Saturday, July 26, 2008

Reconnected

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez
Journal Staff Writer
      An ancient Native American prophecy says we live in the time of the Eagle and the Condor, an era in which unification and balance are possible in the world.
    Runners from all over North, Central and South America are physically manifesting the prophecy in the 2008 Peace and Dignity Journeys, which reached Albuquerque this week.
    The run begins at two points — Eklutna, Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina — and snakes from each location to a meeting point in Panama where a final ceremony will be held, symbolizing the reunification of the indigenous people of North America, represented by the Eagle, and those of South America, represented by the Condor.
    The journey began May 1 and will finish in the middle of November.
    On Wednesday, the runners stopped at La Plazita Cafe in the South Valley for a meal and to meet sponsors who put them up for the night. They also stopped at Casa de Rosa in the North Valley for a prayer ceremony on Tuesday.
    "Ceremonial running is one of the oldest forms of prayer, not just for native people in this hemisphere, but all over the world. And so through the ceremonial running and carrying the sacred staffs, we're praying to reconnect the indigenous people," said Jose Luis Malvido, the northern coordinator for the Peace and Dignity Journeys.
    The staffs, provided by various tribes the runners have come from or visited, are imbued with the prayers of those tribes.
    Albino Garcia, who runs La Plazita explained the significance of hosting the runners.
    "We see the hunger in our youth for culture, for identity. This was an opportunity for us to share, not just with our youth, but with their parents and grandparents, these teachings," Garcia said.
    Garcia's group works with young people at risk from gang life. Some of them were at the cafe with their relatives.
    The run itself is a family affair as well.
    Liz Logan, chief of the Ft. Nelson First Nation of British Columbia, is participating in the run with her daughter and granddaughter.
    "It's all about meeting challenges, and prayer, and sometimes we have to suffer," Logan said of the run. "And it's for our people united."
    The runners actually arrived in Albuquerque from Taos on Tuesday, and they stayed with the family of JoeHenry Romero, whose son, Joey, joined up in Taos and will run with the group to the Mexican border.
    "The people we've met have the best hearts," JoeHenry Romero said. "And they're doing it all on donations."
    Joey said when he saw the runners he was excited by their energy and wanted to join up.
    "It's amazing," he said.
    Romero hosted the runners at his new art gallery, Our Father's Garden and Fine Art Gallery in the North Valley. The ceremony took place in the courtyard between the gallery and Casa de Rosa, an assisted living center.
    To find out more about the Peace and Dignity Journeys, visit www.peaceanddignityjourneys.com.
   

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