Completing the Circle, Building Leaders: Lakota Youth Run Strong to Finish 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Around the Black Hills
Muscles are sore. Temperatures have alternated between frost and the 100 degree mark. Spirits have been challenged. But drawing upon a strong Lakota identity, inner spiritual strength, and togetherness, a group of Lakota youth and their supporters are set to complete a 500 mile circular run around the Black Hills, returning to its starting point at Bear Butte on Friday.
Completing the Circle, Building Leaders: Lakota Youth Run Strong to Finish 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Around the Black Hills
500 MILE SACRED HOOP RUN
Supported by the Cante Tenza Okolakiciye - Strong Heart Warrior Society
June 21, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
* Excellent visuals and four generations of runners are represented.
CONTACT: Gary and Randy Lays Bad, 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Run Leadership Council
On the road phone: 605-454-6801 or 605-454-1223
Muscles are sore. Temperatures have alternated between frost and the 100 degree mark. Spirits have been challenged. But drawing upon a strong Lakota identity, inner spiritual strength, and togetherness, a group of Lakota youth and their supporters are set to complete a 500 mile circular run around the Black Hills, returning to its starting point at Bear Butte on Friday.
“This run is based upon a Lakota origin story where the animals spilt their blood as they raced around the Black Hills,” explained run Leadership Council member Gary Lays Bad. “A new generation of Lakota people have picked up where the animals left off by running through their pain and spilling their blood literally, they make an imprint for future generations to build upon.”
The 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Run is in its 29th year of running and was founded a year earlier in 1983. This year’s prayer run began Monday June 18th at Bear Butte, South Dakota and has traveled through Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana passing through important Lakota historical and sacred sites such as Ft. Robinson, Nebraska and Grey Horn Butte (Devils Tower). While doing so, Lakota elders and adults have talked to the youth about building a strong cultural identity and living alcohol and drug free.
Youth leader Wesley Yellow Horse Jr. began the Sacred Hoop Run when he was eleven years old. Now in his twenties, he reflects on what the run means to the youth on Pine Ridge Reservation. ”The run is part of our history. It’s good to get away from the rez and do something for the people. We run for our people, running and praying for everyone that’s sick and needs prayers.
This year’s run has been challenged by a number of unexpected obstacles, scarce funding, and efforts at division from one of the groups. Despite these challenges, the youth have remained focused on the sacred nature of the run, rising at 4:30am every morning to prepare for nearly 100 miles of relay running. Through these challenges, a new generation of Lakota leaders are being developed.
“The run develops leadership in all the runners not just from the physical turmoil, but right now the world is challenging and difficult because the youth are troubled in their own ways,” said James Lays Bad, who has a degree in Indian Studies and works closely with the youth. “We are trying to transcend the problems by making a sacrifice for a week honoring the Lakota people back home.”
The final day will feature a seventy five mile run from Alzada, Montana to Bear Butte, closing with a ceremony and meal for the participants. Though the run may be over, the lessons and friendship forged during the 500 miles remain. Many of the youth have participated in the run for years finding a break from a hard life on Pine Ridge Reservation.
“Every time I am done, I don’t want to go home,” Yellow Horse said. “When I get home, I think about the better things that are out there.”
The annual prayer run also educates Lakota youth on treaty issues, teaching how the Black Hills was taken from the Lakota when the United States Government broke the 1851 and 1868 treaties that promised the sacred Paha Sapa,“for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupancy of the Sioux.”
“We are sending out an open invitation to President Barrack Obama to come down and participate in next year’s run,” said Leadership Council member Randy Lays Bad. “He has said treaties are the supreme law of the land, and if sovereignty is still intact, we invite the President and his family to participate.”
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This media release was produced by Cante Tenza Okolakiciye or the traditional Strong Heart Warrior Society who is providing security and media support for the 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Run. For more information contact 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Run Leadership Council members Gary and Randy Lays Bad at 605-454-6801 or 605-454-1223.
