Olympic Torch Run to kick off winter carnival

The 2009 18th Annual Akwesasne Winter Carnival being hosted by the Kawehnoke Recreation kicks off next Wednesday, February 11th at the

Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center with an Olympic Style Torch Run.  Local

runners, local leadership, youth and elders of all ages will participate in

the run. The run begins at 2:00 p.m. from the Tsi Snaihne Recreation Centre.

Last year’s King and Queen of the Winter Carnival Linda and Jimmy Sunday are scheduled to present the burning torch to the youth of Akwesasne. The

participants will run from Tsi Snaihne to Kawehnoke, proudly carrying the

torch, the torch will come through the Kanatakon village. From there it

will proceed up St. Regis Road, on to Route 37, and across the bridge to the

Kawehnoke Recreation Centre.

The 2010 Winter Olympics have Akwesasne down as a participating community in their Torch Run across Canada.

The runners will present the torch around 5:00 p.m. to the Elders who will

be enjoying their Dinner at the Kawehnoke Recreation Centre. This will

signal the start of the 2009 Akwesasne Winter Carnival.

We invite the Community to please join us in cheering the runners as they

pass through Akwesasne, by tooting your car horns or standing by the

roadways and cheering them on. They will be provided with a police escort

throughout the duration of the run by our local law enforcement agencies,

the Akwesasne Mohawk Police and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police

Department

CKON’s Reen Cook will be joining us on the run, giving a “play by play”

commentary. Maybe she’ll grab the torch and join us in the celebration. A

surprise elder will carry the torch the last leg of the run, with all

participants invited to join that person at Canada Customs to carry it up

the hill and presente it at the Kawehnoke Recreation Center.

All selected runners must attend the Kawehnoke Recreation Centre on Tuesday, February 10th, at 5:00 P.M. During this meeting they will be advised of their route, and be given their jackets.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Chief Cheryl Jacobs @

575-2348 or Clarissa Jacobs @ 938-8635 or Cynthia Lord @ 551-2976.