Michael Harralson (‘22 CO)
Work
Michael is a judge for multiple tribal nations and a runner who combined his passions of advocating for tribal sovereignty and running to create the non-profit ReNew Earth Running (RER)
Priority areas for mentorship
Fundraising to support staffing and growth
Sponsorships to support team events
Marketing
Michael is the founder of ReNew Earth Running (RER), a running team across the US and Canada that uses running to raise funding to support Indigenous land stewardship.
The idea of RER began with wanting to go beyond land acknowledgements and to use running as a means to support Indigenous land stewardship. He believes that restoring land to the stewardship of Tribal Nations and Indigenous leadership will bring healing to those communities, the environment, and to the country as a whole.
RER's first run team in 2021 included 22 runners. Now, in its third season, the RER Run Team consists of 55, Indigenous and ally runners throughout the US and Canada. RER hosts an annual 5k that supports the work of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, a Native-led conservation nonprofit that cares for and protects the sacred site of Wakan Tipi in St. Paul, Minnesota. In the past year, RER has also partnered with Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition to raise awareness about visiting sacred sites with respect and raised funds to support for BEITC's work of Indigenous stewardship for the Bears Ears National Monument. Additionally, RER was able to contribute to the purchase of Three Creeks by the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, which returned the land to its original stewards.
