In 2020, Oiselle and Run for All Women teamed up with 10,000 of you on the historic virtual relay that contributed $272,000 to Black Voters Matter. We are beyond honored to bring you Women Run the Vote 2.0, now open for registration. Women Run the Vote 2.0 is a 907 mile virtual relay, completed in teams of 20, from Apsaalooké (Crow) lands at the Yellowstone National Park and ending in Duwamish territory (Oiselle HQ, Seattle, WA), taking place September 20th - 26th, 2021.
Throughout this 900+ mile journey, we will be sharing stories about the Native people and nations whose land we will traverse along the way. You will be introduced to the connection between Environmental Justice, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls epidemic, and the fight for #landback and #waterislife (start here with Real Rent Duwamish). You will also learn about the deeply problematic history of the National Parks. And you will meet amazing leaders in the movements to protect Indigenous lands, waters, and our non-human relatives.
"This planet is everyone's responsibility"
Want to support the efforts of a runner or team?
Along the journey through this beautiful Native land, activists and storytellers Dinée Dorame and Guarina Lopez will help us reframe the common language used in the outdoors that excludes Native histories and emphasizes white supremacy.
Photo credit Yellowstone National Park
“Native Americans have been living in and connected to the lands now known as Yellowstone for at least 11,000 years. Today, there are 27 associated Tribes who have historic and modern connections to the lands and resources now found within the park. In June of 2021, tribal members temporarily installed a Crow-style teepee in collaboration with the park. As Yellowstone National Park celebrates it’s so-called 150th anniversary, we remember the original stewards, whose land was stolen from them to constitute the park, and honor those 27 tribal communities connected to the land today.”
All funds raised in this relay (after covering administrative costs including payment to content creators) will be donated to the following three organizations focused on environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty.
"Lace up, take notes and welcome to Native Country."
Beneficiary Organizations (donated funds will be divided equally 3 ways):
Duwamish Tribe of Seattle: The Duwamish Tribe, the host tribe of Seattle, is working to obtain federal recognition while also serving key roles in the Seattle area in environmentalism, heritage, land preservation, and neighborhood issues.
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center: The NIWRC is a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children. The NIWRC provides national leadership in ending gender-based violence in tribal communities by lifting up the collective voices of grassroots advocates and offering culturally grounded resources, technical assistance and training, and policy development to strengthen tribal sovereignty.
Runners for Public Lands: RPL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that organizes runners for environmental justice, advocacy, and conservation. RPL is passionate about equitable access to nature, and is working to build a national movement of runners who care about public lands, green space advocacy, and hands-on conservation work.
The Women Run the Vote Virtual Relay will cover 907 miles, in teams of 20 people, learning about Indigenous Sovereignty and Environmental Justice along the journey. Per-person registration cost is $38 and includes a Women Run the Vote bandana in the above graphic (quantities limited). After bandanas run out, registration cost will be $32.
**UPDATE: As of 6:00am EST on 9/14, we are out of bandannas**
RELAY SCHEDULE
8/20 Registration opens- *NOTE: if you are a solo runnner and need a team to join, please join Teams Cobalt, Copper, Mercury, Platinum or Iridium.
9/17 Registration closes
9/20 Relay begins
9/21 Panel moderated by Dinée Dorame w/ Teresa Baker, Rebecca McCown, Guarina Lopez, and Faith Briggs on the historical and present erasure of Black and Indigenous communities from the land/outdoors (link to participate will be emailed to relay registrants)
9/22 - 9/25 Interact with the relay route and the interactive emails and postcards you'll receive!
9/26 Last day to record relay activities Keep in mind this race uses your local time zone, so you will have until 11:59pm YOUR TIME to complete your activity log. Please note that the backdate function will not be available on the final day.
9/27 Rest and celebrate your good work!
9/29 Get back to work helping to get out the vote
After covering the costs of hosting the relay (including paying content creators) every dollar from registration will flow directly to the three recipient organizations. Last year, WRTV donated more than $272,000 to Black Voters Matter. We will keep you updated as registrations progress with the amount of donation dollars raised. If you are looking for a 501c3 tax receipt and corporate matching form for your donation, please donate directly to the organizations on their websites.
Registration FAQ's
If you would like to purchase registrations for more than one person, please use this link: TEAM BUY. You will be able to purchase as many registrations as you'd like; you will then receive an email explaining how to redeem the registrations.
The Women Run the Vote Relay strives to be as inclusive as possible. More than 75 physical activities can be logged and converted to miles on the route. Athletes can register and create their own team, join a specific team, or register as an individual and pick a team. Share and follow Women Run the Vote Relay activities on social media using #WomenRunTheVote.
If you would like to participate in the relay but are financially unable to register, Women Run the Vote Relay does have scholarships available. Please email volee@oiselle.com for information on financial assistance.
