Prayer for Today

Tears of Compassion leak from my heart and eyes...
Creator of All Things, we come before you this day; acknowledging the depth of pain the past holds. As the Creator of all colors of humanity, Your tears run through the rivers and from the sky for our freedom of choice. We have chosen to hurt one another in many forms and our ancestors still carry the pain of their past because no one ever listened. During this Sacred Ride, may we all stop long enough to really Listen to the waters, winds, ancestors and creatures that are your messengers. Each and every one; of the 8000 members have chosen to be a part of this healing journey. Each of us connects to a lost one who was never listened to, allow their tears to flow through you and find the common bond of pain and healing has begun in both worlds. May this event speak volumes as we come together for the common good and love for one another. Blessings of Love and that Special Sign for the Riders and Horses as they travel seeking to Hear Your Voice of Healing. Amen

Toni N Francis

.In Memory of Emmett Eastman Sr. 1931 - 2021
A long time Supporter of the Ride

Emmett is shown above with one of our Riders, Sharlene, who has been on the Ride a few times over the years. Sharlene travels all the way from South Africa to join us. She and Emmett got on really well with each other and so she and many of us who knew him were very sad when he passed away a few months ago.

Obituary from the Star Tribune Newspaper
'For nearly half a century, Emmett Eastman Sr., a Native American activist, ran marathons.

"My runs represent a prayer step," he said in 2018, on the eve of a relay run to remember the 1862 hanging of 38 Sioux Indians in Mankato. "Each step is a prayer for world peace and dignity."

His great-grandfather Wakinya Cistina, whose English name was Little Thunder, was one of the 38.

And his great-uncle Charles Alexander Eastman, a Dakota doctor and author, was the attending physician at the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee, S.D., where nearly 300 Lakota Indians were killed by U.S. Army soldiers.

Eastman, 89, who lived in New Prague, died of health complications at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on October 4th.

Eastman, whose Dakota name was Ta Wakanhdi Ota or "His Many Lightnings," was a member of the American Indian Movement (AIM).'
By Randy Furst

Back in the early days of the Ride, a Pow wow was held when the Ride got to Morton. The photo below is of Emmett carrying the Staff at that powwow in 2013

I first met Emmett in the early 90's, he was a friend of my late husband. We often met at various Dakota Gatherings where Emmett as usual would be dancing at a near by Powwow, and we 3 would have a chance to catch up. He was always a quietly spoken gentleman. He will be missed by all of the Dakota Powwows and further afield where ever he ran around the World.

This photo was taken back in 1997 at an event for the Dakota 38 + 3. This is the day Princess Diana died.
The Committee for the event were running behind Emmett who had just finished a long run for the 38 + 3. I am in the purple tee shirt and Chuck was on my right. I felt very honored to run just a short distance with Emmett. A couple of those Committee members are now members of this group. - Gloria

Today is a rest day for the Riders and horses. They will be staying in Flandreau for a break for a couple of days. The weather was bad yesterday and so this break right now is good for both the Horses and the Riders.

Yesterday

Photo by Ruth Matzke Anderson


Photo Compiled by Ron


Photo by Ruth Matzke Anderson !

The Riders will be staying at the Royal River Casino and Hotel again.
The Horses continue to stay at the Flandreau Indian School Coral.
Food will be at Eastman Hall for each meal. Breakfast and Lunch will be with the Chuck Wagon,
and Dinner with be courtesy of Watecha Bowl.

The Ferrier will be Case Wilson

Thanks to all who are helping in the area.