Canada 3 October: Fort Macleod - Sparwood
Gratitude to our hosts at DJ Motel in Fort Macleod for providing us with complimentary accommodations overnight.
TEAM A
This morning we started quite early.
Leaving the beautiful sunrise behind, at 7.15 we headed through Pincher Creek – flat, and hilly “cowboy” area with vast yellow fields, cows, kettles and horses grazing;
windmills in the distance and first Rocky Mountains called the Kootenays appearing ahead of us.
Our first meeting – with Mayor Wyatt Martin and amazing breakfast was offered to us at Cowleys Town.
Thank you.
Principal Terri Donald and Mr. Cyr holding the torch.
We had a great time at the school and we hope that you did too.
As we continue on our way, the mountains are closer and closer and as we enter our next town, Blairmore in Crowsnest Pass Region, the Kootenay Mountains already surround us.
The principal of Isabelle Sellon School Carole Goodreau welcomed us and invited us to add our handprints to their colorful wall pledged to harmony.
Afterwards we ran into the school field where children waited for us gathered in a big circle.
Holding the torch gave them the utmost joy.
Principal Carole Goodreau receiving the torch.
We headed off to the next town - Coleman and to our next school - Horace Allen School. Thank you Mrs. Reed and everybody present for having us.
Principal Pam Reed receiving the Certificate of Appreciation.
The smiling faces speak for themselves.
Running our last kilometers we said good-bye to the beautiful Province of Alberta as we reached the last province of our Canadian Harmony Run – British Columbia.
- Prapti
TEAM B
Started the day with a reception at Fort Macleod town hall.
Townhall staff and local press members were there to offer their good wishes.
The Blackfoot Buffalo Runners organised by Ken Williams accompanied by Leander Strikes With Gun arrived to run with the torch to Brocket, home of the Piikani.
Leander Strikes With A Gun
Louella
Ken presented each runner with a pouch containing four items including Buffalo hair, a piece of wood from the Spirit Tree, a pebble from Lake St. Anne and some sacred herbs as protection and to give strength to each runner.
Ken and Anvita
Louella and Wilf
The backdrop
Adrian
Wilf and Janelle
Anvita and Ian
Ian's wife, Melissa and baby daughter Kiara
Hardware in motion
Sgt. Sonny Richards and Corp. Marty Blackbird met up with us on the highway and escorted the runners into town.
With every step the mountains got closer and the wind in our faces got stronger. 25 km later, the runners arrived in Brocket.
We were greeted at the entrance into town by Elders Wilfred Yellow-Wings, Morris Little Wolf and former chief Peter Strikes With Gun.
Ken Williams felt that the news of this event would inspire the youth to run to regain the spirit of their heritage. Ken offered the Harmony Run an opportunity to join in a run the Blackfoot have just begun, traversing blackfoot territory, ending at the holy site of Lake St. Anne a place revered by Christians and First Nations alike as a place of pilgrimage.
A victory lap around the new school's running track.
During the ceremony, Elder Little Wolf spoke and said that the youth of the Blackfoot were regaining their heritage by running. Blackfoot were renowned as great runners. By participating in events like the Harmony Run, with its message of oneness and harmony, they were strengthening and inspiring each other.
At the new school, Elder Wilfred Yellow-Wings blessed the torch, Elder Morris Little Wolf spoke and blessed the occasion with song, Peter Strikes With Gun spoke, everyone present was blessed by sweetgrass smoke in a traditional smudge ceremony...
The harmony runners made a short presentation, sang the Harmony Run song and presented a certificate to the Elders
and off the runners went, past the hills, cows and windmills to historic Pincher Creek. The team was joined at the school by Elijah a young strong athlete who had to keep slowing down, he had so much energy.
After going around a construction detour the team made it to Pincher Creek where we were met by Mary Ellen Whyte the town's Economic Development Officer, who sold us on the town and convinced the team that they should all come back with friends and family for next year's summer holiday.
The runners made their way to the town Museum where there was a wonderful spread of fruit and spring water. Mary Ellen explained that Pincher Creek was originally set up as the place where the horses of the RCMP post in Fort Macleod were taken care of.
Outside the Pioneer Museum
Presentation of certificate of Appreciation and t-shirts.
In the museum we given a guided tour of the Pioneer Village by curator Toni Lucas.
The Worlds Biggest Truck can be found in Sparwood
Our gratitude to Glenda Radies of Causeway Bay for her hospitality
- Abichal
Distance: 134 km
Team Members:
Abichal Neil Spencer (Wales), Adhiratha Keefe (USA), Amy Liberson (Canada), Anvita Winter (Canada), Blazej Neradilek (Czech Republic), Elke Lindner (Germany), Greg Hilton (Canada), Medur Wilson (Canada), Prapti Jensen (Canada), Sevati Bondanza (El Salvador), Tanuja Konecna (Czech Republic), Wilfred Rupp (Canada), Yuyudhan Hoppe (USA)
Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.
Gallery: See more images!
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