by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
For the 32nd consecutive year, Wings of America will sponsor a team of the fastest Native American runners to compete at the US Cross Country Championships. Eight young men and eight young women will be competing on January 18, 2020 in the junior age division race in San Diego, CA.
Wings team members attended a multi-day training camp in Albuquerque, NM between Christmas and New Year’s Day to supplement their knowledge of elite conditioning techniques and foster unity before traveling for competition.
Runners were selected for their Wings team based on their performance at post-season races including Nike Cross Regionals and Footlocker Regionals.
One of the Wings runners is De Shawn Goodwin. He is a senior distance runner at Zuni High School, Zuni, New Mexico.
“My parents are Marisa Waatsa and Joshua Goodwin and they are both Zuni tribal members,” said De Shawn. “My dad is also Kickapoo and Shawnee.”
“I’m a good person,” said De Shawn. “I listen when someone else is speaking. I have respect in what I do around people.”
“When I was a little kid I was always running around the place,” said De Shawn. “So, my parents told me to join a team and from there I’ve been running. My parents been pushing me to go harder.”
De Shawn is preparing daily for the remaining days prior to the national race. “I’m training pretty good and getting the extra miles in,” said De Shawn. “My goal is to run my race … run for my Grandpa and hit a 27:20 time.”
“My Grandpa is always watching me running. He was always there for my meets. I don’t see him here anymore. I’m trying to be strong while I run,” added De Shawn.
The traditional forms of running are evident in who the runners are running for. “The face paint in the picture was just a random face paint me and my teammates did,” said De Shawn. “The traditional face paint is like a red color.”
“Well for my tribe they used to run to send messages to the other pueblos and they used to bet so they’ll race for it,” said De Shawn. “They had kick stick races too, but I don’t know the story for that.”
“For Zuni, we have a river wash and when you run in the wash, you run as the water is flowing through. You don’t run against it … you run your hardest down the wash no matter what. It’s just what our people say when you come upon a river stream.”
Family Running Traditions
“De Shawn was born and raised in Zuni, NM,” said his mom Marissa Waatsa. “His running turned out to be just a fun activity when he was a little kid. He participated in cross country in third grade. His first running competition was when he was in sixth grade attending Zuni Middle School in 2013. Two years later in 2015, De Shawn and his teammates Jarek Chimoni-Zunie and Jacy Edaakie helped the Zuni high school cross country team win the NM state cross country team state champion title. They became cross country state champions as eighth graders helping the Zuni High School runners. In 2016, De Shawn placed fifth at the cross-country state meet. In 2017 as a sophomore, De Shawn placed fourth at the state meet. In 2018 as a junior, he placed second individually, and he and his teammates were NM cross country state champions as a team. Within the same year he was selected as a member of the Wings of America to run at Tallahassee, Florida.”
“To De Shawn, running meant a family tradition to him. Passed from generation to generation. Always pushing himself to be the best. Keeping his grades up and doing his homework. Putting his time and effort by sacrificing his personal time getting up before dawn and praying for blessings. Running in the mornings before school and after practice. Being a good teammate to his team and giving advice to his team about not giving up and running strong. This led to him setting his goal in becoming an individual cross-country state champion as well as capturing the cross-country team title again in 2019. He became a 2-time district champion and his team were 3-time state champions. He participated in track and field and baseball. He placed 4th at the state track and field in the 3200 meters, and 6th in the 1600 meter,” added Marisa.
“Our family wish him all the best in his education and in his running. He will choose where he wants to attend college. We as parents being supportive for his achievement and accomplishment throughout the years. Sadly, to his grandfather whom he dearly lost a week after the NM State Cross Country Championship. His grandfather was his supporter and attended his cross-country meets. His grandfather gave him advice about running strong and running with your heart. He is in heaven looking down and guiding him.”
“DeShawn comes from a long line of young men from Zuni that have made the Wings team over the years,” said Dustin Martin (Dine’), Executive Director, Wings of America. “These runners thrive on consistency (in training plan and speed) and tend to surprise their competitors late in the races when others are struggling to hold pace. Honestly, I think DeShawn will really turn heads someday if he tries to bump up to the half marathon and marathon distance. But for the 8k he’ll run in San Diego, I expect him to gradually move up as the race develops. If he trains hard these next few weeks and keeps his speed legs ready, I think he’s capable of running under 26 minutes.”
Zuni Running Traditions
Phil Castillo is Acoma Pueblo and was a two-time state cross-country and two-time state track champion. He ran for Grants HS in New Mexico. He also was a nine-time All American and 1992 NCAA DII National Cross-Country Champion at Adams State University (CO). Phil’s cultural roots are thinking and living the running traditions of being Acoma Pueblo. He said: “We have a lot of religious ceremonies revolving around rain and what it provides for our crops. We don’t pump water at Acoma, below the Mesa where running water is not available to us, so we rely heavily on what mother nature provides to us. I would say Zuni and Acoma are parallel to each other in terms of what and how we pray. See, we’re located in a challenging part of the world, so our prayers for a rainy summer are important for survival. We at Acoma Pueblo have our religious ceremonies in July every year and put a lot of energy into those activities.”
“The body painting is a rich tradition of Acoma running. The Zuni kids are notorious for wearing paint like that. I’ve always admired them, cause like Acoma they have a great running tradition,” added Phil.
Derrick Waatsa is the uncle to De Shawn on his mother’s side of the family. De Shawn’s mom is his late brother’s daughter. Derrick was the director for the Pueblo of Zuni Wellness Center from 2008 to 2012. He currently works for the BIA Zuni Agency as a Forestry Technician.
Derrick addressed the comments of his nephew De Shawn with Zuni running traditions.
“I used to run high school from 1983 to 85 and after I did four marathons, and a number of half marathon, 10k, and 5k,” said Derrick.
“De Shawn sent you that picture I saw that he does have his face painted but that was not our traditional face painting,” said Derrick. “We don’t have anything like that. Ask him to explain that face painting before you can use it. As face painting we got nothing to do with it, kids these days just do it, but I know some tribe, plains Indian, has tradition in face painting.”
“Ok, running in the wash is something our elders have done, and I can explain that our elders ran against the flood waters to how fast the current is. After doing it they (we) ask for blessings to be fast as the flood waters. Running upstream only slows you down.”
“The kick stick race was a long time ago but not these days because nobody knows how to go about doing it,” said Derrick. “I don’t know the last one that was held was long before my time possible in 1940 or 50.”
When Phil Castillo’s comments were shared with Derrick, he replied: “Thanks for sharing. Yes, we Zuni’s and Acoma’s are similar in religious beliefs. We do rely a lot on mother nature to help us out when planting.”
Marissa talked to her uncle Bryant Waatsa, Jr. Bryant said he was willing to talk about the Zuni running traditions. Bryant Waatsa, Jr. is a 64-year old Zuni Pueblo elder. He is De Shawn’s uncle and his younger brother, Keith, was De Shawn’s recent late grandfather.
“When the elders were passing on and leaving us, we would talk to them,” said Bryant. “We would ask questions. It is coming to where there is no one to talk to. The elders are gone.”
“Long time ago, the runners would paint their cheeks,” said Bryant. “The runners would get up in the morning and offer their prayers. They would offer to father sun and mother moon. They would offer corn pollen. I still run a little. I offer and ask for blessings in the early morning.”
“My dad would tell stories. Don’t question dad. My dad lived several years. He was 95 when he passed on. De Shawn’s grandpa Keith was his younger brother,” added Bryant.
“The kick stick race ended a long time ago,” said Byrant. “We would hear about the race. The runners would go into the kiva for four days before the race. They would pick a place to run. It was a long way out and back. Zuni people, not outsiders, would compete. Individuals would compete against each other. Clan against clan. Only the men would race. They would bet traditional clothing on the outcome. Only traditional stuff. The runners would challenge each other.”
“Dad used to say the runners would talk to the two war gods. One of the war gods was in charge of the games, the running races. You would ask for whatever you’re good at and offer something in return to bless you,” added Bryant.
“The messengers would go one place to another,” said Bryant. “Zuni to Hopi. I heard about it.”
“The runners would run down the stream. Not up the stream. Once you start you push yourself until you stop. Then you dig a hole, make an offering, and know where you stopped so you can go farther the next time. This is how you become a fast runner. You go downstream. What happens if you run into the wind? Yes, you go slower. That is why you run downstream. If you run upstream you will slow down. You want to run with the wind at your back. With the water flow at your back. That is how you become a fast runner. The stream bed may dry up. There is still a little water in there. You run down the dry stream bed,” recalled Bryant.
“I encouraged De Shawn to run with his heart. Running is hard. You can’t be lazy. You will get tired,” said Bryant. “You need to run with your heart.”
Photo Credit: De Shawn Goodwin
