Rotation Browning Dental Clinic (continued:)
by Tyler

As our community service, Scott (my fellow extern student) and I took part in a community health fair.  TheHealth Fair was held at Browning Head Start Center.  The Blackfeet community dental clinic provided the materials – toothbrushes, floss, small paste, and clinic info.  We were there to provide smiling faces, encouragement to utilize the services and additional information about the clinic and services offered.  A stream of people passed through the stations, a number giving the dental station a wary smile and wide berth.  However several people stopped by picking up tubes of tooth paste.  They asked questions about the clinic and pointed out relatives and friends in the picture board of the dental clinic employees.

The fair lasted a few hours, lunch was served and followed by Native dancing.  The dancers filed in – five teenagers dressed in beautiful native dress.  A group dance by all five was performed followed by individual dancing. At the end of the last dance the dancers went among the tables selecting people to join in the dance.  One of the dancers a young girl approached our table and I realized as she drew near that I had treated her at the dental clinic the week before.  So with matching smiles, mine from nervous embarrassment and hers pain free, we went out to dance, a dance of unity.  And with that came the realization that community service is not just a bimonthly or semi-annual event but a daily activity at the Blackfeet Dental Clinic, in Browning, Montana. 

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