This past July, our group of Muslim high school students volunteered with United For Service, a non-profit organization that allows Muslim volunteers to stay with  and serve different communities both locally and abroad. We had a unique opportunity to stay for one week on the reservation of the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana. Surrounded by beautiful majestic mountains and green vistas, the Blackfeet Reservation is home to one of the ten largest tribes in the United States.

This trip allowed us to step out of our comfort zone and provided a rare glimpse of life in the Blackfeet community and a unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. We worked together to prepare and deliver meals to the elderly, worked with children at the tribal-run summer camp, distributed goods at the food bank and helped renovate the local early childhood education center. We also participated in raising a barn, a collective community project that brought together people of different backgrounds to serve a common goal.

Building for the future – planting the seed

The Blackfeet people have a rich tradition and strong bond with the earth which we learned first-hand from our observation with their interaction with nature and stories from local community members.

Due to limited economic opportunities, the local community is crippled with high unemployment rates. Also, earlier this year, the community suffered from a brutal winter with record-breaking snowfall resulting in a national state of emergency.

Horseback riding on the reservation

We collaborated with the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish, which, under the leadership of Pastor Calvin Yashie Hill, is working tirelessly to promote local economic opportunities in the form of agricultural, livestock production, and equine training programs. A cattle and horse herd will bring much-needed income in the form of cattle leases, which allows ranchers to earn revenue by raising calves. The herd and equine programs will create employment opportunities in horse training and animal husbandry. Alfalfa has also been planted on the ranch for cattle feed which will require ongoing cultivation.

Volunteers do community service and learn about Blackfeet culture while visiting the reservation in Northwest Montana

Where will the funds go?

There is currently inadequate storage on the ranch for farm machinery and due to severe winter weather conditions, there is a risk of damage to the equipment. The UFS team hopes to raise $2,500 to contribute to the purchase of a container to house agricultural and animal husbandry equipment and supplies. Thank you for supporting our goal to enhance economic opportunities for the Blackfeet community! (US donations over $20 are tax-deductible.)

“Who will lend Allah a good loan so that he can increase it many times?” (Qur’an 2:245)

– United For Service 2018 Team
Aaliya, Adam, Junayd, Safa, Sana, Yasmeen and ZaynTo learn more about United for Service and how you can help or participate with future teams, click on the website icon at the bottom of this page.