boys are just following tradition. The Lakota don't seem to be the least bit homophobic, in fact, the two-spirited were responsible for naming babies. Don�t ask Ray to name your baby, however, if you are looking for something original. He likes the names David and Jennifer

I can�t really do a lot of psychological testing at the powwow, so I always volunteer to help feed the people. This year, Grandma and I went over to the Habitat for Humanity site to made Fry Bread.

Every year at powwow time, Habitat for Humanity�which is an excellent cause if you have spare money or time� descends on the Rez and they aren�t happy if at least 3 houses aren�t done by Sunday night. Work crews from church youth groups and even some of Rabbi Jake�s Queer Jews all pick up a hammer to help. One of the perks for their service is hot, fresh fry bread prepared by the local ladies, or in this case the local ladies and their grandson�s white boyfriend.

Poor Grandma walks about as well as I do, so we are both glad to have a sit down job. We have 2 beat up aluminum folding chairs, a propane stove and a pile of government commodities: flour, baking powder, powdered milk, salt and enough lard to harden the arteries of every man, woman and child in South Dakota. Grandma and I heat up the lard and start mixing up the dough in old plastic wash tubs. There�s no recipe, but Grandma seems to know instinctively the right proportions of flour to water. Workers are following their noses and saying �Oooooh, I hope that is going to be fry bread� It�s ironic how this food that was born out of extreme poverty has become such a treat.

Fry bread is simple enough to make, you just pinch off a piece of the dough, flatten it out a little and slide into into the grease. When it�s golden brown, it�s done. Grandma and I are serving on paper towels with your choice of honey, powdered sugar or cinnamon.

For 4 hours that morning, Grandma and I feed the multitudes this delicacy. Everybody is appreciative and I am appreciative of their hard work on the houses. It�s amazing to see a house come together right before your eyes.

Grandma gives me a hug. �JJ, you make good fry bread for a white boy� she says

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