What is the Peace and Dignity Journeys?
First Nation Ceremonial Run
The “Peace and Dignity Journeys” is an indigenous and First Nation ceremonial run that invites the participation of Native and non-Native individuals committed to the preservation of Native American culture and the uniting of the indigenous people of Turtle Island (North, Central and South America). With its roots in traditions of running as prayer and as an expression of indigenous cultural self-determination, the P&DJ was formally established in 1990 in Quito, Ecuador at a gathering of over 200 representatives of indigenous nations from throughout the western hemisphere.
Inspiration
Inspired by the prophecy of Eagle and the Condor, the P&DJ is a 6,000 mile, seven month spiritual relay run that takes place every four years. This year runners begin in Fairbanks, Alaska running south and in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina running north, with runners converging to finish up in El Cuaca, Columbia. The Peace and Dignity Journeys offers the opportunity for indigenous nations from throughout Turtle Island to unite and reclaim dignity for their families and communities.
Who is the Peace and Dignity Journeys - Central Coast
The Peace and Dignity Journeys 2024 - Central Coast was established to support the 2024 Peace and Dignity Journeys transcontinental indigenous peoples run, with particular responsibility for the coordination of community participation during the period the run was scheduled to come through the ancestral land of the Chumash people (Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties) in July 2024. Now retired as a formal regional coordinating committee, the Peace and Dignity Journeys -2024 Central Coast was made up of elders, cultural workers, and community organizers- many with experience in prior P&DJ runs regionally. The purpose of the committee was to organize grassroots community support and participation with this ceremonial prayer-run. The committee has also been responsible for coordinating support for the runners as they came through our region, as well as working to create healing spaces, indigenous cultural awareness, organize local solidarity runners, and to celebrate First Nation peoples as the runners were welcomed at designated community stops throughout our central coast region.
Our mission
Grounded in the prophecy of the eagle and the condor, and the vision of survival, unity, and cultural self determination for the indigenous people of Turtle Island, the mission of the Peace and Dignity Journeys - Central Coast is to organize and sustain local grassroots community participation in support of the Peace and Dignity Journeys’ quadrennial transcontinental prayer run through North, Central and South America.
Important intentions of Peace and Dignity Journeys:
Initiating spiritual runs as a prayer to heal our nations.
Honoring our Ancestors, Elders, Children, Medicine Peoples Heroes, Leaders, Future Generations, and all those who are in the Spirit world.
Reinforcing unity among all first indigenous nations from North, Central, and South America.
Recognize over 500 years of strength and survival of Indigenous people's self determination to preserve language, culture, and spirituality.
Informing the world of our desire for a peaceful coexistence with the peoples of the four sacred colors of the world.
Making people aware of the sacredness and delicate balance of nature and the environment.
Honoring our Ancestors and Elders for their skills in administration, healing, knowledge of herbal medicine, animal husbandry, agriculture, and for sharing their knowledge with the younger generations.
Promoting a cultural exchange between First Nations, where languages, art, dance, music, and ceremonies can be shared and respected.