Mental Health Ofrenda: Reclaiming Nature and Comunidad

*The Indigenous Movement Crew together at Walnut Creek Metro Park. Photos contributed by Rocío Villalobos/Indigenous Movement Crew*

Mis queridos familiares y amistades,

I have spent the last few months trying to find different opportunities to be in community with others and actively care for my mental health. My heart has been heavy while witnessing suffering all around the world, so I am leaning into community now more than ever.

This is how I found myself at a Summer Solstice Hike with the local group Indigenous Movement Crew, mis queridos. The Indigenous Movement Crew (formerly known as Native Roots ATX) is run by Qui’chi Patlan (he/his, em/ems) and Rocío Villalobos (she/her) and is a local running and wellness group in Austin that centers Indigenous peoples. In their first Instagram post, they shared: “We fundamentally believe running is ceremony, running is life, and we run to heal ourselves and our communities in ways that honor our ancestors. We understand our mission to be one aimed at establishing, cultivating and sustaining a family, community-based running/wellness group open to everyone but centers on the representation of Indigenous, Black, People of Color, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ voices and bodies. We welcome all ages, physiques, pets, and anyone who supports any of the social groups previously mentioned.”

For a while, I debated attending a meetup. Pero siempre me daba miedo ir y no iba. When I see movement/wellness events, I often wonder, “Will I fit in? Will I be the biggest person there? Am I going to be able to go at my own pace?” I love spending time outside, familia. I find such joy in walking-and-talking alongside loved ones. The allure of moving my body, heart, and mind is too wonderful to pass up sometimes – even when I feel insecure, nervous, or self-conscious about my weight or body. When I saw the contents of the post for the “Summer Solstice Hike” at Walnut Creek Metro Park, I decided to go.

Summer Solstice Hike

The night before the morning hike, the Indigenous Movement Crew provided me much peace of mind! They posted a video reel describing the location of the Walnut Creek Metro Park, the place where we would all meet up, and shared pictures and descriptions of the hiking trail itself. Seeing pictures and descriptions of the trail and the potentially challenging part of the hike allowed me to decide whether or not I felt confident enough to attend and participate. Después de ver el video, me sentí más tranquila! I felt as though my concerns had been secretly delivered to the group founders and they had posted the video as a final and encouraging “Vente, Magaly! Te queremos aqui. Eres bienvenida.”

The morning of the hike, I arrived and was greeted by pups, folks I knew and other kind folks who introduced themselves to me. Hike leaders offered applesauce, granola bars, fruit leather, and trail mix. As we munched on our snacks and circled up, we introduced ourselves, our pronouns and shared how we were feeling that morning. During my turn, I shared that I was happy to be there because I’d been feeling restless and wanted to feel more grounded spiritually.

Al principio, decidí apartarme un poco. I walked alone for a bit as my body and mind woke up. Hanging behind, I caught up with a friend and his dog and leaned into the familiarity of his kind soul. For 1.5 miles, we shared about ourselves, our upbringing, our families, our passions, and our learnings about social justice, everyday racism, and movement work. I felt nourished.

Eventually, we met up with the rest of the crew who’d taken group pictures but gathered again for us to join in. Although initially nervous and overwhelmed by meeting new people, I felt welcomed and included in that moment. For the last 1.5 miles, I met another runner who frequents the Indigenous Movement Crew meetups and got to know them. They shared about their upbringing and the way their dad had raised them to be rooted in Indigenous culture. I confessed to them that although I gravitate towards learning about my ancestry and Indigeneity, I often fear co-opting, disrespecting, or appropriating Indigeneity. Sharing that and having that sentiment resonate felt like a sigh of relief. Once upon a time, I would have avoided that conversation but being open and honest about my feelings felt right. I felt seen and heard.

We closed out our lovely hike with a raffle of incredible Cotopaxi goodies since one of the Indigenous Movement Crew co-founders, Rocío, is a 2024 Cotopaxi Do Good Ambassador. Before leaving, people offered more opportunities for connection and fun. Folks even invited me to go swimming! With my new fanny pack and a hopeful heart, I left feeling tired but excited about the possibility of continuing to build and be in community.

Mi ofrenda para ti

Familia, when you find yourself feeling scared, alone, or sad like me, I hope you can also find refuge in good places and people like the ones I met. For now, I will breathe these affirmations into existence for you:

Eres dignx de ser tu ser pleno y maravilloso. You are worthy of being your full and wonderful self.
Eres dignx de comunidad. You are worthy of community.
Perteneces. You belong.

Gentle note: Sometimes we need a little help. If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, suicide, or is simply having a tough time, consider reaching out to the following numbers. No estas solx.

Si quieres ayuda / if you want help: