Healing

Alcoholism, drug usage, and chronic health sickness (specifically diabetes) have found their way into Indigenous living.  Traveling through various reservation and non-reservation communities has presented these issues by way of streets, schools, and ceremonies.  The streets are littered with drunken native people.  They look like zombies walking on the side of the road in the night­­- sad and lost.  During the day they are angry and hopeless.  It is no wonder communities are scared for their children.  So many have lost their connection to the land and culture.

This run of peace and dignity knows the importance of healing.  It strives to make human beings aware of their environment.  Not only aware, but to have a relationship with the earth.  It’s not only about taking from her.  It’s also about taking care of her through prayer and song.  One’s connection to the earth is incredibly important.  There are many scholarly writings proving this importance- statistics and psychological diagnostics explaining native behavior in reaction to the government’s taking of the land.  But my elders know this.  They have seen it and been through it.  It wasn’t until they remembered ceremony and their connection to the earth that they were able to heal.  This run will help heal those who run and those it touches in one way or another.