Indigenous Peoples Media project on the Longest Walk 2
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by Mari Villaluna/Indigenous Peoples Media Project -POOR Magazine I went on the walk for many reasons. I walked for my family, the Seventh generation, and this land. I walked to carry the prayers of hundreds of indigenous peoples. I walked to learn from elders and spiritual leaders. I walked for the healing of Mother Earth. I walked in the spirit of my ancestors. I walked to carry on the stories. I walked for my descendants. I started the Longest Walk 2 at D-Q University, which is the Nation's only off-reservation tribal college. It is located in Davis, CA, and staged many Longest Walk 2 events before the Alcatraz Island Sunrise Ceremony. As a student at D-Q University, I felt it was important to go on the same walk that former D-Q U students took 30 years ago. The Longest Walk 2 commemorates the 30th anniversary of the original longest walk while bringing attention to the environmental disharmony of Mother Earth and sacred site issues. In following of the issues of environment and sacred sites, the major issue of tribal sovernity came up time and time again. I started out on the Northern route, which closely followed the route of 1978. The Southern route followed the route of the Sacred Run, which took place in 2006 and went throughout the south. Later on, I would join up with the Southern Route. The first Nation we met with was the Single Springs Band of Miwoks, and stay for a few days on their rancheria. The youth there were so inspiring, and I learned much from them. One youth named Sammie gave me the energy to run, and told me to never be embarrassed of singing. That day I taught Sammie the D-Q U school song and we ran a quarter of a mile. Sammie taught me a Miwok song, which I sang everyday on the walk for him and his cousins. We even made up our own Longest Walk 2 rap. Now at the end of the walk I can run up to 6 miles, and I sing all the time. I carried these two lessons with me everyday. The next stop was with the Washos in Lake Tahoe. Where I meet a woman named Roach who later on adopted me as her sister, gifted me with regalia, and provided a woman's space. I enjoyed talking with her and the excitement she had about the walk. I was reminded of how walking is important as a prayer but how dancing for your people is just as important. I then went on to Fallon and met with many Paiutes, and met a young girl named Kiesha Tom who taught me all about her sacred sites of Sand Mountain, and Grimes Point. She is still one of the most intelligent minds I have ever met. We then made our way to Western Shosone terrority, where I learned about the testing, mining, and fighting for land that is happening within their lands. This is also where I met a elder named Darlene who taught me much about what it means to be a woman. During the state of Nevada, my grandmother told me "It is your turn to now pray for me." She shared with me about how it was hard for her to walk. I then decided not only would I walk, but I would run for my grandmother's healing. It felt very hard to run that first mile I ever ran, and I had to learn how to breathe while running. Sometimes I was the only woman running alongside many guys, but I never forgot why I ran. I ran for my grandmother's healing and her prayers. Next was Utah, where we attended a pow-wow at the Salt Lake City's Indian Center. This Center reminded me much of my own community back in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then was Colorado, where I had to relearn how to run because of the elevation. I remember looking at the sky in Colorado and thinking the the clouds were the most beautiful anywhere I have seen in the world. The community that touched me the most was at the Ute museum. There were only 4 Natives that lived in this area but they did so many things for us and is still one of the most memorable times I had. This is also where I met my Longest Walk 2 praying partner, Adriano lives on the Southern Ute Reservation. Next was Kansas, my favorite place was the Mid America Indian Center in Wichita, Kansas. There I found out the Longest Walk of 1978 was at that very same location. I won't ever forget the wind in Kansas either, I would always hope that the wind would push me from behind while I was running. I remember the first dance that I had with my praying partner at a Longest Walk 2 benefit blues concert in Kansas City. I remember walking through Pratt, Kansas. 30 years ago the KKK tried to kick out the Longest Walk, and this time the Principal of the middle school let out all his students to walk with us. Many of the students had also been learning about the Longest Walk 2 as curriculum in their classes. A day before, we ran into a youth at the Walmart, and he asked Adriano and I if we were walkers. We replied yes. I then asked him if he was going to walk with us. He said he couldn't because he had in class detention during the day. Adriano told him that this was historic and he should skip it because that would be a historic day. His mother told Adriano to mind his manners. That day we saw that youth and he was carrying a flag that the Longest Walk 2 carries. It was powerful day. In Missouri, I had decided to leave the Northern route and join with the Southern Route in Oklahoma. I was very excited to meet with the many nations in that state. I got to meet with the Iowas, Choctaws, Cherokees, and Muscogee Creeks. My favorite moment was being part of a stomp dance with the Muscogee Creeks. I was even asked if I was wearing turtle shells on my ankles because of how I was dancing. I learned much about the Trail of Tears and how there was more than one route taken by different nations. This reminded me of the Longest Walk 2, how there are two routes but only one walk. We walked through Texas and Arkansas in a few days, and then landed in Louisiana. While in Louisiana, I got a big surprise that Adriano came down to visit me. I spent five days with the United Houma Nation, which was the Nation in Southeast Louisiana that was affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. While there, I listened to Creole music, ate lots of white rice, and chilled with elders. The elders found out that Adriano and I jumped in the Bayou and swam around. They told me that I was silly and that didn't I know that there are alligators and snakes in the Bayou. I found out then. I learned about the struggles of the Houmas trying to re-gain control of their Indian Mound, and how soil erosion is affected thier land. We went to a island called Jean Charles Island which is full of only Houma citizens. Micheal, a Houma citizen remarked that if land loss and soil erosion keep going at its current pace that in one generation that island will be gone. I told Adriano "Wow, one day our grandchildren might never see this land. Thats why we are walking to bring light to this." I learned about how thier Nation is not federally recognized and how that played a role in dealing with FEMA. They were one of the last to receive FEMA funds in Southeastern Louisiana. After those five days, I was so sad to leave. When leaving I was told to come back by anytime, and that I would fit in really well in with the Houmas, well except for my Bayou adventure. Next was New Orleans, the first stop was the Superdome. I went inside with other walkers and we said how we wanted to walk throughout the dome to the security desk. We were told how we couldn't even be standing inside and were quickly escorted to leave. We then joined up with the walk, and walked throughout the 9th ward. We made a lunch stop there, and helped a resident to rebuild the foundation of his home. That was a moment I'll never forget. It was interesting to see how one part of New Orleans, like the 9th Ward was still rebuilding, and while an area like the French quarter seemed intact. Next we got to hang out with the Choctaws in Missouri. I met an elder there who told me the story about her grandmother who walked the Trail of Tears all the way to Oklahoma and didn't like it so she walked all the way back to Missouri. I had an opportunity to play stickball with other Choctaw women. Stickball is the predecessor to the game of lacrosse. I enjoying playing and getting the ball away from other players. After playing, I was invited by the Stickball Coach to come back and be part of their team in their yearly stickball tournament. Then there was Alabama, and I remember the 20 mile walks that we did in the hot southern climate. I loved it when it would rain. In Tennesse, the walk stayed at a Buddhist peace pagoda in the Smoky Mountains. Then in North Carolina, I left to go visit Adriano on the Northern Route in Pennsylvania. There in a sweatlodge in Pennsylvania, Adriano and I made our lifetime commitments to each other. I got married and had to leave to go back to the southern route to continue working on the Manifesto for Change. We made a sacrifice of separating for the bigger picture of why we were walking, to bring the prayers of all the Nations and people we met to Washington D.C. In Virginia, I met a group called Mexicanos Sin Frontares, Mexicans without borders. I told them about the prophecy of the eagle and condor uniting, and that vision is held at D-Q University. That one day again, Natives will be Natives as they were before, without borders. They were helping to fulfill that prophecy without even hearing about it. The late sleepless nights of working on the Manifesto for Change increased with the walk approaching to Washington D.C. Finally, the routes converged and became one walk again as we had left Sacramento, CA. We walked into Greenbelt Park, MD and the energy was high. I was so excited to see my husband and others on the Northern Route once again. It was good to catch up and spend time with my new family. I walked through the conditions of snow, mountains, hot, rain, sleet, and lighting. Many times I barely slept. I thought about leaving the walk many times. I cried when I missed my family and friends back home. I spent many nights writing and editing the Manifesto for Change. When July 11, 2008 hit it made all of that worth it. The energy the Longest Walk 2 had was one that I never felt. I have been to many protests/marches and this was very different. I was walking with people who gave up their lives for several months to not just talk the talk but walk the walk. I am honored that I was able to be one of the walkers who helped carry those prayers to Washington D.C. I walked from that day of Feb 11, 2008 until July 11, 2008 in Washington D.C. I learned about sacrifice while praying. In giving up things, I gained knowledge from elders, learned about issues I never knew, and found more about who I am as a prayerful woman. I met the one the Creator made just for me, and adopted a new family. In 1978, Phillip Deer stated "For some of us, the Longest Walk has never ended." I know this walk and its prayers will carry throughout my life. -- Mari Villaluna "I believe everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right. You believe less so eventually you trust no one but yourself. An sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." -Marilyn Monroe |