Citizen of the Year

 


Ku Stevens runs cross-country for the Yerington High School team, and he won the best time in the state for the 5K course - 16 minutes and 28 seconds.

He has also organized the Remembrance Run.  To honor his great-grandfather, he ran 50 miles across the desert to bring awareness to the history of the Stewart Indian School in Carson City.

In 1913, Frank "Togo" Quinn was taken from his Paiute family in Yerington and taken to the boarding school.  Only 7 or 8 at the time, he escaped, crossing the desert to return home.  Three times he was returned to the school before they finally let him stay.

Following the discovery of unmarked graves outside an Indian boarding school in Canada, state and tribal officials now plan to use ground-penetrating radar to see if there are more outside Stewart.  Currently there is a small graveyard across the street from the school site.

That is when Stevens decided to duplicate his great-grandfather's trek across the desert.  About 100 other runners joined, and they ran for two days, from paved roads to sand and rock.  They camped overnight at Sunrise Pass.  (X)



Stevens carries the Peace and Dignity Journey's eagle staff.

A documentary is in production which covers the run against the backdrop of ongoing federal investigations into Native American boarding schools.

Remaining Native


Fall of 2022, Ku Stevens will be headed to the University of Oregon, aka Tracktown, USA.

Congratulations and Thanks.

Run On!


Reno Gazette

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