Members of the Blood Tribe Drug Harm Reduction Project join those participating in Napi's Run in Alberta, June 21, 2023. (Photo: Lurlene Bear Shin Bone)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Blood Tribe group running across Canada

Jun 21, 2023 | 2:45 PM

STANDOFF, AB – A group of six people from Standoff are more than three-quarters of the way through a cross-country run.

Organizer Johnny Bare Shin Bones and his crew started “Napi’s Run 2023 for MMIWM and Mother Earth” in St. John’s, Nfld. on April 12, and reached Medicine Hat, on June 20.

They are running to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Men.

“It’s just to commemorate my fallen sisters, and there was no justice for them,” said Bare Shin Bones. “Just like I lost a nephew in 2009 and he was murdered in Calgary, Jovan Big Head, and nothing was done about it.”

These are stories that Bare Shin Bones said he has heard from many people during his run.

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“We just listen to them and we cry with them too, and in the end, there’s always room left for laughter and that’s healing. This run has a lot to do with healing,” he said.

It was about two years ago that Bare Shin Bones decided to run from coast to coast and has put in many hours training for it.

Over 5,000 kilometres into the run, he told Pattison Media that the journey so far has not been as bad on his physical and mental health as he feared. However, he admits that it has been a tremendous help to run alongside his teammates, “who are about half my age”, in a relay format.

On average, Bare Shin Bones said the group has run 80-100 kilometres almost every day.

He described the level of support the group has received as tremendous.

At various points along their journey, community members have volunteered to run sections for them.

“We had a runner that, he was from Sudbury, Ontario, he ran all day and did about 120 [kilometres] and that gave us a good rest.”

The Blood Tribe has sponsored the runners, providing food, vehicles, and gas money for the team.

“I really thank them for believing in us,” said Bare Shin Bones. “Not only them, but the people too.”

During a stop at the Saamis Tepee in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, the public joined the Napi’s Run members for a ceremony.

Members of the public join those participating in Napi’s Run during their stop in Medicine Hat, June 20, 2023. (Photo: Lynne Marshalsay)

One of Bare Shin Bones’ favourite parts of Napi’s Run has been the comradery that the team has developed.

“It’s really fun. We learn from each other and, you know, have some food fights, kind of get mad at each other,” he said.

One of the biggest challenges Bare Shin Bones has encountered thus far is vehicles speeding and driving too close to the edge of the road.

He said, “It’s so scary. You know, those big truckers, they go about 100 miles an hour and that’s the only thing I’m really struggling with.”

The group is on their way to the Siksika First Nation on Wednesday, June 21. From there, they will travel through Calgary and Banff before hitting B.C.

Bare Shin Bones told Pattison Media that he is nervous about running through the difficult terrain of the Rocky Mountains.

He hopes to reach Victoria, B.C. on July 5, which will also be his 65th birthday.

The Napi’s Run group is not raising money for any particular cause and does not have a place to make donations. Bare Shin Bones said awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Men is all that he wants.

Their journey is being documented on the Napi’s Run 2023 for MMIWM and Mother Earth Facebook page.