Day
24 - Monday, March 6, 2006
Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma (en route to
Perkins, OK)
The
Sacred Walkers are out on the road walking
this morning, and the Sacred Runners are out
there running. But Nuno and I stopped off at
Langston University here in Langston, Oklahoma
to update the website and log onto the internet
for contact with news media in upcoming towns.
We were delighted to discover Langston
University, rich in African American history
and culture. Founded in 1897 as the Colored
Agricultural and Normal University, Langston
University is a "historically black college." Both
the city and the university are named after
John Mercer Langston, a prominent educator
and Virginia congressman from 1890-91.
The
last few days have been a delight, staying
with Don and Viola Hatch in Canton, Oklahoma.
We took part in a wonderful dance at the Canton
Community Center, held to raise funds for Don
and Viola's daughter Sue, who is needing a
liver transplant, among other things, all complications
from an auto-immune disease. The drumming and
dancers were magnificent, and went on into
the morning hours. Good food, great Spirit!
We were enveloped in the warm hospitality of
the Arapaho way and caught up in the pounding
rhythms of hope and healing.
While
we were dancing, Tuffie came in with news that
the Lady Warriors of Hammon, Oklahoma had just
won the State Class B Women's Basketball championship!
Viola and Don Hatch are driving over to Hammon
today to pick up our staff and return it to
us. These young women finished a perfect season
with our support and our spirit. We salute
them! We will always remember them. Way to
go Tawny, Samantha, Candi, Tiffany and Amber,
and all the other Lady Warriors!
Yesterday,
on our last rest day, many of our Sacred Runners
traveled south 40 miles to Geary, Oklahoma,
to attend another fundraiser for Sue Hatch.
They took part in traditional "Hand Games" -
and won! Our intrepid runners were in excellent
shape, and found the inner spirit to defeat
the local teams who are surely more experienced.
One of us, Joe, was given a nickname, Slinky for
his exotic and limber style. (Is it ok, Joe,
if I tell the whole world? Too late, oh, well...
[smile].)
So... we said our good byes and our many,
many thanks to the Hatches, and hit the long
road again after a good rest. Some among us
are restless, eager for the sacred road and
the long journey, and the rhythms of daily
excersize and new destinations. It feels good
to move. And it feels good to be bringing our
message once again to those who never heard
of Sacred Run. I count the librarian here at
Langston University, Bob Brown, as a new friend.
He and others nearby might join us at Circle
tonight in Perkins and share in the sharing
of wisdom. Land, Life and Peace - All Life
is Sacred.
Top
Day
26 - Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Iowa Nation, south of Perkins, OK
We
arrived among the Iowa Nation of Oklahoma on
Monday, where we are being treated like chiefs
by Public Safety Director, Bobby Fields and
many other gracious worker-hosts, including
dispatchers Donna French, Debra Coleman and
Joyce Miller (who made frybread), officers
Lori Stropes, Deanna Bigsoldier and Pablo Porras,
and Fire Captain Dave Milby.
Here's a bit about the Iowa Nation from their
website:
"The Iowa, or Ioway, lived for
the majority of its recorded history in
what is now the state of Iowa. The Iowas
call themselves the Bah-Kho-Je which means
grey snow, probably derived from the fact
that during the winter months their dwellings
looked grey, as they were covered with
fire-smoked grey... snow. The name Iowa
is a French term for the tribe and has
an unknown connection with 'marrow.' Their
language is a Chiwere dialect of the Sioux
language." Read
more...
On
Monday night, we set up a tent city in the
field next to the combined Fire and Police
station. The wind howled all night, and threatened
to turn into a really big Oklahoma storm on
Tuesday. On the advice of the Public Safety
Director Bobby Fields, we tore down the tents
and moved indoors to the spacious confines
of the Pow-wow building. The big storm passed
over without the predicted 70 mph winds and
hail, but we were treated to a spectacular
silent lightning show far off to the northwest.
(No, this is not a real photo from last night...
but that's how it looked!) Many thanks to Lt.
Milby for driving the shuttle bus back and
forth, and again to all who cooked, cleaned
and put up with us during our stay in Perkins/Iowa
Nation.
This
morning, rather than rest on a rest day, a
number of us went for a morning run. Invigorating,
lots of fun, great Spirit among us. Here's
our after-the-run and before-breakfast photo,
outside the Iowa Nation of Oklahoma Fire and
Police Station. Front row: K.A., Joel, Les
and Octavia. Back row: Mark, Marcus, Nuno,
Joe, Dennis, Larry (BG), and Jim. Running
for Land, Life and Peace - All life is sacred!
The
following poem was submitted by Sacred Runner
George Ray:
To
Lea & Leo Kooyaquaptewa
|
My Little Maiden Frog
My Little Maiden Frog
My Little Baby Toad
My Little Baby Toad
You are my strength
As I walk this lone road
There are clouds in the air
There are clouds in the air
The Sun is shinning high
The Sun is shinning high
Feel the wind on my back
As I walk this lone road.
There are mountains on the side
Mountains on the side
There are birds in the sky
An eagle circling high
There are many miles to go
On this lone, lone road. |
Your Grandpa misses you
Your Grandpa misses you
My little Maiden Frog
My little Baby Toad
You are my strength
As I walk this lonely road
The road will lead to you
The road will lead to you
My little Maiden Frog
My little Baby Toad
Grandpa will come back
On this lonely, lone road.  |
By Grandpa Geo, on the Road to
Clovis, New Mexico, Sacred Run 2006 |
Day
27 - Thursday, March 9, 2006
Leaving the Iowa Nation, Perkins, OK, heading north
to Ponca City, OK
Today's
reflection is by Sacred Runner K.A. Garlick...
We woke up early today to the cold wind blowing
in our faces. Some of us have been brave enough
to camp on the pow wow grounds while others
took up the offer of spending the night in
the hall. After spending a wild 3 nights here
at the IOWA Police and Fire Station we are
packing up and leaving for Ponca City today.
The rain is lightly falling and the walkers
leave moving briskly to keep warm.
Last
night we gathered for evening prayer as the
beautiful sun set over the hills. Since we
have been here the sky has been incredible
intense as the stormy tornado weather rolls
in. Continually changing as the colors of the
sunset fades into the night, the night sky
allows for a spectacular show of lightening.
After the sunset we gathered in a circle to
give a huge thanks to the fantastic and incredible
support and energy we have received by the
people working here at the Police and Fire
station. Tirelessly they all combined their
work with supplying us with food, drinks, transportation
and a warm and dry place to stay. Each person
always smiling and continuously giving to us
what we needed. It is places and people like
this that give us the strength to continue
walking and running. The enormous community
support is what makes the success of the Sacred
Run as we connect with old friends, make new
friends and spend time with local people hearing
about the stories of the community.
A
few of us spent some time with Pablo, a local
tribal police officer and he was telling us
many stories about the community especially
about the Carbon Facility that we will be passing
on our route to Ponca City. Many local workers
are sick and are dying of Black Lung, something
I never would have known had I not spent the
time with Pablo. Now I will run tomorrow and
pray for those that endure this sickness from
the hard work that they undertake.
By sitting with the community and listening
to their stories we are also able to share
the stories of what is going on back in Australia 
with
indigenous people and land. Most people are
surprised at the stories we share of the true
history of Australia and the genocide, the
destruction and violence that still continues
today. So we continue to walk and run to share
these important stories, to keep the message
of "All Life is Sacred" moving
throughout the world.
Our deepest gratitude and thanks goes to the
people of IOWA who have given us such wonderful
support. Thank you.
- K.A. Garlick, from Australia
(This is a P.S. from Roger, websteward
for sacredrun.org) - I stayed behind
Thursday morning at the Iowa Nation Police & Fire
Station to update the website. Stepping outdoors
to take a coffee break, a friendly little
critter came running by. Fast! Officer Lori
Stropes said it's good luck to see the Roadrunner.
Blessings and Godspeed for our Sacred Runners
and Walkers, yes? Here's the lucky portrait....
Top
Day
29 - Saturday, March 11, 2006
Just a bit fragmented, in Northeast Oklahoma
On Thursday, we arrived in Ponca City under unusual circumstances. The weather was suddenly cold, it was a little rainy, and our hosts, through a mixup, had not expected us! Everyone was gracious as could be, and the accommodations were provided as planned. Many thanks to the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma! The next night, we made an arrangement through Sacred Runner Larry Bringing Good. Larry's people, the Otoe-Missouria Nation, found a place for us on Friday night near Red Rock, Oklahoma. There are people with big hearts and great spirits everywhere we go.
Several of us have split off the group for a few days, for various reasons. Jun Yasuda is recovering from tendonitis, resting with friends of the Iowa Nation in Perkins, Oklahoma. Dennis Banks has a speaking engagement in Indianapolis, and flew out today. Jim Toren went along to drive Dennis. Tony and Holly need to have their van's engine rebuilt in Oklahoma City, which won't be done until Monday or Tuesday. And your websteward, (me, Roger) needed to take a few days off to do my "other computer job," -- the one that pays me! So the bunch of us, plus one or two, all gratefully accepted the offer of Sacred Run supporters Scout Cloud Lee and Annie Washburn, and stayed at their beautiful Rise N' Shine Ranch, in Tryon, Oklahoma.
The Runners and Walkers are moving on today to Tulsa, and will be staying with the Tulsa Creek Indian Community.
