By Bryan Eneas

Indigenous relay features team building, something different for students

Sep 21, 2018 | 9:40 AM

Since 2002, students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic have participated in some form of Indigenous Relay event as part of back-to-school welcome week activities.

While the event hasn’t happened every year, rain couldn’t keep it from happening again in 2018. Soggy conditions made things interesting for competitors, but the weather appeared to lighten up just in time for the race to happen.

“My favourite part of the relay isn’t actually a part of the relay, but just watching the students come together as a team, and finish as a team, I think is a great team-building activity, and just all around fun,” Carrie McCloy, one of the relay’s organizers said.

The relay is part of Sask. Polytechnic’s Indigenous Welcome week, which McCloy described as a way to get the new school year started off on the right foot.

McCloy explained the relay contains components of everyday life for Indigenous people who lived in the Prince Albert area. The race includes woodcutting, boiling water, paddling, running, and flour packing among its events.

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Groups participated and formed nine teams of 10 based on their studies, according to McCloy.

Sask. Polytech’s indigenous relay is now underway. More on @princealbertnow tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/BQXP7ZPus7

— Bryan Eneas (@BryanEneas) September 20, 2018

For Blaine Sanderson, a professional cooking student and Audrey Mckenzie, an early childhood education student who both cut logs as part of the relay, the race was an opportunity to participate in something different.

“It’s different, it’s interesting,” Sanderson said. “I’ve never been through anything like this before.”

This year’s winning team had something to prove. The Twilight Wolfpack, consisting of teammates in the Adult Basic Education Program, finished fifth in last year’s race. They took home the top spot this year.

“It felt real good to win this year,” team captain Craig Natomagan said. “[We had] better boys who were motivated to do this, I motivated most of them.”

Natomagan paddled for his team; he said the weather didn’t hinder his efforts much, but the current was strong along the portion of river they had to paddle.

It was a good start for the school year for the Twilight Wolfpack.

“The most fun I had was seeing my team win first, and all of us smiling, that’s what I like,” Natomagan said.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas