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ᐁᐦ ᑲᑴᒋᔅᑲᑕᐦᐅᑐᓈᓄᐎᐦᒡ
ᐋᐦ ᑯᒀᒋᔅᑭᑎᐦᐅᑐᑎᓈᓂᐎᒡ ᐋᐦ ᒋᑭᓵᒫᓂᐎᒡ

Snowshoe Relay Race

Elder Teachings

Elders explain aspects of iiyiyiuiyihtiwin and practices, and offer insights into chischaayihtimuwin passed down through generations.

It is important to walk at a moderate pace when setting out on your journey. Walking too fast can cause unnecessary fatigue.

Walking too fast can also cause excessive sweating, making your clothing wet ᐁᐦ ᒌᐧᐹᔮᐦᑎᑦ  / ᐋᐦ ᒌᐧᐹᔮᐦᑎᑦ. Once you stop moving, the moisture in your clothes will cool down quickly, increasing the risk of getting cold.

Moving too quickly can also lead to physical injuries, especially on the side of your torso, ᓵᓵᑲᐦᑌᐧᐄᐤ / ᓵᓵᑭᐦᑖᐧᐄᔨᐤ (muscle spasms).

– Louise Mayappo

I have never seen snowshoe racing, it came from the western culture. One time a native man was invited to do a snowshoe race down south when we lived in Miquelon, his name was Norman Icebound.

A person had the ability on how fast he can walk on snowshoes ᐊᓵᒪᒡ and they did walk fast in their snowshoes.

One story that was shared with me by and elder when walking on snowshoes, “you can hear your snowshoe when it starts to get dark, this is a reminder to walk faster before it gets too dark.” They understood their snowshoes and that made them walk faster and it was not a race.

– Matthew Ottereyes

There was never a competition with snowshoes ᐊᓵᒪᒡ, but some people could walk very fast while wearing them.

– Ella Neeposh

Long ago, I saw snowshoe races ᐁᐦ ᑲᑴᒋᔅᑲᑕᐦᐅᑐᓈᓄᐎᐦᒡ in Mistissini. At that time, people were still living in tents, and snowshoes were used for racing.

Participants lined up on the ice and began walking. As the race progressed, some would fall behind, and in the end, one person would emerge as the winner.

– Evadney Petawabano

Long ago, young men would compete on snowshoes, and the fastest walker was always the one chosen to retrieve the game that had been killed.

– Coom Matoush