Vol. 3 Iss. 6
June 2024
ournals J THE
C IT Y
North Salt Lake/Woods Cross
YOUR C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
‘BUFFALO BLESSINGS’ OFFERS BASIC NEEDS TO HOPI AND NAVAHO NATIVE AMERICANS By Kerry Angelbuer | k.angelbuer@mycityjournals.com
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hen Sweetgrass covered the plains and the buffalo were plentiful, enough food and warm clothing could be obtained to bless the peaceful Hopi and Navajo tribes. The Buffalo dance held early in the year on the reservation pleads for enough snow and rain to nourish the land to support the plantings of beans, corn and squash. Since no irrigation is available to the tribes, this blessing is sorely needed. Anna Bennett, who lives in North Salt Lake and is the founder of “Buffalo Blessings” tries to answer the call of the dance by providing the basic needs for the Native Americans no matter the weather. Many years ago, Bennett and her husband travelled to the reservations and were filled with compassion for the lack of water, electricity and other basic needs they saw all around them. Many women walked for miles to obtain water and a man plowed his field with a metal disk attached to a stick. They found a sponsor within the tribe named White Eagle who was also striving to help his people and began to augment his efforts. Bennett applied for the federally recognized status for her charity so that all donations could be written off on taxes and began to raise funds and advocate for basic needs. Sundance Film festival donated high quality clothing left from promotional events, and Smith’s Marketplace allows shoppers to designate “Buffalo Blessings” so that a portion of all shopping done in the store will go to this charity. She has collected many individual volunteers and donors over the years who loyally contribute to her charity. A working, used tractor was provided to the man with only a plow stick, a bed for a couple suffering greatly from ravages of diabetes, a wood stove for a family struggling to stay warm in the winter and many
Native American child who benefits from “Buffalo Blessings” charity run by Anna Bennett of North Salt Lake. Courtesy photos
plastic containers to store ample water and corn to protect from vermin. Bennett’s husband, who passed away in 2020, organized all the transportation of thousands of pounds of healthy foods and other goods to the reservations. Bennett was not sure that the charity could go on without her husband, but recognized that needs during the pandemic, combined with drought, were even more dire. She hit upon the idea of a grocery gift certificate that could only be exchanged for food at local stores. During the pandemic, certificates, clothing and hygiene kits were handed out at outdoor locations with masks worn by both givers and receivers. She is especially generous to the grandmothers on the reservations that are often raising three to six of their grandchildren on very limited means.
Anna Bennett and a Native American in the Hopi Village of Mishonghori.
“It is the greatest feeling in the world,” said Bennett, “to be on the reservation, and be invited in to eat as the people express their gratitude and often cry.” Although she feels that her efforts “are only a drop in the bucket,” she finds the work “quite fulfilling.” Donations are accepted at buffaloblessing.com and on their Facebook page. Bennett’s phone number and email address are also available on the website allow-
ing interested donors and volunteers to speak to her. Bennett makes jewelry to sell on Etsy along with other donated items – like a huge online yard sale. All donations and money from sales go directly to those in need. Volunteers pay their own travel, lodging and incidental costs so the 100% of donations go to Native Americans. l
UNIFIED GOLF FIELD DAY A HUGE SUCCESS FOR DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
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ore than 400 middle school students from 10 Davis District schools participated in the Unified Golf Field Day on May 16. The event, sponsored by the Davis Education Foundation and the Rich Day Group at Valley View golf course in Layton, helped students learn fundamentals about golf and promoted a spirit of inclusion and camaraderie. “Local golfers helped teach the kids pitching, driving and putting,” said Scott Foster, the marketing coordinator for the Foundation. “This is the first time we’ve done a golf event, though other districts have used it in their unified sports programs in the past.” He said the program encourages middle school students, both with and without disabilities, to learn skills and foster friendships. “It was just a lot of fun,” Foster said. “The kids come together and it’s great to see students that normally might not interact with each other get to know new friends. Hopefully, there will be friendships that will last for years to come.” The event was a clinic – students
Students received tips and coaching on the putting greens at Valley View Golf Course in Layton. Photos courtesy of the Davis Education Foundation
worked on the driving range, then chipped and putted as well, introducing themselves in many cases to a sport they weren’t familiar with or hadn’t played before. “Unified Sports programs are crucial to building a
community where all students feel valued and included,” DEF Director Jodi Lunt said. “We are proud to see such enthusiasm and participation from our students.” The event was part of the broader
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“Show Up for Unified Sports” initiative championed by Utah First Lady Abby Cox and the Special Olympics of Utah. Foundation officials thanked Rich Day for its support and co-sponsorship of the program. “Supporting the Unified Golf Field Day aligns perfectly with our vision of investing in the potential greatness of every child,” RDG founder Rich Day said in a statement. This won’t be the last golf event for the Foundation, who intends to do it annually. “We’ve been doing Unified Sports for years,” Foster said. “Through the Foundation we’ve done soccer and basketball, and other Field Days, and we’re working to expand the program in any way we can, so we can introduce them to as many things as we can. This was just sort of a kickoff where we have these larger groups of students. Some of these kids will be invited back for a later tournament with smaller groups, and there will be clinics this summer. It’s such a positive thing for students.”l