There was lots of excitement during the Elite Indian Relay Races at Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man (MGBHLM) First Nation on Saturday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Proud tradition

Relay Races at MGBHLM First Nation see strong turnout on weekend

Aug 23, 2021 | 5:31 PM

The Elite Indian Relay Races were a success at Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man (MGBHLM) First Nation on the weekend.

Participant Ron Poucette from Morley, Alta. said he enjoys the race because of its ties to tradition.

“It makes you feel alive, like you’re living back in the day still, when you are going full speed with the horses,” he said after finishing a race Saturday.

Northern Cree Express with Warrior Tyrell Mcgilvery won the Mosquito show. They were able to take home a brand new horse trailer back to Goodfish Lake First Nation in Alberta. (Facebook/Elite Indian Relay Association)

MGBHLM Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman said the sport is increasing in popularity.

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“It is booming,” she said. “For next year’s show it is pretty much a full summer already booked. We have races scheduled both in Saskatchewan and in Alberta.”

The Elite Indian Relay Association is now a fully incorporated organization, the first one in Saskatchewan.

Aguilar-Antiman said, “more and more people are showing interest in the sport.”

A total of 23 teams took part on the weekend from across Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“We’re really excited to see them out and about,” Aguilar-Antiman said.

Left to right, MGBHLM’s Councillor Laurie-Ann Moosomin, Health director Hazel Moosomin, Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman, FSIN senator Jenny Spyglass, and MGBHLM member Suzzette Bull at the show on Saturday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Joshua Jackson from Goodfish Lake, Alta., said this was his first time taking part in the relay races at MGBHLM First Nation. He has been involved in relay racing for about three years now.

He said sometimes the sport can be a bit challenging though, steering the horse while riding bareback.

“[The hard part] is to stop your horse from messing around,” he said with a laugh.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow