Tuesday’s downpour didn’t stop a young group of First Nation runners from enthusiastically starting off the Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games Lance Run.
The group of runners, all between the ages of 10 and 24, ran into troubles with delays and power outages before the run even began.
Despite that, they woke up early on Tuesday morning at their Muskoday First Nation starting point.
“They are leaders, they are young athletes with so much potential,” said Tracey Dunnigan, lance run coordinator.
Elders spoke about the importance of keeping First Nations culture and language alive with the younger generation at the pipe ceremony and breakfast, which took place before the lance run.
Kyana Bear, 13, said she has a close connection with her cultural practices. She grew up going to sundances and sweats with her father, and attends powwows.
Elders and Elders helpers will be a part of the 12-day convoy between Muskoday First Nation and Ochapowace Cree Nation. At the end of each day, the group will speak about their experience together.
“It is an emotional journey. There’s a lot of spirituality that’s attached to it. And when you’re running you’re not just running,” Dunnigan said.
With the rocky start and steady onslaught of rain, Dunnigan said the group has a choice to make.
“We have the ability to turn it into something hopeful. So I guess, with the weather, I’ve been taught, my teachings are that rain is a good thing. And so rain is about cleansing, it’s about giving Mother Earth the opportunity to grow and with that we can look at that as ourselves as well,” she said.
Making the journey with adolescents doesn’t faze her at all.
“They’re excited, they understand the spirituality of this run, they understand the commitment that they’re making,” Dunnigan said.
“If there’s any challenges along the way, we’ll deal with it.”
If Bear is any indicator, the 12-day run will take a positive tone. When asked how she felt about the weather on Tuesday, Bear said it “kinda feels good so I don’t have to keep sweating, and cool us down while we’re running.”
Parents and grandparents said their goodbyes on Tuesday morning, as they’ll be away from the youths for a while. The group started their run with one of the young runners carrying the lance first.