TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation will kick off the 20th Anniversary Sovereignty Run, a cross-country run hosted by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and Bright Path Strong, which will begin on the Cherokee Nation Reservation on October 3, 2022 and eventually end in Sacramento, California on October 31.
The Sovereignty Run program kicks off Monday, Oct. 3 at 8:15 a.m. at the One Fire Field just west of the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex.
Dozens of participants from Cherokee Nation and NCAI members, partners and Indian Country allies will participate in the walk and run.
The Sovereignty Run calls attention to the erosion of tribal sovereignty on reservation lands, including raising awareness of the new attacks on tribal sovereignty in the face of the harmful Supreme Court decision in Castro-Huerta. The run also pays homage to Native Olympian Jim Thorpe.
“In the past two years, the Five Tribes here in Oklahoma have been challenged on our treaty rights, rooted in law by those who are trying to chip away at tribes and our rights to self-govern. We have taken to the U.S. Supreme Court steps twice and been reaffirmed that our reservations have always existed, and yet presented with more legal challenges. We look forward to this run and having our Native voices—and running shoes—carrying our message that our Tribal Nations are stronger today and that we will never waiver when it comes to our sovereignty,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Nedra Darling, a co-founder of Bright Path Strong, said reviving the Sovereignty Run is a special way to remind the world of the collective power of Native people.
“The Sovereignty Run celebrates Jim Thorpe's winning spirit, exemplifies our resilience and perseverance as Native people, and showcases that we are at our best when we work collectively on behalf of Native nations and Native people.”
Runners can join for the one mile fun run or participate for the first leg of the longer relay through Oklahoma, and in which will eventually span 1,787 miles to Sacramento.
During the Sovereignty Run, a 25-foot totem pole created by the House of Tears Carvers of Lumni Nation will travel alongside runners symbolic of honoring, uniting and empowering communities to protect sacred places, cultures and tribal sovereignty along the way.
“We are in a critical time where, once again, our sovereignty is being threatened, and Jim Thorpe's home state of Oklahoma is ground-zero,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “Tribal Nations are strongest when we are unified and create our own 'bright path' forward together. The time to raise our voices—and collective awareness—is now.”
The run Oct. 3 through Oklahoma includes:
- Tahlequah to Hulbert - 11 miles
- Hulbert to Wagoner - 15 miles
- Wagoner to Coweta - 16 miles
- Coweta to Broken Arrow - 13 miles
- Broken Arrow to Tulsa - 18 miles
To join or for more information visit https://www.sovereigntyrun.org
Key Details
WHAT:
Cherokee Nation to kick off NCAI 2022 Sovereignty Run
WHEN:
Monday, October 3, 2022
Program starts at 8:15 a.m.
Run starts at 9 a.m.
WHERE:
Cherokee Nation One Fire Field
(Just West of the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex)
17675 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah
WHO:
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner
NCAI President Fawn Sharp
Co-founder of Bright Path Strong Nedra Darling
Council of the Cherokee Nation
Cabinet of the Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation and Tribal Citizen Sovereignty-Run participants
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