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Over 35 young marathon runners from the Okanagan Indian First Nation in Oliver, British Columbia are running the length of the Trans-Canada Highway to emphasize the need for a peaceful solution to the Quebec standoff.
Stopping at Indian reserves on their odyssey, the peace runners hope to reach Oka, Quebec by Sept. 4 with a peace feather they're carrying. On the return trip the Okanagan Indians plan to stop at Indian reserves to give eyewitness accounts of what they saw in Quebec.
Kanesatake and Kahnawake Mohawks have been holed up behind blockades since July 11 after an assault by Surete du Quebec police officers on a Kaneatake blockade July 11 near Oka. The Kanesatake Indians were attempting to block expansion of a private golf course onto land they claim is theirs. Cpl. Marcel Lemay died during the police attack.
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney recently appointed Chief Justice Alan Gold of the Quebec Superior Court to mediate a solution to the month long standoff. And this week under the direction of Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa soldiers moved into position near the blockades.
arnie louie, Okanagan spokesperson for the runners, said in an interview near the Siksika Nation reserve in southern Albert that the run is their way of taking direct action and to get public support for the Mohawks.
Not satisfied with the short-lived tactics of sympathy road blocks and informational pickets in B.C., which highlighted land claim issues there. Louie conceived the idea of the marathon with his friend Ron Hall.
Their idea was initially rejected by Okanagan Tribal Council, but undaunted the two young men took their idea to people in the community where they found support.
In a matter of days they pulled together runners willing to meet the challenge.
"We took four days of sweats and preparation mentally with our elder Glen Douglas," said Louie.
The run, which started July 31, began near the U.S. border in Okanagan Nation country and then went through Upper and Lower Smikkanmeen, Osoyoos, Penticton, West Band, Okanagan Reserve, Spalluncheen and the Shuswap Tribal area. The runners stopped at each reserve to raise awareness about their run. Their first Alberta stop was Morley.
The runners alternate, running one mile at a time and then handing a peace feather to the next jogger. The group averages about 16 hours a day. Some of the athletes sustained injures because at the beginning of the marathon, they were too exuberant.
Louis said if a peaceful resolution to the situation in Oka is found before they get there, the runners will continue in celebration of a peaceful resolution. If tragedy occurs, they will mourn but continue carrying the message peace must prevail.
He blasted Indian Affairs' Minister Tom Siddon for avoiding the Quebec situation. "Siddon took off and has been going through British Columbia. I don't think he should be in British Columbia. He should be in Quebec. He should be on the front line. He should be there every day because that's his responsibility."
Siksika people were unaware of the visitors to the reserve on the August long weekend. But as soon as council member Clarence Wolf Leg received word o the Okanagan runners from tribal police officers he made arrangements for a small delegation to meet them.
Clarence Louie, a contact person working from Oliver, B.C. who is in telephone contact with the runners daily said four Mohawk women have since joined the peace run.
"Once the runners reached Saskatchewan publicity picked up. The Mohawks heard about the peace run and sent female representatives to join the effort," said Clarence.
He said the reception in Regina was so string the runners stayed an extra day.
He said media interest grew as the runners approached Manitoba.
Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief in Manitoba, contacted Louie by phone and asked the runners to slow their pace so their arrival in Winnipeg coincided with a chiefs' conference being held there.
On the fist day of the conference i Winnipeg, the Mohawk spokesperson went ahead to Winnipeg to address the chiefs. Fund-raising efforts at the conference netted over $1,700 in support of the run.
Run organizers are accepting donations to help cover costs associated with the run. Donations may be sent to Run for Peace, C / O Clarence Louie, Site 25, Box 1, RR 3, Oliver, B.C., V0N 1T0. If any money is left over, it will be used to establish an Aboriginal Peace and Justice Fund.
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