Running with a cause

“Send a Runner”

by Kirbie Bennett

In 2018, Edison Eskeets, a Diné runner and educator, organized a run from Canyon de Chelly, Ariz., to Santa Fe, N.M. The 330-mile run took place over the span of 15 days. The event was meant to honor the 150th anniversary of The Long Walk, which was the forced removal of most Diné people from their homelands in Arizona to a military-controlled reservation on the Pecos River in eastern New Mexico in the 1860s.

Taos writer Jim Kristofic, who has roots in the Navajo Nation, followed Edison and his family, and documented the journey in “Send a Runner: A Navajo Honors the Long Walk.”

“So many people have asked me, ‘What’s the meaning?’ They are asking me why I’m doing this. And I’m trying to explain to them that I don’t fully know,” Edison said of the purpose of his run. “It’s so many things. Many people. Many voices.” Edison carries these thoughts all throughout the journey while running a marathon a day. “I’m thinking about the old ones. I’m looking toward the Great Ones … Beyond that? We’re out there dancing in the road.”

In “Send a Runner,” Kristofic bears witness not only to Edison’s ceremonial run but also to the history of the Diné resisting 19th century colonization, culminating in The Long Walk. The two stories unfold together page by page, with each vignette moving fluidly from past and present. And yet, during Edison’s run across the Navajo Nation (Diné Bikéyah) and border towns, the readers see the present-day effects of colonization. A few days into Edison’s run, his group meets a couple and they have a discussion about the ongoing effects of uranium mining.

In July 1979, a mine tailings disposal pond at a uranium mill in Church Rock, outside Gallup, breached its dam. “See it,” Kristofic demands of the reader. He paints the scene of a calm July morning with sun coloring the land and birds sing ing. Then suddenly, there’s “a roar of water and the poisoning has begun. Ninety-four million gallons of radioactive sludge goes down into the Rio Puerco.”

“I remember all of that,” Edison recalled. “We played in that damned water. And no one even told us.”

All throughout the book, the writing is as striking and vivid as the landscape the story is held in. Along with that, Kristofic is unflinching in his recounting of American colonization, where diplomacy, such as treaties with Indigenous nations, is “theft by paper.” After the Diné are marched into a concentration camp from The

the steps of The Long Walk

Long Walk, Kristofic describes how the “open-air prison” of Bosque Redondo contained the crude ideals of Western civilization: “American capital, private property and borders writhe into being on this alkali ground.”

For everyone on this journey, they carry the heaviness of this history. But then there’s also humor. It plays a vital role in this journey. At one point after another marathon, Edison is resting and ready to call it a day. His family is about to place a mile marker nearby. Across the road, a fenced-in horse watches the group. “You know,” Edison said, “we could use that horse as our marker if he agrees to stay there.”

The history of my people and family was running through my mind as I read about Edison’s experience. I thought about Kit Carson, the colonel who led The Long Walk, parading my Diné ancestors through Santa Fe to proudly display ethnic cleansing in action. I thought about the 1974 protests in downtown Farmington over another parade celebrating the “Old West” with law enforcement wearing frontier cavalry outfits. To Diné folks, the parade was glorifying the cavalrymen responsible for The Long Walk. A riot ensued.

While reading, I thought about my great-grandmother Josephine. When that Farmington riot unfolded, my dad, a child then, was in the area. The news spread, and he went to my great-grandma to tell her about the protests. “Good!” she replied, “That’s what the police get for what Kit Carson did to us.”

It only felt fitting to dwell on family stories and history while reading about Edison’s journey. Kristofic describes Edison’s run as a “prayer made with the body,” and it gave me comfort to believe that what my family lost and endured through the Long Walk was being carried in that prayer pronounced by the limbs and motion of a runner with a message. Edison’s run is a prayer, responding to a history of settler state dehumanization. Edison’s run is a dance, reclaiming and amplifying an Indigenous presence. His run was intended to send a message, to honor the lives lost in The Long Walk. Edison’s run also highlights Diné resilience, which is found in many forms – it’s held in laughter; it’s held in the steps we take. “Send a Runner” is a moving tribute to the history and future of Indigenous resilience. ■

JusttheFacts

What: Talk/book signing: Edison Eskeets & Jim Kristofic “Send a Runner”

When: Thurs., April 27, 5-7 p.m.

Where: Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main

Thursday20

Electronics Recycling, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Durango PlayFest Speaker Series, featuring Broadway actor Sky Lakota-Lynch, 1-2 p.m., FLC’s Main Stage Theatre.

Business After Hours with LPEA, 5-7 p.m., La Plata Electric Association, 45 Stewart St.

Ignacio Public Library Meet & Greet, 5 p.m., Ignacio Library, 470 Goddard Ave.

Speaker Series: Morgan Sjogren and Scott Graham, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

“Living with Beavers,” presentation, 5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. lposc.org/event/living-withbeavers/

Smelter Mountain Boys play, 6 p.m., 11th St. Station.

19 Degrees of Being: Graduating Senior Communication Design & Studio Art Majors, opening reception, 6 p.m., The Art Gallery at FLC. Exhibit runs until May 6.

Author Robin Wall Kimmerer (“Braiding Sweetgrass”), part of the Skywords Common Reading Exeperience, 6-7:30 p.m., FLC Student Union Ballroom.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio.

Friday21

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, thru Sunday, info at durangomeltdown.com

Trail Crew Brew Release Party, 4-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

“Connections: An Art Show,” 4:30-7:30 p.m., Moody’s on Mill St., 15 E. Mill St., Bayfield.

Donny Johnson plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing.

Riverside Rendezvous: Supporting Five Rivers Trout Unlimited, 6-10 p.m., live music, food and more. Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio.

Free Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Smiley Building Room 15, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.

Horizon plays, 6 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Smelter Mountain Boys play, 6 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Watch Party, 6 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

Pete Giuliani plays, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

FLC Music Department presents “Pop through the Ages,” 7 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall.

Violent Scenes, DJ Recess and Josie Loner play, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Drag Show, 8:30 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

Saturday22

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, shows thru Sunday, info at durangomeltdown.com

Earth Day Parade: Procession of the Species, dress up as your favorite animal, tree or fungi and meet at the train station at 10:10 a.m. to walk or bike to Buckley Park celebration including food, trash-totreasure art, maker space, circus, booths, kids activities and more.

Mind, Body, Spirit Fair, focusing on local hoslistic healers, educational booths, occupational therapists, 10 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

Leah Orlikowski plays, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

San Juan Symphony – Poetry in Motion, 7:30 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall. Also featuring San Juan Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Silent Disco w/DJ Chaser, 9-11:30 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Sunday23

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, info at durangomeltdown.com

Feed the People! free mutual aid meal & winter gear drive for homeless community members, every Sunday, 2 p.m., Buckley Park.

Open Mic, 4 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos

Durango Cowboy Gathering presents “Not Your Average Barn Concert,” featuring Miss Devon & the Outlaw, 5-8 p.m., Destination Ranch (end of Lightner Creek Road). More info at 970-403-4451.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Monday24

Land Access Community Listening Session, 11:30 a.m., Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum, Ignacio.

Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Open Mic, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday25

Great Decisions: Iran at a Crossroads, 11:45 a.m., Durango Public Library.

Community Yoga, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Bluegrass Jam, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

People We Know, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Farming for Climate Change: Beyond the Smoke and Mirrors, 6:30-8 p.m., FLC’s Vallecito Room. A 45-min film followed by panel of local organic farmers.

Interesting fact: Swiss watches used to be the knockoff version of fancy French and English watches. Maybe someday, these Ray-Ben sunglasses of mine will be worth something.

Dear Rachel,

Every single place I get put on hold tells me they are experiencing higher than normal call volumes. I might have bought this the first time I heard it, years and years ago. But what kind of rube do they think I am? The dentist, the bank, the insurance company … by definition they cannot all be experiencing higher than normal volumes all the time, or else that would become the new normal, wouldn’t it?

– Hold Freezes Over Dear Valued Customer,

I will answer your letter in the order it was received. In the meantime, your question is very important to us. You are the… SEVENTEENTH… letter writer in the queue. Please feel free to visit our website, double-u double-u double-you dot durango telegraph dot com. That’s the letter double-you, not two you’s in a row. Or, if you’d like to be disconnected just when you are the… THIRD… caller in the queue, please stay on the line. After all, we are definitely experiencing higher than normal letter volumes in these uncertain times.

– Hold me, Rachel

Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Wednesday26

Lunch & Learn Workshop: SEO Implementation & Optimizing Your Website, 12 noon, TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th St.

Spring Clothing Swap, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Orgone with Talia Keys play, doors at 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

An Evening with Author David Sedaris (sold out), 7:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College’s Community Concert Hall.

Dear Rachel,

Time on your hands. Well, at one time in the 1800s and early 1900s men and women had gold and silver pocket watches to show how rich they were. No more… just wrist watches and now smart watches that help a few. I see most don’t even wear a watch now. Smartphone in back pocket. Are we going to see the wrist watch go bye bye like the pocket watch? Invest or don’t invest in wrist watch stock?

– Father Time

Dear Papa Tiempo, Me? I like to wear a pocket watch on my wrist. Saves me taking it out of the pocket, but preserves all the coolness of having to wind my clock every night before bed. Just before I put in my retainer and brush my wig. Ooh, baby, the sexiness of nighttime rituals. I would totally buy wrist watch stock, in other words, but mostly because I have a thing for Roger Federer ever since seeing my first Rolex ad.

– Watch this, Rachel

Dear Rachel, 420, here we come! Though it’s definitely a lot less magical than it used to be. Every day can be 420 now. It was way cooler when I was younger and it was way more forbidden. Now it just helps with my knees and gets tax dollars for the state. Oh my god I got old, but at least I

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Ongoing

“Wire Fed” by Noah Stotz, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave. Exhibit runs until April 30.

Great Old Broads for Wilderness “Wild for Wilderness” Online Auction, April 14-23 at 2023wildforwilderness.afrogs.org

28th annual Creativity Festivity, 4-6 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Avenue. Exhibit runs thru April 28.

“Tyrannosaurus – Meet the Family,” Farmington Museum, 3041 E. Main St. Exhibit runs thru April 26.

Email still have my weed. How can we make 420 exciting again?

– Dope Fiend

Dear Dopey Friend, Somewhere along the line, my brain conflated 420 and Earth Day (which is not technically 420) but now I think they should be the same. It’s all green, man. Light one up or chew one down, dial up your favorite corporate 800 number using your solar-charged smart phone, wind up your pocket watch that doesn’t even use electricity, and chill out to some killer hold music.

The Hive Indoor Skate Park, open skate and skate lessons. For schedule and waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

Upcoming

Steven Espaniola plays, April 28, 7:30 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.

Durango Wine Experience, April 28-29, durangowine.com

Skyfest, featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout, Claire Glass, Adobo, Desiderata, April 29, 2 p.m., FLC Campus.

Dragondeer & Little Wilderness play, April 29, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Metal Night, featuring Decapitation of a New Day, Red Lotus, Skinwalker and Anarchy Hammer, April 29, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.