Smudge the Rez begins Wednesday on Rocky Boy

The Rocky Boy Health Center’s Smudge the Rez Tour begins Wednesday in Box Elder, an event designed to raise awareness for suicide prevention and give hope to people in the area.

Melody Henry of the Rocky Boy Health Center, one of the events organizers, said they will be traveling throughout the area preforming the smudge on horseback with traditional drummers following them, blessing the community and providing outreach prevention packets to people.

There will also be food at the event.

Henry said the reservation has seen a lot of deaths from suicide in the past few years, and tribal leadership has been looking to do something to address it.

Henry she and her colleagues at the center initially considered doing a one-day gathering but thought that wouldn’t reach enough people, so instead they opted for a series of events throughout the area in the hopes that awareness would reach as many people as possible.

“We just want to tell people that there is hope,” she said.

She said they will have information and guidance at the events for people who may have vulnerable family members, the resources they can make use of and the support that’s in the area.

Henry said she hopes these events will be healing for those who come and that they can help some people who may feel lost.

The event will begin at the Chief Cornerstone Parking Lot at 5 p.m. with food at 6 p.m. and an open mic at 7 p.m. for people to share their experiences.

A mobile clinic and behavioral health specialists will be on site as well.

The event will be at Bonneau Sept. 20, Azure Site Sept. 27, Rocky Boy Agency Oct. 4, Middle Dryfork Oct. 11, Parker School Oct. 18, and Havre Oct. 25.