Sioux "Spiritual Run for the Sacred Pipe" Comes Through the Rosebud Reservation

Sicangu Oyate ki Iyanka ("Running for the People") from Santee (NE) on June 2nd to Estelline (SD) on June 17th. On June 5, 2024, runners carrying an eagle staff ran across the Rosebud Sioux Reservation "praying for awareness of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and for the people, children and for the unity of our tribes", said Nate Joseph, Sr., a Yankton Sioux Tribal member, one of the long-distance runners putting in miles on the "Spiritual Run for the Sacred Pipe". Another "Spirit Runner", as they've come to be known by the people of the South Dakota tribes who are waiting for their arrival on their lands, Buddy Hare, also a Yankton Sioux Tribal member, explained the "Spiritual Run for the Sacred Pipe" began in Santee, Nebraska, on June 2, 2024. "We ran over the Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge and we've been running since." Chief Standing Bear, a Ponca chief born and buried near where the bridge is located, was the plaintiff in Standing Bear v. Crook, a landmark 1879 United States District Court case that established the legal rights of Native Americans to move about freely. The journey of the Spiritual Run courses throughout South Dakota, traveling through or near the nine Sioux Reservations, and will end in Pipestone, Minnesota, on June 17, 2024, where the annual World Peace & Prayer Day 2024 will commence beginning June 18 through June 21. 

World Peace and Prayer Day (WPPD) was founded in 1996 by Arvol Horse Looking,19th Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Sioux Nation. Held annually on the summer solstice, June 21, "...it is a powerful day to pray for peace among all living beings", Looking Horse states on the WPPD website. The "Spiritual Run" is also coordinated by Looking Horse and Allen Hare, of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, "to help bring awareness of the sacred pipe so that people know the value and the sacredness of the red pipestone and to stop the sale of it and the exploitation of it," added Buddy. There are thirteen (13) "Spirit Runners" running with the eagle staff and they include: Buddy Hare, Nate Joseph, Sr., Phillip Joseph, Bryan Joseph, Jennifer Joseph, Thomas Hambelton, Peter Hare, Sr., Peter Hare, Jr., Jacob Hare; and, youth runners: Courage Zephier, 7, Zachary Joseph, 8, Lucas Hare, 13, and Guy Lovell, Jr., 14. Traveling with them and driving are Allen Hare, Theresa Hamilton, and Lilian Gay, who is keeping track of the miles each Spirit Runner runs throughout each day. Also accompanying them for support are Anita Joseph, Dana Joseph, and baby Avery Hare. The runners cover about 60-67 miles a day. At each of the reservations, local runners joined the "Spiritual Run". Sicangu Oyate ki Iyanka (“Running for the People”) Running Club team members, which included Team Captain, Lance Dorian, Steve Her Many Horses, Joe Left Hand Bull, Louie Arcoren, Almona Kills In Water, Ryan Bordeaux, Holden Haukaas, Pauline "Stormie" Jackson, Sonnie Scott, Jemal Boneshirt, and Hunter Wright, met up with the runners and each ran individually, totaling over 30 miles across the reservation.
While staying on the Rosebud, the "Spirit Runners" stayed at Valentino "Dino" Zephier's residence in Soldier Creek community. Along the way, the eagle staff being carried by the runners had an eagle feather added to it by each of the Sioux tribes with prayers and ceremony. Zephier added Rosebud's eagle feather, with prayers and ceremony, which was the fourth to be attached to the staff. At the end of the run, all nine tribes will have placed an eagle feather on the staff. "This is why it is so important to pray purely along the way while running," said Nate. 

Also in coordination with the "Spiritual Run", is the "Sacred Horse Ride", which started on June 13th, from Sica Hollow, on the Lake Traversie Reservation, home to the Sisseton/Wahpeton Sioux tribal members. The horse riders will ride into Pipestone on June 17 as well. For more information about the World Peace and Prayer Day, June 21, 2024, please check out their website.