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2014 NAIG Lance Run: Saskatoon Welcomes Lance Runners at Wanuskewin Event
Posted On 02 Jul 2014
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Saskatoon, SK – On a hot sunny day on July 1st, sponsors, supporters and dignitaries welcomed the 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Lance Runners at Saskatoon’s Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Before they arrived, guests and supporters were entertained by fiddle players, Dallas and Phil Bouyer, the Northern Prairie Dancers, and Darwin Roy. But once they arrived at 4:52 pm, they were met, greeted, and welcomed by various supporters, sponsors and dignitaries.
Those in attendance included; Organizers of the wanuskewin welcoming event, Lorna Arcand and Emcee Host, Eugene Arcand along with speakers, FSIN (Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations) Vice Chief Kimberly Jonathan, Saskatoon Tribal Council Vice Chief Mark Arcand, Metis First Nation Leader Bob Doucette, Monica Goulet (City of Saskatoon), NAIG CEO Ron Crowe, NAIG Chair Dutch Lerat and Elders Maria and Walter Linklater along with pow wow performances.
Emcee Host, Eugene Arcand shared the traditional importance of the Lance.
“The Lance was used by runners in the days when the Treaties were being signed. Warrior Runners would carry the Lance while bringing in the signing of Treaties from Treaty One Territory to Treaty Two Territory so on to Territory Treaty Six and so forth,” said Arcand.
The Lance Runners resumed the tradition beginning in 1993 for the first North American Indigenous Games and has continued with these games.
Allan Ross, who is the lance run coordinator for NAIG told RezX (in a recent article “2014 NAIG Lance Run Kicks off in PA” by Karen Cay) that, “the Lance Run is very steeped in Aboriginal culture and spiritual infusion…It is a spiritual journey.”
That journey will continue to 21 more communities throughout Saskatchewan in July leading right up to the opening ceremonies of the games on July 20th in Regina, SK. Today they are in North Battleford and then Flying Dust First Nation.
See full list below and gallery. RezXMag.com will also be live tweeting the entire lance run, so follow us on twitter for live on the road updates and pics; @rezxmag
Story and Photos by Trina Kingfisher for RezXMag.com
GALLERY OF WANUSKEWIN LANCE RUN WELCOMING EVENT
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Wanuskewin – Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- NAIG Chair Dutch Lerat – Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- FSIN Vice-Chief Kimberly Jonathan – Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- NAIG CEO Ron Crowe – Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Photo by Trina Kingfisher
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- Lorna and Eugene Arcand – Photo by Trina Kingfisher
The communities visited by the run also includes:
July 1, 12 p.m. – Batoche Arrival and Event
July 1, 4:30 p.m. – Saskatoon at Wanuskewin Heritage Park
July 2, 11:30 a.m. – North Battleford at Western Development Museum
July 2, 4:00 p.m. – Flying Dust First Nation
July 3, 11:30 p.m. – Waterhen Lake First Nation
July 3, 4:30 p.m. – Canoe Lake First Nation
July 4, 12 p.m. – Ile-a-la-Crosse
July 5 – Lac La Ronge where the team will be having a rest day.
July 6, 11 a.m. – Lac La Ronge Indian Band
July 7, 11:30 a.m. – Montreal Lake First Nation
July 7, 5 p.m. – Nipawin
July 8, 11:30 a.m. – James Smith Cree Nation
July 8, 6 p.m. – Cote First Nation
July 9, 11:30 a.m. – Yorkton Friendship Centre
July 10, 11:30 a.m. – Peepeekisis First Nation
July 10, 4 p.m. – Ochapawace First Nation
July 11, 10 a.m. – Ocean Man First Nation
July 11, 12 p.m. – Pheasant Rump First Nation
July 11, 4 p.m. – Whitebear First Nation Arrival
July 18, 10 a.m. – Fort Qu’Appelle
July 18, 4 p.m. – Standing Buffalo First Nation there will be an event and the group will stay the night.
July 19, 11:30 a.m. – Piapot First Nation
July 19, 5 p.m. will be the Regina VIP Indigenous Leaders Night and
July 20, 2 p.m. will be the Opening Ceremonies at Mosaic Stadium for the North American Indigenous Games.
