Ultra racers given unique opportunity to build traditional Dine Hogan

The event is sponsored by Ultra Adventures and Vacation Races.

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The Ultra Adventures and Vacation Races held a Hogaán Building campout to give their race participants a way to see the land through which they run and a way to experience it that is culturally unique. The experience was also a way to thank the Manson family who allowed the Antelope Canyon Ultra race to use the trail on their grazing land. The hands-on learning project drew a small crowd of regulars from the destination races that Ultra Adventure and Vacation Races hold annually.
It was a volunteer event coordinated by Matt Gunn, one of the co-owners of Ultra Adventure and Vacation Races.
Gunn reached out to Otis Manson who is also a runner. Otis then reached out to Tom Manson, his son Tyler and their family.
“They were agreeable to the idea,” said Gunn. “We came to meet with Tom and discussed how we might be able to get the runners involved in a meaningful experience that would allow them to learn about Navajo culture and what the land means to them. Hopefully, we have the opportunity to show our gratitude for being able to run in this beautiful area.”
The hogaán building project began with the Manson family needing to tear down a 45 year old hogaán that had some wall deterioration and had not been built in the traditional fashion.

“I reached out to our running community on social media and received an overwhelming response from people that wanted to come and help out.” said Gunn.
Gunn and his son Tyler Manson were on hand to teach the volunteers how to map out the dwelling and what the distribution of the posts and roof materials mean traditionally to the Dine.
“Once we had the posts up we had to carry the beams into the structure through the doorway, which was facing east.” said Gunn.
The volunteers also learned the significance of the female hogaán and what types of ceremonies could be performed in it because each hogaán has a purpose.
The project also provided the volunteers an option to camp out. But it wasn’t too rough. They were also provided snacks, meals and showers during their time on site. As a gesture of gratitude the volunteers who participated were also given a free entry into one of the upcoming destination races.
When the project was complete Tom Manson arranged a gathering that showed the group his gratitude in a cultural way.  
“On Saturday, after we finished the roof, [the Masons] treated us to a hoop dance on the rim of the Horseshoe Bend and then, Navajo Tacos!” said Gunn. “On Sunday, [Tom] expressed his gratitude for what we accomplished over the weekend and for the relationships we had created.
Tyler sent us off with a beautiful song in Navajo and we said our goodbyes with our hearts full.”
Vacation Races and Ultra Adventures hold annual non-profit event such as the hogaán building project as a way of giving back to the communities that helps host their races.