[puma-news] Youth Runners for Peace, open to your support

For those concerned about Peace....here are two young people making an incredible effort, who will be in Boulder Thursday, June 9,  4pm, at the Bandshell,....running on behalf of Peace: I invite you to offer them your support....see how below

From: YLANOW@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 12:41:48 EDT
Subject: National Youth Run for World Peace Urgent Update for Community and Press


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         

Our Own Isa Roske 16 co-founder of Youth Leaders in Action, Itsa Shash 17, of Boulder, are leading the south route of the National Youth Run for World Peace, and to bring attention to the critical state of the planet that they are inheriting.


Because of a lack of funding the visas for the Aztec youth have been delayed, so they haven’t yet joined the run, (they are expected to join in the run in Denver)leaving a huge responsibility and weight to carry for Isa Roske and Itsa Shash.  They are running with sacred staffs and a sacred bundle blessed by Indigenous Elders from numerous tribes.  The sacred bundle and staffs were passed to Isa and Itsa in Taos New Mexico on Saturday morning by the Elders and a group of youth from New Mexico that ran with them from the Mexico Border.   The sacred bundle and staffs are being carried all the way to World Peace and Prayer day in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

 
Isa and Itsa are leading a group of 8 runners and have been covering a distance of about 100 miles per day.  Every morning at sunrise the staffs and sacred bundle are brought out and blessed, and prayers for world peace are made, and then begin their run.   They are focusing on a better world for future generations with each step they take until Sunset when they bless the staffs and bundle again put them to rest for the night.  They believe that these prayers and the commitment they are making to run with these sacred objects will have a rippling effect that will help bring peace to the world.  Their strongest message to the communities that are receiving them is encouraging everyone to find peace within themselves, to live peace and be peaceful and that will have a rippling effect on their families, their community and the world.

 

They left Fort Garland, Colorado Sunday morning and were joined by 20 youth from Trinidad Colorado to help them get over La Veta pass to Walsenberg where they were received by the community and Ben Carnef a Lakota Sun Dance Chief. 


This morning they left Walsenberg, Colorado and are running to Pueblo, Colorado.   One vehicle broke down yesterday so they have only one vehicle and 4 other runners who are continuing on to support Isa and Itsa with the fulfillment of this sacred run for peace.  They are not only being challenged physically, but on every other level as well, so we are asking our Boulder Community to send them your prayers to keep them safe and strong as they continue to run towards Boulder.  We hope that you will all come out and receive these courageous youth, as the come into Boulder.  We will be receiving them at the Boulder Bandshell, this Thursday June 9th at 4:00pm with a indigenous ceremony and concert, (See press release below for details).

 

Youth running for the environment,
 world peace

By Cara Hall, Daily Camera Staff Writer
May 31, 2005


17-year-old Itsa Shosh is shown on Pearl Street
Mall with other Aztec youth on Friday sharing the
Aztec Dance to raise money to support The National
Youth Run for World Peace. Youth are running across
the United States and will be received at the Boulder
Bandshell on June 9.
 

If you thought the Bolder Boulder 10K was a long run, imagine running from El Paso, Texas, to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

It sounds like a monumental task, but that's what a group of teenagers from the Lakota Tribe's Wolakota Youth Council will accomplish during the Youth Prayer Run for World Peace.

Four groups began running last week in California, Texas, New York and Canada. They will converge in South Dakota on June 18 to celebrate World Peace and Prayer Day. That kicks off a four-day celebration of peace and sustainability that ends on summer solstice, June 21.

It's not as daunting as it sounds, though. Runners will cover the 100-mile-a-day stretches as a relay, handing off a tribal staff as they complete smaller sections.

Tamara Roske and her 16-year-old daughter, Isa, co-founders of a Boulder environmental group called Youth Leaders in Action, were already planning a slew of events this summer when they heard that the Peace Run needed an organizer for the southern section. They accepted the task, organizing everything but the New Mexico portion of the run.

Siri Martinez, 26, a mentor to the Boulder group, is spearheading an effort to bring eight teens, all Aztec dancers, up from Mexico for the run.

On June 9, Youth Leaders in Action will hold an honoring and receiving event for the runners as they pass through Boulder. Runners will speak about their experiences, youth groups will set up informational tables and Aztec dancers will perform receiving ceremonies at the Boulder Bandshell.

Tribal rock band Kan'Nal and environmental-message-infused hip-hop group Rapsody will perform. Boulder County Commissioner Will Toor is scheduled to address the crowd.

Youth Leaders in Action will then sponsor a group running to Cheyenne, picking up runners and dropping off others as they complete the relay.

Although the run is organized by American Indian youth, Roske says it is open to anyone who wants to participate. A core group of about 20 runners will complete the entire southern section, but others are welcome to join at any point.

"The whole vision is for indigenous and non-indigenous youth to come together," she says. "Everyone in the New Mexico portion is indigenous, but it's much more of a mix coming through Colorado. Adults will definitely be running, too."

Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse started World Peace and Prayer Day in 1994. His teenage daughter, Gracie, initiated the run to get youth involved with the event. Roske says it should be an eye-opening experience for young people thinking about their futures.

"It's a prayer for world peace, and to bring attention to the critical state of the environment and the world they're inheriting," she says.

Camera Staff Writer Cara Hall can be reached at (303) 473-1622 or hallc@dailycamera.com.
 

Bonnie Sundance
delight@denver.net
Caring for the Earth, all beings and working for Peace & Justice