Repost from Seneca7 & Run Like A Native FB
Run Like A Native! Run Like A Native is proud to be fielding an all-Native team to represent the Seneca7. Their organization is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Native advocacy through the power of running, with a goal of uplifting Native voices by sponsoring Indigenous runners, raising awareness about the critical issues facing Native Nations, and empowering the ambassadors to carry this message with every stride in local and national races.
“There are 500+ Native Nations across the Americas, each one with its own language, traditions, and ways of life,” says team captain Ross John, Jr. “We started Run Like A Native in 2025 to promote Native athletes and their advocacy through running. While our organization is new, our Native Nations have a long history with running. Our Messengers were dedicated to carrying our people’s words from territory to territory, as fast as possible, regardless of distance or conditions. That tradition is the foundation of our team and organization – ‘Be a Messenger for your people’ is a motto we proudly carry.”
For the Seneca7, the group put out an open call through their social media platforms and, after receiving a pool of athletes in the responses, focused on selecting a well-rounded team.
“This race takes place on the lands our Haudenosaunee ancestors traveled. We have the Seneca, Onondaga, Mohawk, and even Anishinabeg Nations all represented on our team! Some of us are meeting for the first time, but we all come from similar backgrounds and a day in the van will make us all fast friends!” says John.
“Run Like A Native has done its own Messenger Relays in the recent years, to showcase the role and connect our communities through running. We found out about the Seneca7 from another team after the 2025 event. We share the same vision through these relays, plus Seneca Lake and the surrounding lands are ancestral to the Haudenosaunee Nations – it was a no brainer to get involved and represent as the next generation of Messengers on these lands!”
Run Like A Native’s 2026 Seneca7 team includes: Dennis Clyne – Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nation; Kristen Hill – Mohawk Nation; Mashaun Jimerson – Seneca Nation; Jeffrey Kelley – Onondaga Nation; Gavin Mercado – Seneca Nation; Andrew Quigley – Seneca Nation; and Frank Wolfe – Seneca Nation.
RUN LIKE A NATIVE took on the Seneca 7!
These 7 Messengers took on the 77+ miles around Seneca Lake, placing 34th out of 300+ teams! They endured some major hills and the challenge of multiple relay legs, but still out paced their projected time.
We are extremely proud of these 7 Native Runners and how they represented on Haudenosaunee lands. We hope we made our communities proud too.
Website: www.runlikeanative.org.
