Sacred lance run plays an important part in games

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The opening ceremonies of the 2005 First Nation Summer Games, hosted by Kawacatoose First Nation from July 2 to 8, offered up a vibrant display of colour, sound and motion as a parade of 1,000 or so young athletes marched around the track. The parade was led by a cadet bearing the eagle staff, along with flag bearers, an RCMP colour guard, the Kawacatoose pow wow princess, veterans, Elders, the Wynyard Cadets and other dignitaries.

Once the parade was over, the crowd that amassed for the ceremonies waited for the first sighting of the lance runners taking part in the sacred lance run.

Before European contact, the sacred lance run had been a part of First Nation tradition. The concept of the modern lance run was introduced before the North American Indigenous Games in Prince Albert in 1993, when runners brought the lance from Wanuskewin to Prince Albert.

The current lance has been used for Saskatchewan First Nation Games for seven years. "The lance was used to clear the path, and it is now used to clear the way for the next generation," said

Christina Roper, one of the lance runners who brought the sacred symbol from Flying Dust, host of the summer games in 2003, to Kawacatoose to symbolize the opening of the 2005 summer games. This year's run covered 582 km. "The lance is a spear topped with eagle feathers and beads," explained Roper during a brief stop at Dafoe.

Eleven runners from Kawacatoose and 11 from Flying Dust traded off every kilometre along the route. Sometimes, if the runner was strong enough, he or she would continue for two or three kilometres without a break. The runners were supported by chaperones, cooks and sponsors in eight vehicles travelling the edge of Highway 6, proceeded by an RCMP escort.

"In order to be selected as a lance runner," said Roper, "applicants have to write a letter. They have to be good runners but, beyond physical endurance, the people who chose the runners have to see something special inside.

"There's power when you hold it. When you're running, you are supposed to feel good about it," she said.

The arrival of the lance signifies the beginning of the games, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations' Vice-Chief Lawrence Joseph, emcee of the opening ceremonies, explained to the crowd gathered for the event. When the lance arrives, everything stops, he said. "Even if a speaker is talking, he stops."

The honoured runner who brought the lance onto the track and lit the games flame was Allan Asapass, the eldest member of the lance running team, who was followed by all the lance runners. They circled the track then moved off for a private blessing given by Elder Austin Kay.

Kay is the holder of the lance, entrusted with it for the next two years until the next games.

"In January, I was introduced to it," he said. "My chief and council picked me to be in charge. The lance is a spiritual object to Native people, protecting the whole village and the athletes. It brings good will, good minds and humble feelings to the games."

The runners had good weather for the four days of the run, until they got caught in the deluge at the opening ceremonies at Kawacatoose. But the rain held off just long enough for the runners to make their circle around the track, for the flame to be lit, and for the group to meet with Kay.

"Our Native way of lighting the flame is to use the feathers and the spear," he said. "The Olympic Games use a torch. We use eagle feathers tied to the lance. We Native people worship the fire along with the lance. It makes the event stronger," he said.

The lance will stay at Kawacatoose until the next games when it will be carried to the next host community.