Objective of the Game

Running Races were a common sport in all Dene cultures. The exact way of stag­ing a race has not been documented from the earliest days. For obvious reasons traditional races must have been fairly similar to the way Running Races are held today. A number of participants started from behind a starting line and tried to outrace each other in reaching a visible landmark such as a tree or a creek. In winter time, snowshoe races were held instead

Usually, everybody who wanted to participate was allowed to do so, but cer­tain variations on the basic contest existed. Among the people living around Sahtu for example, races might also be staged between individual competitors.

Running races organized by Ahtna people tested the athlete's endurance more than his speed. The race was held in winter, and snowshoes were likely used. The first runner started out along the trail, carrying a stick. When he was tired out and could not run any longer, he placed his stick into the snow. The runners following behind would try to beat his distance by carrying their own sticks further.

Other variations included the 'Caribou Chase' or 'Moose Chase,' the Back­pack Race, and the 'Pole Race.' In addition to testing the athlete's speed or endur­ance, these games involved tests of strength, accuracy or agility. These variations are described in the subsequent sections.

Running Races occupy an important position in the group of Dene traditional games. Moving and travelling on the land were at the heart of the traditional cul­ture, and running races are a special way to express the cultural values of the tra­ditional life-style.

Equipment

For races held in the summer, no equipment is required. If the races are held in winter time, the competitors use snowshoes. Usually, the smaller trail snowshoes are used.

Playing Area

Any ground is suitable for Running Races, although a flat course was proba­bly preferred.

Teams and Players

Men and boys race separately. No stories about women's and girls' races dur­ing the earliest days have been found. Considering that the women were responsible for much the heavy work when the group travelled on the land, running races would have been a physical contest consistent with their life­styles. For this reason, they may well have participated as well.

According to some stories from the old days, the women took part in snow­ shoe races.

Running races are held throughout the year, summer and winter.

In the Sahtu, races were often staged one on one, that is, between individual competitors.

How to Play

Preparation

• A starting line is marked on the ground or in the snow.
• A clearly visible landmark located at a certain distance from the starting line, is defined as the finish.
• The typical distance of a traditional running race in the very early days has been documented only once, for the Gwich'in. In a race held at Peel's River House (the old name of the Hudson's Bay trading post at Fort McPherson) in the winter of 1849, the runners started on the near bank of the Peel River, crossed the river, turned around at the far bank and returned to the starting point. They would have covered a distance of perhaps just under 1.5 km (1 mile). The race was made more difficult by the fact that on that occasion the runners were not allowed to wear snowshoes.

 Starting Position

• The runners line up behind the starting line. Runners participating in snow­ shoe races put their snowshoes on.

 Movement

• On a signal, everybody begins racing towards the finish line.

End of Race

• The first runner to cross the finish line wins the race.
• Race between individual competitors among the Sahtu Dene: The competitors run side by side for a certain while, each attempting to run faster than the other. Finally, the faster one succeeding in pulling away. He is declared the winner. When they have finished their race, a new pair of competitors take their place:

The fastest runner was the winner. In the footraces, sometimes two people would begin. They would run side by side for some distance, before the one that was truly the fastest would pull ahead and leave the challenger behind. The person who outran the challenger would be the winner.