Games relay run stalled

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The Symbolic run of the North American Indigenous Games has come to a symbolic halt. The run, which was to open the games in July, is on hold until administrative wrinkles are smoothed out.

The run was to begin in Edmonton, former host city to the Games, on June 26, with an evening sweat lodge ceremony. The official sendoff was to follow a morning pipe ceremony the following day. Ten athletes from Alberta and Saskatchewan, between the ages of 13 and 18 hears old are to participate in the relay.

But organizers seem to believe the run is too long, and it is now set to start July 13 from a yet-to-be decided location.

Another major hurdle concerns the contents of the sacred bundle to be carried by the participating athletes. Elders involved in the run disagree on what should be included in the bundle the young ambassadors are to carry. Traditionally, sacred bundles carry objects of meaning to the carrier, given by spiritual people and collected by the carrier.

The original route was to be Edmonton to Calgary, to Medicine Hat, on to Regina, Saskatoon, Duck Lake, Blaine Lake and finally Prince Albert. The last leg of the run should see the sacred bundle arrive in the city by canoe via the North Saskatchewan River.