Live from the Road report compiled by Sutapa Adelman from notes by Jauvana Westwood:

Compte rendu de Sutapa Adelman

4/5/06, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Canada, le 4 mai : Saskatoon

11 A.M.: John Lake Elementary School

Children filed into the assembly and listened to the WHR song. They were introduced to the WHR team and Michelle spoke to the assembly about the WHR and what the torch symbolized. Next, students all watched the WHR video. When the assembly was over, they filed outside and lined up along the sidewalk in the direction of city hall. As the Torch was carried along the line, each child got a chance to touch it and to make a wish for peace.

The school Principal, Mr. Katzman, was happy to have us come and expressed the wish to see us once again next year.

1 PM.: Mount Royal Collegiate.

We met up with May Cummings, leader of the Diversity Club, in the hall at the school as school was letting out for the day. She introduced us to the running coach who would be accompanying us along with 3 other staff members. This year, the two girls who had run with the torch in 2005, Ryleigh Carr and Susan Thai, had organized many more students to participate.

The track team and students from a school youth committee carried the torch to City Hall with our flags and banners they had made.

2:30 PM Cermony at City Hall

The ceremony at city hall was attended by the students from Mount Royal Collegiate who had walked with the torch from their school about 6 km away.

The mayor welcomed the Run and read a proclamation of May 4th as World Harmony Day in Saskatoon., May Cummings spoke on behalf of the Mount Royal Collegiate. School. Rodolfo Pino-Robles from the multicultural association, entertained the gathering. Ths was followed by a short address by Bertonel (Bert) O'Soup from the First Nations University.

At the end of the ceremony, the torch was received by the First Nations University and the WHR left city hall to walk along the river to the downtown university campus.

La Course de l'harmonie mondiale visita deux écoles et relaya le Flambeau sur un parcours de 6 km à partir de l'école Mount Royal Collegiate.

Le relais se termina à l'Hôtel de Ville où se tenait une cérémonie. Le Maire Donald Atchison accueillit la Course de l'harmonie et, au nom du conseil municipal, proclama ce jour "Jour de l'harmonie mondiale".

Une représentation par Rodolfo Pino-Robles de l'Association Interculturelle fut offerte. Bertonel O'Soup, représentant l'Université des Premières Nations, souhaita bon succès à la Course.

Plus tard, l'Équipe eut une expérience inoubliable à l'Université des Premières Nations. Elle y fut chaleureusement accueillie, et des Anciens tinrent une cérémonie traditionnelle bénissant la Course de l'harmonie mondiale. Les participants échangèrent leurs aspirations et leurs visions. L'Équipe a hâte de rencontrer à nouveau les Anciens.

First Nations University

After leaving City Hall where they were passed the WHR Torch, Bertonel O'Soup, Janice Acoose and Natasha Beeds from First Nations University and WHR team members walked along the river towards the downtown campus.

The World Harmony Run Team was warmly welcomed and each member of the team was each given a T-shirt from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.

We were then given a tour of the campus and invited into their Ceremonial Hall. There a Tribal Elder performed a Smudging Ceremony and blessed each of the team members and the WHR Torch. Before we left a gift of art and a shirt were also given to the team to be delivered to Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the WHR. This special experience will remain with us for the rest of our lives.

---

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

< Canada 3 May

Canada 5 May >