Since its inception in 1992, Seventh Generation has been in support of the vision and purpose of the Peace and Dignity Journeys (PDJ). These journeys started as an effort to bring Indigenous Peoples together from the North and South. At its core this ceremonial run, which takes place every four years that preserves and revitalizes spiritual and cultural tradition while fostering intertribal relationships.
Many SGF staff in years past have helped organize the run, and some have also run themselves. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, runs were postponed until this year. As a grassroots organization, our steadfast commitment to the People has consistently guided our actions and priorities. Hosting the PDJ runners during their seven-month prayer run from Fairbanks, Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina the first year the run has happened since the pandemic was an honor.
Making sure runners were fed, hydrated, and had a place to rest comes from a place of love and understanding — an understanding that values the threads that bind us together as human beings, and Indigenous Peoples. It is important to always remember that the threads that bind us in the global North, also bind us in the global South; from the northernmost regions of Alaska, down to the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, in Argentina. The Indigenous Peoples movement is a global one, and thus requires us to come together to defend our sacred sites, defend our cultures, defend Mother Earth, and support our People on prayer runs like PDJ. We are honored that the runners accepted our hospitality, and blessed us with the prayer staffs that they carried.
We pray for their continued protection and safety of all the runners who will participate in the Peace and Dignity Journeys as they weave the prayers of Turtle Island together.
