Rising Hearts November Blog Updates!
Happy Native | Indigenous Heritage Month! Fall season is always a busy season. Friendly reminder, friends and community! Indigenous Peoples are putting in the heart work year round, We see Indigenous Peoples thriving. We recognize the barriers that still exist and we appreciate the commitment and passion many Indigenous Peoples are doing, every day to make a difference for the next generations. We are witnessing a lot of trauma and pain across our communities with Indigenous Peoples targeted by institutions and racism, separating families, genocide, war, bombs and displacement across other Indigenous communities and occupation of lands, it’s unfair, and unjust. We appreciate the many amazing humans and organizations, putting in the heart and time to protect people, the lands, and secure safety. With a government shutdown, we are seeing pain, hunger and uncertainty. Yet, we still see the good humans, doing what they can to take care of community. While we are here to recognize Native | Indigenous Heritage Month, it’s really a time of year of reflection, action, and doing what we can for community. So, keep it up, keep showing up.
And now that Native | Indigenous Heritage Month is HERE - if you’ve been planning on hosting some sort of event that involves Indigenous voices, your invites and planning should’ve gone out weeks or even months ago! We know last minute opportunities can happen, that’s understandable and all of it is within reason, understanding and compassion.
If you are hosting an event, be sure you’re checking these boxes at a minimum (and this goes beyond opportunities outside of these months and for Indigenous Peoples):
+ Do the outreach and your research
+ Have a budget (if asking for free labor and energy, be transparent, let them decide)
+ Let Indigenous voices be part of the planning
+ Be sure to evaluate internally, your DEI policies, hiring policies and opportunities that are available or not available, Board / Council representation, for Indigenous, POC, underrepresented bodies, especially if you’re a brand/company (we do wonder, and a lot of the time, we do ask)
+ Transparency and honesty
+ Begin the planning early on, include it in the next FY Budget
+ If virtual, still pay, if in person, pay and support with travel/lodging support if you can, product support too if desired
+ A true understanding of the person you are asking and / or the organization / group they represent - their heart work and passion
+ Don’t take offense if we have to say no (I’m sure we can help recommend others too! We’ve received some rude responses when we’ve had to say no, and they acted like they were doing us a favor… 🙄)
That’s my minimum list, would love to hear from community, what is on your checklist when being approached to speaking opportunities and event collaborations!
In other big news, we just had 2 Indigenous runners at the 2025 New York City Marathon this year, scroll down, learn more! Donate to their Rising Hearts fundraiser and help them reach their goal.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Updates
We are prioritizing our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate Collective through our own fundraising and partnerships, to support our athletes in their running and advocacy. We are preparing for 15 amazing humans coming together in Scottsdale, AZ for the Every Woman’s Marathon. Then we have the launch and premiere of Run In Beauty, featuring Alex Staten in Portland, OR in mid-November. And the later in December, we have The Running Event, and a special community gathering with fellow RWP Athlete Advocate, Daryl Murphy, in Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Film Festival. We have a lot going on before the end of the year and much needed downtime.
Our Running On Native Lands Initiative is in constant growth. We are continuing to work with our collaborators and friends that we are in communications with, and we have created a more formalized process in becoming a partner. We have upcoming opportunities to screen our Know To Run series along with our Going Beyond a Land Acknowledgement workshop, it allows us to meet more of community, help educate, and learn from community. So, we are looking forward to our annual virtual/in person Running On Native Lands community gatherings this month!
Rising Hearts Stories has been created under new production company Narrative Shift, centered, on community, environmental, racial and social justice efforts, important campaigns that shift the narrative, offer ways to inform, and help shine a light on the celebratory moments in community with our partners and ideas we help co-create! The official launch of this company, that founder, Jordan Marie Whetstone is helping to co-create and lead. Rising Hearts Stories, will have it’s own space on the website and on our own! We look forward to this opportunity and growth.
- Rising Hearts
2025 NYC Marathon | Lenapehoking Lands
What an amazing weekend Jordan and Cheryl had at the 2025 New York City Marathon over the weekend!! They both finished and ran strong. Cheryl even had a marathon Personal Best!!! It truly is a magical place! We ran with purpose and we made it to the start line with so many other Native runners from Native Strength Revolution, Native Women Run, Rise Above, Prolyfyck, 6Run5 and many others participating that we may not know about.
To learn more about who we are, our why and purpose for coming together, visit www.risinghearts.org/rh-nycmarathon. Stay tuned for a post NYC Marathon specific blog and newsletter soon!
Recap of Events:
+ 10/31 | Friday: Welcome Reception at Walker Hotel Tribeca
The official rabbit Pop-Up shop and launch of a special collection designed by Indigenous artist, Yatika Starr Fields and Rising Hearts with a longtime brand friend. We love and appreciate Yatika’s art and we are lucky to have collaborated on this kind of effort more than once. This was the launch of this collection, a one of a kind, and opportunity to grab a one of a kind NYC singlet made by Yatika. And it sold beautifully! We are unsure of how much is left, but it will be available on the website, VERY soon!!! Lots of pictures were taken. Laughs, drinks, mocktails, music, and merch printing on the spot!
+ 11/1 | Saturday: 8am No-Drop Shakeout Run with Rabbit
We had a lovely 3-mile shakeout with Rising Hearts, Women Make Moves, Tailwind, the Walker Hotel, and Halo along the water and just, tons of fun to come together through movement! There were multiple stops to make sure everyone was together.
We are really grateful for these opportunities to come together and for the support organizations bringing us to these spaces to represent our communities, our passions, and hold space for those no longer here. We had an amazing time supporting Yatika, his art and this launch. Be sure to check out the collection when it becomes available. A portion of the profits will be donated to Rising Hearts!
Picture Credit: @acinthemind
SUPPORT THE RUNNERS
SUPPORT THE FUNDRAISERS OF THE RUNNERS! They are less than $1,000 away from their goal. And so far, 43 amazing humans who have donated towards this effort!
UPCOMING EVENT
THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO HAVE 350 REGISTRANTS!
Join the RISING HEARTS virtual team (6 participants will be selected to win a free pair of On Running shoes and other swag).
You can also add the Indigenous lands you're on to your bib!
HONORING THE PAST: Recognizing Indigenous existence & honoring ancestral lives and their sacrifices.
CELEBRATING THE PRESENT: Indigenous Peoples are still here – with their resilient voices and heart.
BUILDING A FUTURE: Creating a future for the next generations to come.
Sign up for the 2025 TRUTHSGIVING Virtual 4 mile and 2 mile, to support Rising Hearts efforts in informing every participant about what Truthsgiving is and means through the lens of our collective, and gain a new perspective, rather than celebrating so called Thanksgiving for the romanticized reasons we grew up knowing from textbooks and an inaccurate historical narrative. Expand your knowledge and become an ally/friend with Indigenous Peoples, support the voices, movements and heart work. We hope to also give more visibility and support those in the #LANDBACK movement and work, to uphold Indigenous Sovereignty, Treaty Rights, and to protect the lands where Indigenous knowledge can care, protect, preserve and restore the lands to their most natural, thriving being. And we can all be part of that. This is an opportunity to begin new traditions and participate in meaningful conversations!
November is Native | Indigenous Heritage Month - please remember that you can be an ally and co-conspirator everyday of the year and your support can go beyond just Indigenous Peoples Day and for November. We can celebrate, honor, amplify, uplift and celebrate Indigenous Peoples everyday and any day.
Read more about Truthsgiving from Jordan's blog perspective here and ways to take action and support
Click here for the "True History of Thanksgiving" article from DoSomething.org
2025 Truthsgiving shirts are available HERE! Orders after 11/1/25, will be printed and shipped on a day to day basis, no longer guaranteed to arrive by event dates.
2025 TUSCARORA WOOD WORKS - WOODEN MEDALS! The first 25 registrants in the 4 mile and 2 mile will receive a free medal, the remaining 50 are available for $15 and goes towards beneficiaries!
Indigenous Peoples day Recap
Thanks to your participation through movement, we were able to raise $1,531 for the 6th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day 5k, 10k and Half marathon! We are starting to email the winners of the free shoe codes and free shirts.
Collectively, as community, we are able to donate to Touching Land ($510), Heal Palestine ($511) and Rising Hearts ($510). Thank you!!! Every dollar has its purpose and place to be and will make an impact, big or small. We look forward to seeing you next year, and at our next event!
Call for runners for cim!
We have a few more spots left for the California International Marathon this December 7, 2025! Please submit your interest and we can help get you set up with everything you need! Right now, we have 3 runners!! You could be the next 3! Last day to apply is November 13th.
RUN REFLECTIONS
Jocelyn Rivas | Running with Purpose Athlete Advocate
“This Sunday, I took part in hosting People’s Indigenous Day alongside fellow RH Athlete and Charity Runner, Melina Devoney at Arroz & Fun with Cipota Coffee.
We ran a 5K on Tongva land near Los Angeles State Historic Park. We started the run with Melina sharing about what Rising Hearts is and how she met RH’s founder Jordan. Then Jocelyn shared more about what it means to be a Rising Hearts RWP Athlete Advocate and shared a land acknowledgement. As a group, we gathered together to honored the sacred Indigenous lands we plan to run on and to celebrate Indigenous people. We ran in community, united, with joy and appreciation of the lands.
After the run, we gathered together around at a table, sharing stories and creating community. Cipota Coffee provided us with free coffees and lattes to make the occasion even more meaningful.
We celebrated Indigenous People’s Day and went our different ways.”
Shayla Manitowabi Huebner | Rising Hearts Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate & CIM Charity Runner
Scenes from the Indigenous Peoples Day 5K Run/Walk in Albuquerque with Rosie’s Run Club and UNM’s Native American Law Student Association. A beautiful evening filled with running, smiles, and posole! Grateful to RRC and NALSA for bringing people together in a meaningful way -- creating space for Indigenous students, community members, and allies to come together through movement and celebration.
PODCAST SPOTLIGHTS
Our very own Lex Saenz was interviewed last year on Creativity Is The Cure. The Truth about Thankstaking
Episode 27: Dancer, activist and wellness advocate Alexis Saenz returns to tell the truth about Thankstaking. Malcolm and Alexis discuss the history of the holiday, the Day of Mourning for Indigenous people and why they call it Truthsgiving - Thankstaking. For more information, please visit www.risinghearts.org *Included at the end of this podcast is the song Remember Who You Are by Alexis Saenz and Justin Michael Williams. ** This podcast was recorded in Silverlake, CA in November 2024.