History of Sacred Run

The Sacred Run is inspired by the Native American tradition of running great distances, even to the most distant villages, to spread messages, news and information. Ceremony was always part of the runners' lives. Before a runner left on a mission, the village medicine man would place "medicine" in the form of a tobacco pouch around the runner's neck while offering prayers to ensure the runner's success.

A New Generation of Runners

In 1978, Dennis Banks revived the tradition of running to transport messages when he created the Sacred Run - A multi-cultural, international spiritual run bringing the message that "All Life is Sacred" to people throughout the world.

The first annual Sacred Run was held in 1978 in California, from Davis to Los Angeles, a distance of 500 miles. It has been followed by Sacred Runs in Alaska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Russia and Japan.

Banks has been pleased with the success of each Run. "We have spread our message throughout the world," said Banks. "Everywhere we have been, people of all cultures and ages have welcomed us, participated in the Runs, watched our ceremonies and discussed our Message."

Banks has no plans to stop running. In fact, he believes the mission is far from complete.

Sacred Runs for 1997 are being planned in Ireland and Scotland, with tentative plans for a Canoe River journey in 1998, and back to Australia in 2000.

In addition, the Sacred Run Foundation sponsors three other major annual runs: A 500-mile Run of the Ancestors in California, the tri-state 500-mile Run in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, and the 1,000-mile, four day, Four Direction Run in Horton, Kansas. In addition to running events, the Sacred Run Foundation hosts an annual New Year's Eve Sobriety Pow Wow, traditional drum concerts and Native American art exhibits. The Foundation also has a resource library with books about Native American issues and culture.

"This is an eternal effort," said Banks. "I can't imagine a time in the future of humankind when we won't have a need to teach future generations about how to care for our environment. I believe that this is the way it was meant to be - so we keep running."