Akwesasne Freedom School Survival Race – 2023
Survival of the Well Trained
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A Pork Grinder team members climbs out of the Raquette River to race to the school grounds, shoot archery and then pass off to his next team member.
Early morning clouds broke away to clear skies for the Akwesasne Freedom School Survival Race (AFSSR)on Saturday. For survival race participants – it was the perfect weather, cool and calm.
Ever since 2010, AFS parents, volunteers and supporters have hosted the survival race. And each year, the race becomes a bit more organized, a bit more challenging, and whole lot of fun to watch. This year's race started with runners covering a 6.2-mile course, swimmers taking a short jog to swim a curving .75 mile open water route. Next, the backpackers carried a splint pack basket that weighted 100 pounds for men and 65 pounds for women.
What brought everyone back to the starting point of the survival race was the archery segment. As each participants finished their leg of the race, they had to return to compete archery. Each person was given 20 arrows, as soon as they made a bull's eye, they could tag off to the next leg of the race – the legendary, equalizer called 'fire starting.'
All team members are given the same tools to start a fire – thin rope, a spindle, a fireboard (base). The first team 'in' is given the fire-starting tools, and so on. Once all teams are have finished, all teams have 30 minutes to start a fire.
Team Pork Grinders won this year's Survival Race, by being the first to start a fire. They actually arrived after Team AMPS, who was the first to finish the race.
Team Deadly Auntie Social Club made a close call and got their embers burning with less than two minutes to go on the 30- minute clock.
And they're off! Survival Race participants tackle the first leg of the race – running 6.2 miles.
Here are the Official 2023 Survival Race Results:
1st- Team Pork Grinders
2nd- Team Deadly Auntie Social Club
3rd- Team AMPS
4th- Team Washed Up
5th- Team Cooks
6th- Richmond's
AFS organizer Aronhiaies said, Niawenko:wa to all our participants and volunteers for another great year!"
He added, "Each year we try and make each race a little bit better than last year's race, more organized, a bit more challenging, but not cruel either. We want everyone to give all they have and to have a great time doing the race."
For safety's sake, the race was observed by the Tribal Police, the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department, MCA Ambulance Unit, and community volunteers.
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