This Route is of great importance to my Navajo Tribe. This route, much like the Trail of Tears for the Cherokee tribe, carries a lot of weight and teaching. The government wanted to clear out the Navajo from their land, so in the coldest of winters they began this 400+ Mile journey. Many of my ancestors were lost during this route. They were forced to take on this journey because they were slaves, starved, and their villages burned. There was nothing left for them, not even hope until Chief Manuelito was able to negotiate our reservation of what we have today. More than 9,000 of my people pursued this trek and only around 3,000 were able to survive. During this route, many of my people faced starvation, slavery, prostitution or rape, and disease. Much of our current issues that we have on the Navajo reservation today are from the trauma that our Ancestors have endured on this route. This event is one of many that my people have had to endure and persevere. I have this route starting at the Fort Sumner Historical Site and finishing at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. I wanted to do this route coming into Fort Defiance because it was that route that my people were most proud of because they were able to return back to the homeland the Creator blessed us with. The route going into Fort Sumner is when my people had to leave their homeland. I picked finishing at an IHS hospital because I want all the medicine that I have created with my running to bless all the people who are in need of it.
https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/191
https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/394
