Laying the sacred ashes from Big Cove.
Ed Bassett Jr.
© Ed Bassett Jr.
More recently in 1992, the Mi’kmaq of Restigouche in Quebec and the Penobscot in Maine inaugurated the first Sacred Run to pass on the sacred flame from one nation to another and revive the sense of unity and strength in those communities visited. In 1998, the sacred flame was brought to the ancestral land of the Abenaki. The runners, who left from Big Cove, New-Brunswick, covered a distance of 850 Kilometers (528 miles) to Odanak in Quebec. The runners (men and women) belonged to various Wabanaki nations: Mi’kmaq, Penobscot, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Wampanoag. The runners, from a broad range of age groups, included young adolescents as well as adults. The Sacred Run of the Wabanaki Confederacy is still held today as part of its annual gathering in June.
More recently in 1992, the Mi’kmaq of Restigouche in Quebec and the Penobscot in Maine inaugurated the first Sacred Run to pass on the sacred flame from one nation to another and revive the sense of unity and strength in those communities visited. In 1998, the sacred flame was brought to the ancestral land of the Abenaki. The runners, who left from Big Cove, New-Brunswick, covered a distance of 850 Kilometers (528 miles) to Odanak in Quebec. The runners (men and women) belonged to various Wabanaki nations: Mi’kmaq, Penobscot, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Wampanoag. The runners, from a broad range of age groups, included young adolescents as well as adults. The Sacred Run of the Wabanaki Confederacy is still held today as part of its annual gathering in June.
© 2002, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Today, various agencies and foundations hold sacred walks or runs each year to deliver their message for peace and environmental protection: "Peace and Dignity Journeys", "American Indian Movement", "Spirit Run", "Cowasuck Band Sacred Run", "GECO Sacred Walk" and the "Sacred Run at Mt. Graham".
Today, various agencies and foundations hold sacred walks or runs each year to deliver their message for peace and environmental protection: "Peace and Dignity Journeys", "American Indian Movement", "Spirit Run", "Cowasuck Band Sacred Run", "GECO Sacred Walk" and the "Sacred Run at Mt. Graham".
© 2002, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Building and starting the sacred fire.
Ed Bassett Jr.
© Ed Bassett Jr.
Andrea Sadler, who was born in Toronto in 1962 and makes films about Native people, recently completed a 55-minute documentary entitled The Sacred Run, The Lotus and the Feather. Sadler describes her film as follows: "First Nations people from North America and Japan, joined by volunteers from 13 countries, travelled 4,000 km along the Sea of Japan on a ceremonial run finishing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the fiftieth commemoration of the atomic bomb. The purpose of the Sacred Run is to promote peace, to encourage respect for the earth and all life, and to share the rich cultural diversity of the human race. The runners carried a simple message "All Life is Sacred". Sandler added that she hoped to encourage people to believe in higher ideals and to be willing to do their share to create a better world.
Andrea Sadler, who was born in Toronto in 1962 and makes films about Native people, recently completed a 55-minute documentary entitled The Sacred Run, The Lotus and the Feather. Sadler describes her film as follows: "First Nations people from North America and Japan, joined by volunteers from 13 countries, travelled 4,000 km along the Sea of Japan on a ceremonial run finishing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the fiftieth commemoration of the atomic bomb. The purpose of the Sacred Run is to promote peace, to encourage respect for the earth and all life, and to share the rich cultural diversity of the human race. The runners carried a simple message "All Life is Sacred". Sandler added that she hoped to encourage people to believe in higher ideals and to be willing to do their share to create a better world.
© 2002, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The Runners after their arrival in Odanak with Réjean O'Bomsawin, chairman of the run.
Ed Bassett Jr.
© Ed Bassett Jr.
In spite of all these events, we find that women taking part in recent runs or walks are still in the minority. However, many women get involved on a regular basis. One woman, who is better known in Quebec for her participation in Sacred Runs, Waneek Horn-Miller, was born in 1975 in Kahnawake. Horn-Miller is best known for her career as a world-class water polo player and as co-captain of the Canadian Senior Women’s water polo team. As a Mohawk who takes pride in her Native origins, Horn-Miller ran in the 1991 "Sacred Run Canada" between Victoria, British Columbia and Kahnawake, Quebec and in the "Sacred Run North America" in 1992, from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. One could say that Waneek Horn-Miller is a woman of action!
In spite of all these events, we find that women taking part in recent runs or walks are still in the minority. However, many women get involved on a regular basis. One woman, who is better known in Quebec for her participation in Sacred Runs, Waneek Horn-Miller, was born in 1975 in Kahnawake. Horn-Miller is best known for her career as a world-class water polo player and as co-captain of the Canadian Senior Women’s water polo team. As a Mohawk who takes pride in her Native origins, Horn-Miller ran in the 1991 "Sacred Run Canada" between Victoria, British Columbia and Kahnawake, Quebec and in the "Sacred Run North America" in 1992, from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. One could say that Waneek Horn-Miller is a woman of action!
Sacred Runs have the power to help people to get to know one another, trust one another and disseminate their culture! People must fight racism and deliver messages of peace wherever they can, as these brave runners have done from time immemorial.
Sacred Runs have the power to help people to get to know one another, trust one another and disseminate their culture! People must fight racism and deliver messages of peace wherever they can, as these brave runners have done from time immemorial.
© 2002, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Speech by Rejean O'Bomsawin, chairman of the run
And the strength of the people brought us back together here on the North side of the Wabanaki territory. Maybe this never took place for, maybe, over 200 years. So for us, it’s very precious and we’re very touched deeply about our youth from the Confederacy that run that much of a distance.
We’re still breath taken about this event. Tao!
Video Taped / Edited by Ed Bassett Jr.
© Ed Bassett Jr.
Segment of Wabanaki Confederacy Sacred Run video
This group had a heck of a task ahead of them to do over 500 miles, and I think we did it in 5 days. And it was brutal heat, brutal hills, but we did it. And I, for one, feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment issued of all these kids and the adults that went with us.
Video Taped / Edited by Ed Bassett Jr
© Ed Bassett Jr.
Full version of video Wabanaki Confederacy Sacred Run, 1998.
Video Taped / Edited by Ed Bassett Jr
© Ed Bassett Jr.
The Sacred Run is an annual activity among the Nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy. During the summer of 1998, a group of runners from different Nations, covered a distance of more than 850 kilometers (528 miles), from Big Cove, New Brunswick to Odanak, Québec. This initiative had the goal to promote the Wabanaki culture and pride of the participants.
The Sacred Run is an annual activity among the Nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy. During the summer of 1998, a group of runners from different Nations, covered a distance of more than 850 kilometers (528 miles), from Big Cove, New Brunswick to Odanak, Québec. This initiative had the goal to promote the Wabanaki culture and pride of the participants.
© 2002, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
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Define Sacred Run, and describe the Wabanaki Confederacy
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Describe the positive effects of the Sacred Run on participants and communities
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Identify the degree of participation of women in the Sacred Run
