Running in the Face of Tragedy:
The families for which this run will benefit suffered tremendous losses only five months apart. Anita Tsosie, a talented Diné weaver who won the prestigious “Best of Show” honor in 2004, was murdered in April 2007 by her estranged husband. Her two children were left without parents as their father committed suicide shortly after Anita’s death. The family of well-known potter Diego Romero and HIV/AIDS activist Lisa Tiger learned that Lisa’s 18 year-old daughter, Shelleigh, had been murdered in Oklahoma only days before the ’07 Santa Fe Indian Market. Shelleigh is survived by her beautiful 1 year old baby boy. Relay team organizer Kenneth Johnson states “We are raising money from patrons and artists on behalf of these families who have played such significant roles at the Santa Fe Indian Market. No amount of money will bring their loved ones back, but the survivors do have to continue on, so we do this to pay our respects, demonstrate community and help out where we can in a good way.” Although entry fees for the Duke City Marathon benefit the New Mexico Cancer Center, the event will also serve as a vehicle to gather Native artists who are runners as well as draw attention to the needs of the family members who have suffered such great heartbreak. SWAIA team relay runners include sculptor Joe Cajero, potter Les Namingha, jewelers Cody Sanderson, Darrell Jumbo, and Kenneth Johnson and painter Emmett Navakuku on the men’s team, and activist Lisa Tiger, jeweler Althea Cajero, SWAIA staff member and artist Vanessa Lee, youth sculptor/painter Jade Begay, jeweler Keri Ataumbi and SWAIA staff member Ericka Garcia on the women’s team. To donate to the fund for the families, please call SWAIA at 505.983.5220,
email info@swaia.org
These photos are screenshots from a video slideshow "Running in the Face of Tragedy" shown below.
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