Traditionally, Indigenous Peoples across the Americas ran on foot to carry important messages. On Sunday, February 5th at 12 p.m., as part of World Interfaith Harmony week and in collaboration with other organizations, Pachamama Alliance will co-host the Inaugural 7th Generation Global Wopida Run in San Francisco, California.
During the Inaugural Global Wopida Run, youth runners from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Oceti Sakowin, and the Seven Council Fires of the Great Sioux Nation will be joined by local 7th Generation runners from the Four Directions as they run across the Golden Gate Bridge carrying a Compassion Torch of solidarity and hope from Standing Rock to the Great Meadow at Fort Mason.
Wopida is a sacred sharing of gratitude, a connecting with all beings through giving thanks. The purpose of the Global Wopida Inaugural Run is to be grateful for whatever Life bestows on us, knowing that every test and challenge comes into our lives for our spiritual growth and development to protect and restore Mother Earth. Runners will be carrying the news that at this time of great global change, the promised time has come for the 7th Generation to arise and inspire all generations to heal and resolve “Standing Rocks” everywhere on Mother Earth.
For more than 20 years Pachamama Alliance has actively supported indigenous communitiesin the Ecuadorian Amazon to stand up for their rights and protect their territories from encroachment of oil and other extractive industries.
By co-hosting this event, we extend the spirit of that work to our indigenous partners in the global north and provide a place to hear from and to speak with the indigenous communities who will attend, so we can co-create a thriving, just, and sustainable world.
Press Release for The Inaugural 7th Generation Global Wopida Run:
January 25, 2017
Contact Information:
Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest
Jon Ramer
(206) 972-7356 jon@compassiongames.org or phillanejr@gmail.com
The Inaugural 7th Generation Global Wopida Run: Sharing the Spirit of Standing Rock, Protecting and Restoring Mother Earth, and Building a Global Fire of Compassion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA – A coalition of partners are hosting the Inaugural Global Wopida Run, led by Great Sioux Nation Youth Runners, across the Golden Gate Bridge carrying a Compassion Torch of solidarity and hope from Standing Rock to the Great Meadow at Fort Mason on Sunday, February 5th at 12:00 PM.
The Dakota people have a special ceremony; Wopida. Wopida is a sacred sharing of gratitude, a connecting with all beings through giving thanks. The purpose of the Global Wopida Inaugural Run is to be grateful for whatever Life bestows on us, knowing that every test and challenge comes into our lives for our spiritual growth and development to protect and restore Mother Earth. The spiritual understanding of Wopida requires each of us to live with honor, compassion, love, respect and harmony with all life. The coalition is hosting the Inaugural 7th Generation Wopida Run in San Francisco during World Interfaith Harmony Week. We will be live streaming the event on Facebook.
Ms. Bobbi Jean Three Legs, Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other youth runners from the Oceti Sakowin, the Seven Council Fires of the Great Sioux Nation, will be joined by local 7th Generation runners from the Four Directions. The runners will share their enthusiasm, vision, and words to co-create a just, sustainable and harmonious world by building a global fire of compassionate action to unite the Human Family. We will pass the Global Compassion Torch as part of the Wopida Ceremony taking place on the Great Meadow at Fort Mason on Sunday, February 5th at 12:00 PM. Indigenous prophecies foretold that Indigenous Young People, the 7th Generation, would arise, and inspire other young people of the Human Family, in unity, to Protect and Restore Mother Earth.
The inspiration for the Inaugural 7th Generation Run began in August of 2016 when the Standing Rock Youth Runners, ran 2,000 miles to Washington DC and brought national and international attention to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their supporters. Their run broadened the impact of those protecting the waters of the Missouri River against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and raised a global cry: “Mni Wiconi – Water is Life.”
Traditionally, Indigenous Peoples across the Americas ran on foot to carry important messages. The Inaugural Global Wopida Run carries the news that at this time of great global change, the promised time has come for the 7th Generation to arise and inspire all generations to heal and resolve “Standing Rocks” everywhere on Mother Earth. Guided by their elders, the Runners carry the message that we are one Human Family, interrelated with all Life, and share a common destiny. The Hurt of One is the Hurt of All, the Honor of One is the Honor of All.
We request that attendees bring a favorite dish to share and their own plate and silverware. There is a Facebook event with more information. The coalition of partners alphabetically include: Compassion Games International, Cultural Conservancy, E2K, Fetzer Institute, Four Worlds Europe, Four Worlds International Institute, Pachamama Alliance, Seat of the Soul Institute, Seeding Sovereignty, The Shift Network, Unify, and the United Religions Initiative.
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