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Verna Volker of the Navajo Nation is the founder of native women running. There is a spiritual component that goes with this activity in your culture. Tell us about that, Verna. Yes, for example, I'm from the Navajo Nation. And growing up, we were always taught that when we wake up that we run to the east because that's where the sun rises and that we run to the east to say our prayers and to just have harmony. And so for many of our women, that's kind of a spiritual uh just part of their life that's ingrained in a lot of native stories. And for the Navajo Nation, that's kind of been part of it. So it's become such a amazing part of healing also. And just a spiritual aspect as they run on their lands and you want them to have a sense of belonging with this nonprofit. Yes, for sure. We just, you know, we owe, we don't have, we don't charge a membership. I just really feel strongly that everyone should be able to be a part of this, whether they're not on official team or not. That if we're running a race somewhere, I just, I welcome everybody. I say you can run with us. And so I hope that uh they know that every pace and every size, every level that you're at that, you know, whatever tribe or nation you're from that, you are welcome to be part of this. You all started small, but now you have really grown. Yes, it was like, you know, just a small little like a Instagram social media account to now, uh just a company, we kind of ran as a company, but in the last month we became a nonprofit and it's been, I, I'm always amazed how far we've come and how lo how this is such a, a wonderful thing for our community and all nations are represented pretty much. Yes, we have, we represent over like 50 tribes and nations from like Canada and United States. And so it's always interesting to find out more where uh people come from and uh just kind of resonating that, you know, we're still here and these stories are strong and these women who are running are really representing themselves in a positive way.

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We are talking with Verna Volker. She is the founder of native women running. It's a nonprofit based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Let us talk about your members. What it takes to be a part of a team, what's involved. Yes, many times. So we don't have a membership. We just really believe that people should feel like they're always part of something, but we always ask people that they can evolve by just even simply like liking comments or uh following us and participating, like in the events that we have uh in the last two years, we've created uh uh uh racing teams, teams around racing events, for example, uh for Chicago Marathon, uh the New York City Marathon. And so we make a call out on our social media saying we're looking for five runners and they go through a application process that we have created. And myself and my leadership team will go through that and we will select the runners to run that race. And so actually, it's kinda interesting talking to you because tonight I have a meeting with my, uh with my team of uh we're selecting nine runners to run the New York City Marathon. And so we always need funding, you know, um, uh, just regarding, uh, we try to break the barriers down for our women to get these, to these races, uh, whether it's by entry fees or lodging or travel accommodations. And so those are great ways to fund what we're doing. They must be pumped to be involved in the New York City Marathon. What can the public do to help support your nonprofit? Yes, we have on our website, we have, uh, we're just transitioning but we do have a donation button, um, on our website. Um, and even, you know, just following our social media, uh, that's where you would probably find more where we make our announcements, whether we need, uh, or, you know, fundraising for something. Those are ways to get involved. And I always love connecting with people. If you are in the New York City, you know, area, you know, just let us know and, you know, find us there. Uh, we're, we're really happy to share the work that we're doing.

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Verna Volcker is the founder of native women running based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are talking about the fact that you all deal with a lot of brands and of course, you're dealing with the media with me here too as well. Um What is it that you want us to know in terms of how we treat and approach your organization? Yes. So uh that's a really important question because uh there was a study done by AAA Lumen Native. They're called, it's a social justice um organization regarding native uh any regards to native issues. And uh in that study that 74% of Americans do not seek out uh anything education about native people or seek out native people. And so that just really again, with the work that we do with native women running, it's about representation too. We want people to know that we're still here and that we, I really truly believe that I don't want to be the token organization or the Token runner. I really ask that brands running companies just really respect that. Uh We have a culture that we are very diverse even as native people that we really care about our communities that we are dealing with a generational and a historical trauma in our lives as an individuals. But we're also rising up against that, rising up above that and healing and using running as part of that. And I think sometimes there's that like, erasure of our people that we're still kind of seen as, you know, cowboys and Indians or Pocahontas or mascots, which, you know, we, we're already dealing with so much that those things are just kind of a barrier of who we are and that we are runners that we are mothers, we are educated and that those stereotypes are really something that we have to kinda, uh go against to. And so just being respectful for, uh, you know, of who we are as people.

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123, six years ago, native women running the nonprofit launched in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Verna Volcker is the founder. She is with the Navajo nation. Now you started this out of frustration. Tell me about that. Yes. So I would go to races and I didn't see anyone that looked like me. And so it was kind of like, you know, a snowball where I was like going to one race and then to another race. And I wanted to do something about it because I felt like native people, we are always kind of, uh we're the lowest percentage. And I think I always remind people that this was our land and, you know, with all the simulation and um everything that came about with uh being removed from our lands and the resilience of all our people, how I wanted to share that. We're, we are here. Um We are coming from these like things that were, that wanted to get rid of native people, but we're standing strong. And so because of my frustration, I decided to do something about it. And just starting from, as I always say how NWR was started from nothing to this like amazing. We call it a movement of native women who are connecting from different tribes and from different parts of the United States and Canada who are becoming sisters. We call it sisterhood. And I've seen an empowerment of our women all across the board with every woman that shares their story with me because of that frustration. We are here today and I just feel so proud and honored to lead something this special uh for my community. And how are you getting the word out? Simply by uh our Instagram is um on social media, Instagram native women running as our main account.

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Founder Verna Volker joined News 12’s Della Crews to discuss the organization and its goals.

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