Runners begin long trek to Mexico City

By Stan Bindell
For The Independent

UPPER MOENKOPI, Ariz. — Approximately 300 people packed into the Upper Moenkopi Community Center to kick off the H20Hopi Run to Mexico City.

The run began at sunrise this morning.

Approximately 25 Native American runners will take about two weeks to run the 2,000 miles or about 150 miles per day. The journey will go through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before entering Mexico.

At 6 tonight, the runners will have a spaghetti dinner at Polacca Community Building. The public is invited.

The runners range in age from 12 to 74 years old.

The main message of the run is to protect and conserve water, especially from developers or companies that view water as a commodity to make money rather than helping people use water for life's necessities.

Karen Abeita, one of the runners, echoed the feelings of most of the runners.

"When there is no water, there is no life," she said.

Twyla Gaseoma, spokeswoman for the run, said the run is dedicated to the children and future generations "because water is life."

Most of the runners are Hopi, but have emphasized that this run is for everybody. That note touched a chord with Havasupai Medicineman James Uqualla.

"How beautiful that we get to be in a world where rainbows exist," he said.

Uqualla said each color in the rainbow symbolizes different people.

"Each is not better than the other. Each carries different gifts. The world can't survive without each sharing those gifts," he said.

Uqualla said everybody is related; so everybody should honor all the two-leggeds.

Uqualla said the runners may not always be asked about what they are doing and why.

"But people will see the beauty," he said. "You begin a journey tomorrow and the creator sees every step you take."

John Zeena, one of the runners and a graduate of Hopi High School, said he looks forward to running to preserve water.

Ivan Gamble, a Navajo runner from Page, said he was excited because he heard that Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. was going to have a proclamation honoring the run.

The runners received a great deal of moral support from those in the crowd, including Coconino County Supervisor Louise Yellowman and Upper Moenkopi Gov. Robert Sumatzkuku.

"I want a postcard when you get there," Alan Numkena joked.

On a more serious note, Numkena said, "Tell our brothers and sisters in Mexico that we think about them, too."

For more information or to contribute donations for the run, call Twyla Gaseoma at 928-738-0309.