A group of Native Americans undertake a 930 mile Sacred Run around Ireland.
A group of 35 Native Americans from a number of tribes across North America are taking part in a ceremonial Sacred Run around Ireland. They are travelling more than 900 miles through the four provinces — taking in mountains, rivers and ancient sites.
The message they bring is that all life is sacred.
Behind that is the belief that mankind is damaging planet earth and that we must return to the ancestral ways of respecting all forms of life. The Sacred Run is also about the rights of native peoples all over the world to reclaim their traditions and cultures.
The revival in the tradition of spiritual running began in 1978, and grew out of the American Indian Movement (AIM) founded by Dennis Banks in 1968 to protect the traditional ways of the Native American people. His journey around Ireland has been revealing,
Along the road we've seen a lot of essence of what Ireland is about.
The story of the Native American resonates with people from other cultures and many join the Sacred Run. One such person is Cathy Byrne who believes the earth needs to be protected and
I respect their culture and I respect all indigenous peoples’ cultures.
Allowing for three rest days and 14 overnight stops along the route, the runners will cover an average of 66 miles per day. For Native American Gene Hancock
It’s been a long week.
Each day begins and ends with the traditional ceremonial burning of tobacco and cedar and anyone is welcome to join the drumming circle.
A 'Nationwide’ report broadcast on 3 October 1997. The reporter is Donna O’Sullivan.
