Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - October, 2018

4

Powerful Spirit Run

strengthens unity

Participants stop in Chehalis, share message
of preserving tribal culture and values

On Sept. 19, the Chehalis
tribal community and Chairman
Harry Pickernell Sr. greeted
those participating in the Pacific
Northwest Spirit Run as they
crossed through the region on
their run down the Pacific Coast.
The endurance run spans
hundreds of miles from the Left: Elder Curtis Dupuis shared two Chehalis Tribal Legends when the
United States and Canada Spirit Runners visited on Sept. 19. Above: Chairman Harry Pickernell Sr.
border down to Alcatraz Island attaches a handwoven Chehalis basket necklace to one the staffs.
in San Francisco, California. The
goal is to visit indigenous tribes
along the route.
Runners gather to develop
potential strategies and share
proven solutions for resolving
areas of concern. They started
on Sept. 1, and the plan was to
reach their final destination on
Oct. 8. They selected Alcatraz
Island in San Francisco to
coincide with the Annual
Indigenous People’s Sunrise
Ceremony, which recognizes the
protest and occupation of the
island from 1969-71.
Once every four years,
they trek down the coast. The
runners carry a staff made of
natural materials gathered from
Mother Earth. Whoever accepts
one of the staffs takes on the Tribal members came to witness the moving event of songs and stories along the runners’ journey.
responsibility of caretaker.
Learning from each other sss generations used to exchange This represented the tribal
information.
community’s thoughts and
As they entered the Castro recognized the best wishes and was to provide
reservation, staffs in hand, INFORMATION runners and acknowledged strength and symbolic support
the Chehalis Canoe Family To learn more about the their commitment to learning as they continued through
welcomed them with a song Spirit Runners, please visit and sharing the tradition. He Oregon and down to California.
to honor and acknowledge the PNWSpiritRun on Facebook. said their dedication serves to To close the ceremony,
runners for their commitment strengthen the unity between runners wrapped the staffs in a
and resiliency. The Chehalis Indigenous Nations. They are blanket as a way to protect the
tribal community invited the helping to restore and preserve prayers and good wishes shared
guests for dinner and gave them introduced himself. He asked tribal culture and values and that evening.
the opportunity to share their everyone to share a few words teach future tribal leaders crucial As they continue their
message at the Community and provided runners with an steps in continuing the ways of mission of weaving Native
Center Gathering Room. opportunity to learn about the their Native American ancestors. American tribes together, the
Chehalis Tribal Elder April Chehalis Tribe in particular. runners will continue to share
Reynolds, prayed for the meal Honoring tradition Best wishes their stories about what they
and everyone at the gathering. The Chehalis Canoe Family have learned throughout the
Spirit Runners shared their Castro shared his thoughts sang songs to honor the guests courageous endeavor.
stories and what the adventure on how, prior to modern times, and our Chairman shared gifts Elder Curtis Dupuis told two
means to them. Native Americans used running with the runners. One notable Chehalis tribal stories that his
Everyone in attendance circled as a method for intertribal action during the evening grandfather and grandmother
up to learn more about one communication. He sees the included Pickernell attaching referred to as “The Mosquito”
another. Jose Castro, a leader and Spirit Run as a way to honor a hand-woven Chehalis-basket and “The Brown Bird” to wrap
mentor for the Spirit Runners, and carry on the tradition that necklace to the ancestors staff. up the evening.