Unity Run 2010
Every year as the winter skies give way to the rejuvenation of spring, the Unity Run makes it way from Red Mountain on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) down to Chethagi Wawhia in Sonora, Mexico. Along the way the runners pass through the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Tohono O’odham Nation.
The 15th Annual 2010 Unity Run started on Sun, Mar. 14 in SRPMIC and made a stop in Sacaton with a visit to the D3 elders at the Service Center on Mon, Mar 15. On hand were approximately ten elders from the District 3 Elder Center.
During the visit, former GRIC Governor Mary Thomas historically recounted the lifestyles of the Akimel O’odham from the not so distant past. Thomas contrasted the modern conveniences we take for granted, like indoor plumbing and running water, to hauling water and living off what the land provided. Thomas thanked the runners for their efforts by offering a prayer to keep them strong and focused on learning more about their culture.
As part of an homage to traditional O’odham ways, the participants are asked to leave behind the amenities of modern society and focus on the journey ahead of them. This virtual disconnect entails that all iPods, laptops and other modern conveniences are left behind during the weeklong journey.
Adrian Hendricks, D2, has been a participant in the Unity Run for the past ten years. As a participant, Hendricks interprets the shunning of modern devices as a way to bring about the realization that modern gadgets can be a distraction to the teachings of traditional culture. “When they experience the blessings, the prayers and the teachings that are from our culture, our Himdag, they start to realize what’s really important,” Hendricks said.
The Unity Run aims to serve a greater purpose toward understanding a truer sense of community. With all four O’odham sister tribes represented through participants and the communities through which they pass, the differences of politics and government are set aside. Runners are asked to offer prayer and accept prayers as they sacrifice their bodies and energy in making this journey.
Historically, the O’odham people have always taken care of one another said Jonah Ray, organizer and co-founder of the Unity Run. “Everyone had their rules but we’ve always taken care of each other.”
In passing through the different communities, Ray said that people have come out to share whatever they might have. “It comes from the heart and not because they have to. It comes from understanding that this Himdag is a way of life. And even to get a blessing from the elders is very special to the runners.”
Community support has been overwhelming thus far.
“In each community there are families that come out,” Hendricks said. “Like yesterday, when the sun was going down in San Tan, we weren’t expecting it but a family came out and was singing. It was really neat.”
Every morning, the runners are blessed before they start the day. They are also given a blessing at lunchtime and in the evening. “Some people like Jonah and Anthony (Gray), they’ll sing all night. That’s their role. They can tell you more about it but the reason is to prepare the runners and give them strength and to take care of the staffs which carry all the prayers from all the places we go through.”
Obviously, an inherent purpose of the Unity Run is for O’odham youth to gain exposure to certain aspects of their culture. Many of them have experienced culture on a smaller scale but many haven’t to this extreme with no electricity and no communication.
“That’s the big difference,” Hendricks said. “It kind of freaks them out but then in the end they want to come back. We’ve already had first timers say they want to participate next year.”
Founded in ’95, organizers of the run would go to different nations, districts and communities to present the run to them and explain the purpose and intent behind it while letting leaders know why it was important for them to be involved. As the years have moved on, the number of younger participants continues to grow, as does the involvement of more tribal governments. It’s a very good thing for the young people to see their leaders participate unselfishly, Ray said.
“A lot of our young people and our young adults they have not grown up with these traditional teachings. This is one of the important things that were trying to do,” he said. “We’re trying to put some of these teachings to them and it’s real basic stuff. That’s who we are. We’re a simple people and we don’t complicate things. Everything is very simple.”
Also on hand for the Unity Run’s stop in District 3 was one of the districts own Community Council representatives, Myron Schurz.
Schurz also spoke to the runners and commended them on their efforts in the run. He said the runners brought with them a spiritual and cultural connection that he could feel in the energy they embodied.
“As I mentioned before, the Unity Run does what it says. It unites the people of our tribes, the O’odham people,”
Schurz said. “I’m very encouraged by the participation and looking forward to the years ahead.” Schurz said the run exemplifies the continuity for succession the O’odham people have where they are able to look at themselves both spiritually and culturally.
One of the things the organizers are trying to instill in the younger people is an extended understanding of family. “The way I explained it to them is that this run is like one big family going camping down the road,” Ray said.
Councilman Schurz agreed with this sentiment. “That’s who we are as people,” he said. “We’re a family, all of us.”
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