“… I have become somewhat obsessed to leave something of sustainable significance behind; simply a message of hope, to create peace, and continued sustainability for the Raramuri. They taught me to take the time to care for each other and to love people more than goods. If they trust me, I will do all I can to honor them." Micah True, March 2006.
PROJECTS OVERVIEWS
Our projects are focused on sharing the wisdoms and honoring the Raramuri peoples and the children of the Sierra Tarahumara. Many projects provide support for the cultural education of the youth (*see details on our Busureliame 'Inner Awakening' Project) and importantly, the running culture of our friends by sponsoring running events, Rarajipari and Ariweta (the traditional running games), and trail improvement projects. Of course our efforts include continued support of the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco the race that started it all. We will also seek to understand where our resources and capabilities can best be utilized and supportive and emphasize the input of the Raramuri and local National community.*See more below*
Community Urgent Support Needs
While our focus is on ongoing projects that provide long term benefit, we also recognize there are times where situationally our resources are best channeled to urgent needs - food security, health care, etc. For example: the Barrancas are not immune to the negative economic impacts of the Covid Pandemic. Food availability can be challenging during the best of times, and it is not the best of times. True Messages is currently doing our best to help minimize the impact for the community.
LOS CABALLITOS!
Each year during the first week of March, runners and adventurers from all over the world descend into the small municipality of Urique in the Barrancas del Cobre, Mexico, to celebrate life, friendship, culture and the running heritage of the Raramuri people for the Ultra Caballo Blanco.
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Carrera Los Caballitos where over 800 young runners from all over the region participate in races of varying distances which are grouped by age. It’s a wonderful experience that allows the next generation of runners to also experience the joy of running together and sharing a day of fun and festivities.
Mas Locos and caring Companies have long supported this event. True Messages will excitedly join in this tradition and provide Korima. We look forward also to running with them, putting a medal around their neck, passing out the donations, eating cake, laughing with the clowns, and watching all the smiles and laughter with these young corredores as they enjoy this magical day.
Tour de Caballo Blanco
When we asked the Raramuri community, when we asked the National community, and when we asked the local government and business community what would be the best way we could help the most important projects you are doing - the answer we received from each and every group was to help them receive more ‘guests’ to these magical lands. People that love to travel and explore and that care about nature, folks who appreciate and love to participate in cultural exchange with indigenous peoples, and absolutely more runners and bikers and those that enjoy active sports are welcome and appreciated in the Barrancas.
Along with supporting athletic events and cultural festivals we believe there is an opportunity to bring visitors down that would like to perhaps experience the Barrancas as Micah (and many others) first experienced them. With this in mind we are helping to create a ‘Caballo Blanco Cultural Exchange Tour’. We have secured the ‘Establo de Caballo Blanco’’ (Micah’s humble home in Batopilas) so that it will be maintained and available as a museum of sorts for all enjoy. We are ensuring the Caballo Blanco Trail from Batopilas to Urique will be maintained and highly marked (special project soon!). These, along with the ‘A Message’ Mural in Urique, the beautiful oasis of Los Alisos, Mama Tita’s Plaza, and other recognized locations, will allow visitors to experience these lands as Caballo did.
Caballo Blanco Trail
Micah’s most important and hopeful role was to help contribute to the beautiful running traditions of the Raramuri. Endurance running is a significant part of Tarahumara culture. It’s impact in games, social interactions, celebrations, and the health of its Nation is vitally important. He created the (now named after him) Ultra Caballo Blanco because he saw an opportunity through endurance events to help carry on these traditions, and also help expose others to the beauty of the Raramuri.
He also saw ancient trails long used to connect communities in social and commerce being less and less used and becoming overgrown. He saw trail restoration and the creation of new trails as critical to the continuation of the running traditions. Continuing support of the trail systems in the Barrancas is one True Messages primary efforts. Follow us for a very special project that will soon be announced.
“Corre Libre” Micah True Memorial Run
Micah had his last run on March 27th, 2012. To honor Caballo Blanco’s life and his legacy, Arnulfo Quimare, Manuel Luna, and other Raramuri leaders wanted to create a special event - a run on some of Micah’s favorite trails from his cabana in Batopilas and a community celebration. True Messages has sponsored this event since it’s first annual running in 2021. Truly a special weekend that has included ultramarathons, Rarajipari and Ariweta (Rowera) games, music, dance, tesguino celebrations, and huge gatherings of the local villages to eat, laugh and remember the love and joy that the Sierra Tarahumara brought to Micah and that he also shared with these lands and peoples. The event is now led by legendary runner Arnulfo Quimare and his son Matais, and has become a great opportunity for all those in the Raramuri community that loved and appreciated Micah to come together for a special weekend.
On the side of Micah’s cabin (now part of the “Tour de Caballo Blanco” and a museo) it is written: “Caballo Blanco is not dead, for he lives on in the hearts of the Raramuri Runners”. Indeed he does.
Busureliame Cultural Education
Perhaps our most important contribution. A robust children’s educational program that passes the wisdoms and learning of the grandparents on down to the youth. Please see the details of this project and our involvement under the projects tab
A Message’ Mural en Urique
The Barrancas are a place of wonderment and beauty. The mountains, the canyons, the colorful dress of the Tarahumara, the music, the foods, and the spiritual traditions comprise a majestic land. The Barrancas also are a gathering place for cultures and peoples from nations all over our planet to come together as one, united in their respect for one another and desiring to create a better world.
Via the leanings gained by sharing with and among one another and through the ancient wisdoms they are exposed to, visitors leave changed. They leave as Messengers.
There are very, very few places anywhere that have this ‘joining of cultures and sharing of wisdoms’ like the Barrancas. And no place in the Barrancas del Cobre is this more represented more than the Village of Urique. A great portion of this has
come to be because of the Micah (with his local friends) and the Ultra Caballo Blanco.
To acknowledge the Raramuri, Urique, the local National community and Micah, an amazing work of art was created by our friend and world renown artist Yatika Star Fields. A lasting visual tribute: ‘A Message”, in the form of a giant Mural now stands in the Urique Centro and honor all that have helped to bring cultures and peoples together in peace in that magical canyon. We are privileged to have supported this project, and greatly appreciate Yatika, the Urique community, and the state of Chihuahua for all they have done to help make Yatika’s Mural possible.
