In this episode I sit down with the phenomenal Shaun Martin. Shaun was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona. He is the founder and race director of the Canyon de Chelly Ultra Marathon, an educator, a husband, a father, a son, and a facilitator of connection. In this talk Shaun shares many amazing things. Stories of his father growing up on the land near the East Rim of the Grand Canyon and being taken from his family at a young age by the United States government. Shaun provides insight on how to learn and connect with indigenous cultures here and around the world. How we all might be better off for respecting the first inhabitants of the land.He touches on the reasons behind the Canyon de Chelly Ultra and tells stories about Navajo (Diné) culture. A Navajo word Shaun mentions throughout this discussion is Hózhó (HoSho). Hózhó is loosely translated as peace, balance, beauty and harmony. To be “in Hózhó” is to be at one with and a part of the world around you. Hozho is a state of being that refers to the interconnectedness between beauty, harmony and goodness in all things physical and spiritual that results in health and well-being for all things and beings.Links discussed in the episode can be found below!Canyon de Chelly Ultra website https://www.canyondechellyultra.com/Article I wrote on the race and Shaun in 2014 featuring my photography of the event https://www.podiumrunner.com/culture/camaraderie-native-culture-canyon-de-chelly-ultra/Canyon de Chelly Ultra Community Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/838189979552938/Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing CeremonyIn beauty I walkWith beauty before me I walkWith beauty behind me I walkWith beauty above me I walkWith beauty around me I walkIt has become beauty againHózhóogo naasháa doo Shitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa doo Shikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa doo Shideigi hózhóogo naasháa doo T’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa doo Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave meI will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.In beauty all day long may I walk.Through the returning seasons, may I walk.On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.With dew about my feet, may I walk.With beauty before me may I walk.With beauty behind me may I walk.With beauty below me may I walk.With beauty above me may I walk.With beauty all around me may I walk.In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.My words will be beautiful…