Tribe's 2022 Badger Run

We are pleased to announce that Leroy Rodriguez was our runner for the Tribe’s 2022 Badger Run on October 22nd. Leroy represented the North or White Badger. When there is more than one runner, the North Badger is the leader who sets the course and pace for anyone else. In our cultural tradition, Badger runners must be ready to run any distance between 4 to 20 miles, depending on the location of the set final destination. This year, we are thankful that the City of Alton offered their recreation center and facilities free to the Tribe for the Tribe’s 52nd Annual fall pow wow (the final destination for the run). For this year’s run, Leroy completed a five-mile course. Throughout the run, he carried the eagle feather baton that he then handed to the attending Tribal Council leaders. Read more about the Badger Run Here: About the Badger Run.

Participating also in the badger run but in San Antonio, was Victoria Martinez-Soto. Victoria has been a badger runner for the last three years. This year, her family moved to San Antonio shortly before the Oct 22 pow wow. Still, Victoria remained steadfast to do the run as the Yellow/West Badger. In San Antonio, she started her 5 mile run at the same time and pace as her cousin Leroy.

It is important to have the Badger Run each year and we were proud that Leroy and Victoria were able carry on this Lipan tradition. The Badger Run is a cultural ritual, connected to our cultural survival through our Peoplehood components--land, language, sacred ceremonies, and sacred history--where the run ties into our sacred ceremonies and history of long- distance runners.

The Tribe has started looking for runners for 2023. Leroy Rodriguez (White/North Badger) and Annette Chavez (Yellow/West Badger) have already committed to do the run. If possible, we need two more runners to represent the Blue/South and Black/East Badgers. Because long distance travel has been an issue in previous years, the runners should live within easy driving distance to the pow wow location in Alton, TX. In 2023, the Badger Run will once again commence the Dakee Si "Fall Gathering" Pow Wow on the 4th Saturday of October. If interested, contact Linda at .

For our health and to preserve our cultural traditions, we encourage all our people to run and to help our youths to also be long distance runners.