Native American Youth Prayer Run for World Peace Visits Berkshires
Wolakota Youth Run Cross-Country for World Peace
Great Barrington, MA (PRWEB) May 4, 2005
From nation to nation, the sacred eagle feather will pass hand to hand, giving Native youth the responsibility to lead us into a brighter future. On May 17th, Berkshire residents get the chance to meet, share a meal, and host thirty Native runners in their homes overnight from the Wolakota Prayer Run for World Peace visiting Great Barrington on its cross-country trek. Our Sacred Future Foundation is co-sponsoring a public pot-luck event with Berkshire South Community Center to welcome the Youth Runners on Tuesday, May 17th at 5:30pm, located at 15 Crissy Road in Great Barrington, MA.
Runners from American Indian reservations nationwide begin their journey from the Four Directions (Canada, Mexico-California, New York & North Carolina) in early May. Ending on June 18th in Peidmont, South Dakota aka Paha Sapa "Black Hills" - sacred site of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota nation.
They will gather with over 10,000 people for the 10th annual World Peace & Prayer Day, founded by Chief Arvol Looking Horse. The Run is open to non-Indigenous youth and adults as well.
The run is a rite of passage for the youth, where they learn to use traditional knowledge, connect with the Earth through prayer, and to experience first hand waking up with the sun, visiting different communities, and sharing their prayers for peace on the road. Sky Oldshield (Seneca/Dakota), the Wolakota Youth Council's Advisor says, "The greatest enemy is our self. We have to be a new kind of warrior, battling with our hearts and minds. What we face today calls for action from our hearts; otherwise, there will be no future for our youth. We must remember the sacred teachings of our ancestors, that we are all one."
The Wolakota Youth Council is sponsored by local Berkshire residents Melissa Kushi and Chris Lindstrom, co-founders of the non-profit Our Sacred Future Foundation, which is dedicated to renewing the wisdom and essence of traditional Native foods, agriculture, and healthy sustainable living. Their projects are devoted to education for sustainability, appropriate technology, alternative currency, and building sustainable community by bridging traditional wisdom with eco-technology.
To join the Potluck event at Berkshire South Community Center, please RSVP, to host a runner(s) in your home overnight, or to volunteer your help for the event, please call Melissa Kushi at 413-644-9050. The gathering is open to the public, 5:30pm to 8pm, and donations are being accepted to help the runners on their journey.
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