20 กรกฎาคม 2569The Story Behind Chiang Mai FrontRunners and The Village Trail
The Story Behind Chiang Mai FrontRunners and The Village Trail
The Sangsan Anakot Yawachon Foundation advances human rights and gender, SOGIESC, social, economic, environmental, and climate justice, with a focus on Indigenous women, Indigenous children, and Indigenous people with diverse SOGIESC/LGBTIQAN+.
Across all our work, Collective Care and Wellness is a cross-cutting program. We believe that human rights and social justice cannot be sustained if human rights defenders, community leaders, activists, and communities continue to experience exhaustion, stress, violence, insecurity, and unequal care responsibilities.
We promote a Culture of Collective Care that values self and collective care. Care is not an individual responsibility, but a shared responsibility among individuals, families, communities, organizations, and society.
It was from this vision that Chiang Mai FrontRunners was established, a feminist trail running community of Indigenous women, LGBTIQAN+ people, and supporters who use trail running to build collective care and wellbeing, solidarity, empowerment, and social change.
Out of these experiences, The Village Trail was born, a trail running event that led by and for Indigenous women, children, and LGBTIQAN+ people. It strengthens Indigenous collective leadership, celebrates cultural, and diverse identities and SOGIESC, advocating for right to lands and territories, supports Indigenous livelihoods, and builds collective care and wellbeing.
The Village Trail Guiding Principles
1. By and for indigenous women, indigenous children, and indigenous with diverse SOGIES/LGBTIQAN+
2. Indigenous Community-led trail running event
3. Respect for FPIC and Indigenous self-determination
4. Protection of Indigenous lands and territories
5. Environmental and climate justice
6. Gender and social justice
7. Economic justice
8. Collective care and safe spaces
9. Holistic wellbeing
10. Zero tolerance for sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence
For us, trail running is not about competitive or reaching the finish line. It is about creating communities where everyone belongs, is cared for, and can live with dignity and rights.