By Angela Hill

Running for peace and dignity

Feb 21, 2011 | 7:23 AM

Planning is underway in Prince Albert to support runners going from Alaska to Central America.

The Peace and Dignity Run happens every four years and it’s coming through the city for the first time in 2012.

“There’s over 250 staff from all different indigenous nations between Alaska and Argentina that are (running) every single day, mile by mile, from Alaska to Central America and from Argentina to central America,” said Glenda Abbott, part of Prince Albert’s planning committee.

She ran with them in 2008 and is pleased to be helping them organize again, especially since this is only the second time since the run began in 1992, the route is moving away from the coast.

Runners are hosted by the communities they move through, getting water, food and accommodations from them.

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“It’s not an organization and there’s no one who makes any money off of it and it’s not a non-profit. It’s just a network of communities that work to bring this run and this healing to the people. So it’s a run for the people, by the people,” Abbott said. The Bernice Sayese Community Centre is one of the host centres for the 2012 run.

“Any of the runners or any of the participants that come in from the south or from the north or from Canada will be hosted there prior to the run,” she said.

The Peace and Dignity Run is for all nations, but it is done in an indigenous way, Abbott said.

“Anyone who understands the significance of indigenous people standing with peace and with dignity within their culture is invited to take part in the run,” she said.

“It is a run that is for all nations, it is a run for the connection to the sky like it embodies all the teachings and knowledge of indigenous peoples so anyone who feels like they have an understanding of, it is open to anyone who wants to run.”

It’s not about the running, but the ceremony around it, said Abbott. She said she wants to see youth and young people coming out — “to see youth taking part in the culture and the traditions of who they are and what makes them who they are.”

“I guess that is my ultimate hope for the run is that we realize that we need to question who we are people and what makes us that way. And so that is what I’m hoping that this run does, is that we as nations in this region are able to represent ourselves in a respectful … with peace and with dignity,” Abbott said.

There is event planning underway as well as some fundraisers.

The planning committee is also plotting the route as it moves through this area of the province.

ahill@panow.com