Lheildi T’enneh First Nation is gearing up to host its second annual Moccasin Walk.
The Moccasin Walk was created in 2022 to help bring the community together and keep active.
Prior to COVID-19, Lheidli T’enneh would send about 80 to 100 members to Vancouver for the annual Vancouver Sun Run to motivate members to stay active and healthy.
In response to the pandemic, Chief Dolleen Logan and other senior Lheidli T’enneh leadership decided to create an event on Lheidli T’enneh territory.
“It was just under nine kilometres walk out on the Northside reserve. We invited a few neighbouring nations, and our community members to come and participate,” explained Lheidli T’enneh Health director Tamara Seymour.
“There was bear awareness, food, there were a ton of donations and door prizes. It was just a really fun event that brought all of our community together after years of isolation.”
Seymour added that by moving the event into the community a lot of members who were not able to attend the Sun Run could now participate.
“But this year, we did want to go bigger,” said Seymour, explaining that the 2023 event will be roughly 10km and with an invitation extending out to the wider Prince George community.
“We're very eager to bring our community together and extend that invitation out to the Prince George community, because I think each year it will grow and it will become, hopefully, a really special event in the Prince George that brings our communities together essentially.”
The 2023 Moccasin Walk will also feature door prizes, music, and food.
“The best thing is seeing our members together and laughing and smiling and eating a meal. Our energies were all pumped last year, so I think this year it’ll be very energizing,” said Seymour.
The walk will take place on June 3, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the walk starting at 10:30 a.m.
Participants should meet at the Naje Baiyoh Health Centre (2003 Landooz Road) on the Northside reserve.
Lheidli T’enneh will sponsor its community members to participate in the event. Registration fees for adults are $25, while youth are $15 dollars and children ages 11 and under are free. Participants can register online and fees can be paid at Lheidli T’enneh’s 150 Brunswick Street office.
All proceeds will be donated to the Lheidli T’enneh Elders Society.
