LOCAL NEWS
27th SACRED HOOP RUN UNDERWAY(with audio)
By John Axtell
Jun 23, 2009 - 12:08:08 PM

   The 27th annual Sacred Hoop Run began its 500 mile trip around the Black Hills Monday morning in South Dakota at Bear Butte...a site held sacred by many American Indian tribes.

      The run was started to emphasize drug and alcohol-free lifestyles, spirituality, treaty rights, and education. Spokesman Duane Martin Sr says more than 300 people of all ages are taking part, with about 2 dozen traveling the entire distance.

   Runners carry eagle staffs that symbolize prayers for the Native American people to live free of the shackles of alcohol and drugs.

     The Run participants camped Monday night at the Oglala Sioux tribe's Prairie Wind Casino between Oelrichs and Oglala.

     Tuesday's leg brought them into Nebraska at Whiteclay, whose liquor stores are the source of much of the alcohol consumed on the officially-dry Pine Ridge Reservation.

      Martin...a leader of Chante Tenza, the Strong Heart Civil Rights Movement...spoke in Whiteclay about the alcohol sale issue, treaty rights, and other issues.

     The Sacred Hoop Run will spend Tuesday night at Fort Robinson State Park, then head north to spend Wednesday night in Wyoming and Thursday night in Montana before completing its 500 mile trip Friday back at Bear Butte.



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