294. Running as Prayer and Making an Impact in Tribal Communities with Dillon Shije
Welcome to another episode in our Athlete’s Voice series, where today we get to learn from Dillon Shije. Dillon is a professional runner and CEO of The Native Runner, providing motivational speaking, workshops, training, and community wellness. He is also a respected tribal councilman at Pueblo of Zia and a successful business partner at Zia Impact. He is dedicated to serving his community and promoting economic development through sustainable and responsible business practices. With a deep understanding of the unique cultural and economic issues facing Native American tribes, Dillon is a powerful advocate for his people and a valuable asset to the team at Zia Impact.
Dillon Shije grew up in the Zia Pueblo Indian Reservation in New Mexico in a traditional household. He was raised with a deep understanding of his culture and participated in indigenous religious ceremonies, including daily prayers at sacred sites and cleansing himself in the river. This instilled in him a strong connection to his culture and the importance of prayer, which also translated into his passion for running as a sacred act. Through hard work and dedication, he became a successful competitive runner, despite not seeing many people who looked like him in Division 1 sports or at elite levels. His motivation to excel led him to attend college and become a student-athlete, eventually earning a spot on the University of Colorado Boulder's prestigious running team. Throughout his journey, prayer remained a foundation for him, guiding him to become a professional runner.
Dillon believes that his history of running both competitively and spiritually has informed the work he does today in helping his community. He has learned valuable lessons of resiliency and perseverance, and uses this experience to balance the need to push for resources and progress with the need to rest and not burn out. He also recognizes the importance of being strategic in advocating for marginalized communities, as being too passionate can sometimes lead to doors being closed. He therefore works to maintain his voice in high-level spaces while not over-exaggerating his passion.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“Wherever you may reside, reach out to some of the tribal nations, learn about the tribes that are in your area, and help them with resources. We all need guidance, especially our tribal nations who don't have as much capacity. I think that’s a good way to create that positive dialogue and learn about where people are living who have been there for hundreds of years, thousands of years.”
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Resources:
- Follow Dillon on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dillonshije
- Follow Dillon on Instagram: @thenativerunner
