More than 100 youth from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana are taking part in the 17th annual Fort Robinson Outbreak Spiritual Run.

The youth are re-tracing the 400-mile journey their ancestors made in January 1879. About 130 people -- primarily elders, women, and children -- escaped from Fort Robinson in Nebraska and headed to the Cheyenne homeland in Montana.

The journey began January 9. "It helped me learn more about my people," Sierra Simpson, 12, told The Billings Gazette.

Simpson is a descendant of Dull Knife, whose band made the escape.

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Northern Cheyenne honor their ancestors' journey (The Billings Gazette 1/15)