Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Another year has come and gone, friendships were made, commitments were expressed and must importantly, our spirituality was shared. We have witnessed all his creation and shared experiences in life and participated in the Sacred Run from Cibecue to San Carlos and final stop, Mt Graham.

On behalf of all tribal members who participated and those who were unable to run or travel to Mt. Graham, we would like to thank all our visitors who attended. Our hearts go to those who have traveled around the world to be here in support of our traditional beliefs.

Each year, we are granted the opportunity to breath the life that Usen has given each of us from birth. For us it is a duty to hold that with the greatest respect as we live each day of our lives thru our hearts, mind and body.

We all must realize the greatest gift we can give this world, as Usen’s children, is to share with our children, as well as those who also touch our personal inner circle, the importance of life, creation, and faith.

Many people ask, "Why do we have this run?" We believe that Usen has awakened us, through his spirit, from a century of confusion of who we are and why do we experience the hardships both on and off the reservation. By learning, we can appreciate and proudly lift our family roots to a level equal to that of a great civilization, whose purpose was to hold respect for all Usen’s creation, which includes each of us living today.

In order for us to survive in today’s world, we must teach our children to be strong with their identity of who there are and to know their family roots. We all are descended from great people and should have love for the land, all life, and freedom to excise who we are, so that we can develop ourselves to prepare a life that can live on forever.

Usen has created us for a purpose and now we must become more active then ever to ensure that the world is safe from the destruction of greed and abuse of power. We are proud people and with great spiritual beliefs, blessed to us from the creator. Our history holds the key to the future and we must prepare for what is yet to come.

But we must be awake, so that we will recognize greed from those who prey on land, water, sciences and technology, which brings industrial developments which all points to financial power and control.

So our work here continues to teach our children to know true history and their identity as well as their spiritual beliefs, which truly brings respect, honor and pride. Our children will certainly be ready for the future with visions and guides to a life that will certainly comfort us as we age into wisdom.

We would never be at this particular point in our struggle to save what we have left, if it was not for all the children who ran in the past and those currently running. We will never forget your commitment and sacrifice. For you are the ones who are making a difference and will lead us, as true leaders of our people.

Our work must continue until we reach a day that our people as well as all the people are living in freedom to pray as they wish, because there is only one God who has blessed the whole world with the spirit of life.

This years Mt. Graham Sacred Run was held in the latter part of July, 2001, This was the first year that the run was hosted from other than San Carlos. This year is was hosted by Cibecue, Arizona. The run started in Cibecue after three days of Sweats and a Holy Ground Ceremony to bless the runners. The run began on Thursday, July 19, from Cibecue to San Carlos. There were approximately 100 runners on Thursday. The run included the White Mountain Apache Chairman, Dallas Massey Sr. He ran the staff and presented it to San Carlos above Salt River Canyon. Accepting for San Carlos was Reverend John Mendez from Winston Salem North Carolina. He was a guest and has been a runner for the Mt. Graham Sacred Run for the past three years.

We had visitors from different nations. Runners came from Cibecue, White River, Navajo, Taos Pueblo, Tohono Oodham, Pascua Yaqui, Chicano from Solomon, Italy and France. The Pascua Yaqui runners met up with us on Thursday evening in San Carlos. Thursdays run ended in a finale, with a lot of the runners running through downtown San Carlos. We had approximately 120 runners run on Friday from San Carlos to the top of Mt. Graham. The Chicano Runners ran the staff through Safford. On the top of top of Mt. Graham there was blessing ceremony.

We would like to thank all the drivers including, Co Founder Ernest Victor and family, Anthony Hoffman and family, Willie Pike and family , Dorothy Firecloud, Marteen from Pascua Yaqui, Wendsler Nosie Sr, Jon C. Nosie, Carlos Nosie and Chairman Nunez from ohono Oodham. A special thanks to Sammy Toineeta for her endeavors in assisting all Native People.

We would also like to thank the cooks for the great meals this year, at Cibecue we had Bernice Caddo and the Hoffman Family and in San Carlos, Tenelia and Darryl and their family, and on top of Mt Graham, Ophelia Gilbert and her family. We thank you very much and appreciate your assistance.