Our Sacred Ceremonies
The Lipan Apache Tribe’s Badger Run
About the 2021 Badger Runner and the 2020 Badger Runners
|
Meet the 2021 Badger Runner
- Victoria Soto-Martinez (North, White Badger, Leader).
|
Meet the 2020 Badger Runners
- Victoria Soto-Martinez (North, White Badger, Leader),
- Lydia Lerma (West, Yellow Badger),
- Enrique Cuevas (South, Blue Badger)
- Reese Whitman (East, Black Badger)
|
North White Badger: Victoria Soto-Martinez:
Victoria is from McAllen, Texas, a native of the Rio Grand Valley, and a proud member of the Lipan Apache Tribe.
She is a fancy shawl dancer and began pow wow dancing at the age of one. She is currently a Physician Assistant practicing
out of Harlingen, Texas, in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She loves spending time with her husband of 6 years
and her fur babies, an English bulldog named Brady and a great
dane named Storm. She also has a leopard gecko named Reptar...he's her introvert. She is passionate about football;
her favorite team is the New England Patriots!
In my spare time, if she's not playing with her dogs or watching football, you can find her running down McAllen's
Second Street Running Trail or reading a good book on her hammock.
|
West Yellow Badger: Lydia Lerma:
Lydia is a child advocate and community activist. She is the daughter of two Texans
who were also both community activists. Lydia was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest as her father served
in the United States Air Force but relocated to Colorado in 1998. Lydia graduated from the University
of Oregon and has enjoyed a career in high-tech. She enjoys history, genealogy, and outdoor
adventures while riding mules and horses. She is an NRA Certified Firearms
Instructor and Range Safety Officer and maintains her tribal tradition of big game hunting to
feed her family. Lydia continues to serve her community by being an active member of
the American Legion Auxiliary and a scout den leader.
|
South Blue Badger: Enrique Cuevas:
Enrique lives in Elsa, Texas. This will be the third year he participates in the Badger Run. He is
currently enrolled at Texas State Technical College and is studying Dental Hygienist. He loves to play
the drums and spend time with his family and friends. He loves the family's fur babies and spends quality
time with them. He participates in the native drum during our pow wows.
|
Black South Badger: Reese Whitman:
Reese is the son of Andrew and Tricia Whitman of Texas. His father is a Veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and has served
through five deployments. His mother is an independent Lipan Apache family historian researching the Cibolo
Valley Area of Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas. Reese is seventeen years old and homeschooled with plans to enter the
Computer Science field. He enjoys gaming across various devices, creating art, and is a history buff. Reese is being
mentored on Lipan Apache traditions by family elder Juan Garcia (Tribal Council officer) and
has represented his family in the Gourd Dance. Reese
has also served his community by volunteering at local animal shelters and nursing homes.
|
|
