I would like to thank the California State Parks for working with us on such short notice to host the Peace and Dignity runners. Ranger Emily Peterson graciously agreed to donate a campsite and the use of their annex so we could prepare the meals for the runners.
The Peace and Dignity runners are running from Alaska to Guatemala to fulfill the prophecy of the eagle and the condor. It is said when the eagle from the north and the condor from the south come together there will be peace.
At the end of November they will meet up with another group of runners in Tikal, Guatemala for a four-day ceremony. The group they will meet is running north from Argentina. They all carry with them the prayers, stories and songs of each community of indigenous people on their journey. Praying for our waters.
It was such an honor to meet these wonderful people. We first met them at Dyerville where a couple of local Wailakis, Ryan Frame and Kenny Chadbourne, joined them and ran the remaining four miles with them to the campground taking turns carrying the lead staff.
After a closing ceremony we all enjoyed a wonderful meal together. I would like to thank the basket-weaving group for agreeing to supply the food for them. I want to also thank the following people for your last minute shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. - Bill White, Denise White, Brian Speelman, Katie Speelman, Ryan Frame, Kimberly Frame, John Stillwell, Kenny Chadbourne, Tana Carrico, D’Ann Teasley, Carol Morrison and Jessie Morrison.
After breakfast the next morning we joined together for a ceremony, where we sent our prayers with them through song. I would like to thank John O’Rourke and Tom Milligan from California State Parks for joining in with us.
In Myers Flat they were once again greeted by a group of supporters, with the wonderful sound of the conch shell ringing out in the morning air, paying tribute to the four directions. More than a dozen locals participated, some running, some walking some cheering from the sidelines as they ran through Myers Flat.
Over the next few days they stayed in Laytonville, Covelo, Willits and Hopland. They were greeted with song and dance at all these places.
Some of our local Wailakis, Kenny Chadbourne, Tana Carrico, Natasha Carrico and Ricky Crenshaw Jr., continued to join them at some of these locations where they sang and danced with our neighboring tribes to honor the runners.
My heart will forever remember these wonderful people, and my prayers go with them on their journey south.
photo captions:
1. Eel River Nation of Sovereign Wailaki, Basket Weavers and California State Parks recently hosted the Peace and Dignity runners in Southern Humboldt.
2. Ryan Frame and Kenny Chadbourne joined the four-mile run along the Avenue of the Giants from Dyerville to the state park.
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