I’ve been on the road with the Fort Robinson Outbreak Spiritual Run group, a gathering of 97 students and a hard working support team. The group is running to commemorate the spirit of their Cheyenne ancestors who were imprisoned at Fort Robinson in Nebrakska winter of 1878. While trying to force the Cheyenne into submission, troops starved the Cheyenne during freezing temperatures. Rather than freeze and starve and be sent to Oklahoma Indian Territory, the Cheyenne chose to face death during a late night escape in freezing temperatures. About half the group was killed as they fled into the nearby hills around the fort. A small group made it back to Montana.
Since I’ve been on this run with the youths, I’ve been inspired by their incredible enthusiasm. Some of them have been a part of this event since they were toddlers, carried by their grandparents. Keep the runners in your prayers. Today, the youths are running up to Bel Fourche,S.D. since the “breakout” at Fort Robinson on Friday night. Last night, Marilyn Pourier and a group of women fed all the Northern Cheyenne runners at a community center in Rapid City. Scott Means and his brothers also sang an honor song for the group. Those men can sing! Beautiful, strong voices. The evening dinners have been a wonderful way to end the days. Each night, organizer Phillip Whiteman Jr., opens up the microphone and invites the youths to talk about the day. Many of them take the microphone and sing traditional songs.
I’ll post more later.
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Jodi Rave