64 | Verna Volker & Native Women Running
by Nikki Parnell — September 24, 2021
This week we have the privilege of talking with Verna Volker – a Navajo ultra runner, mom of four and the founder of Native Women Running which is a community geared towards celebrating and bringing visibility to native runners by sharing their stories. This platform was born when Verna realized that she didn’t see herself in the running world. “There’s some type of image that’s always portrayed in running…It’s the mom who’s a white mom, blonde, beautiful, thin, who just ran Boston and is back to her pre-pregnancy weight holding a baby.” Seeing primarily those posts on instagram and thinking “that is just not me” made Verna create a space on the internet where native women could find belonging, encouragement and sisterhood.
Running is a way for Verna to heal. She’s been on her own journey from generational trauma and loss to forgiveness. She runs because many people can’t and she dedicates her races to lost family members or people on her mind. She also puts on virtual runs that are a call to action, bringing awareness to travesties like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and the recent children who have been found on residential school properties. For too long native people have felt silenced – these runs are a way to use their voice and say, (in regards to missing women) ”These women are important to us. They’re mothers and wives and sisters and aunties and they need to be found or they need to get justice.” We talk about the barriers native runners face, what some race directors are doing to diversify their start lines, the sponsorships NWR provides to support runners in their community, and how women can be proactive and protect themselves while running.
Verna left us with reminders that each of us can use our unique gifts for activism and to be an ally. Do what you can wherever you are! Verna is a true joy and she shared so many important things with us, we are so grateful to have had this conversation! Give this episode a listen by clicking the link below or searching “Run Hard Mom Hard” on any podcast platform! Enjoy and please share this with your people! Thank you!
Show Notes:
Verna on Instagram
Native Women Running Instagram
National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Self Defense Products: Go Guarded
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