Remembering who we are

The annual sacred run of almost 100 miles to the top of Dzil Nchaa Si'an (Mt Graham) at 10,700' began with prayers at the San Carlos Reservation where the Chiricahua Apache were placed as prisoners of war (around 1872). The U.S. displaced them from their lands, from their connections to the gaan (deities) that dwell in the mountains, from the sacred places to practice their religion with the intent to destroy or assimilate them. You can read more about the history and importance of the sacred run to Mt. Graham at this embedded link and also please follow and support their current journey of prayer across the U.S. to bring their case to the Supreme Court on September 11, 2024 to not only protect their religion, but also "to stop the shattering of human existence and protect Mother Earth" for all people.

It's with this background of where the sacred run began at the place where a people are still held as prisoners of war, and the urgency of the current crisis of what we as humans are doing to destroy Mother Earth and one another, that I'm so deeply moved and filled with hope by the images below. Usually just one runner is chosen to finish the final leg up the mountain so I was so surprised to hear the chorus of yells from a mass of young runners coming up the final leg of the mountain together. And I remember Vanessa Nosie (daughter of Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr.) say once this fight to protect sacred places and their religion was so they can continue to exist as the creator made them to be - as Apache. So as we gathered at the end of the sacred run, with tears, she reminds all of us gathered together of the hope she feels today as we all remember who we are by running with prayers to this sacred place and that in the years to come she hopes "we will not have to run to remember who we are, but run to celebrate who we have become."

This is the schedule for the current Apache Stronghold Prayer Journey