A message of “hope, love, reconciliation, peace, serenity”. This is what the 56 participants who will undertake the great First Nations Expedition on February 16 want to convey. This off-road snowmobile course, the largest in the world, extends over 4500 km and will take participants through 16 Aboriginal communities in 18 days.
The group, made up of natives from various First Nations as well as non-natives, will depart from Manawan and gradually climb north to Chisasibi before heading east to Kawawachikamach and then back down. towards Fermont and the Montagnais post.
Inclusive project
The participants will be welcomed and lodged in the different communities on their way, where “sacred fire” ceremonies and other activities will be organized, including traditional meals. The group, which includes 10 women, wishes in particular to pay tribute to the children who died in residential schools for natives, to the missing women as well as to Joyce Echaquan, who died in September 2020 at the Joliette hospital in disturbing circumstances. Mme Echaquan was from the Atikamekw community of Manawan, the starting point of the adventure.
The main theme of this great expedition? Reconciliation between nations, non-indigenous people, “everyone”, says the project’s conductor and accustomed to off-road expeditions, Christian Flamand.
PHOTO AUDREY MCMAHON, PROVIDED BY THE FIRST NATIONS EXPEDITION
Christian Flemish
The nations will come together to “emancipate the message of reconciliation”, he explains. “So that we can fraternize, work hand in hand, all together. This is the message we want to convey in the province of Quebec. If it can take on international proportions, so much the better. The goal of this is really to raise awareness. »
We are a non-profit organization, we are neutral, we do not play politics. We are just here to pay tribute, to carry the message of reconciliation. It is important for the communities.
Christian Flamand, conductor of the First Nations Expedition project
very safe
Mr. Flamand has been working full-time on this large-scale project for two years, which requires a whole host of logistics. The average cost for each participant is between $60,000 and $65,000.
Everything has been thought out to make shipping as safe as possible. Air Medic will notably be present to offer airborne support in the event of an accident. In addition, the group will have with it people trained as first responders as well as defibrillators.
PHOTO AUDREY MCMAHON, PROVIDED BY THE FIRST NATIONS EXPEDITION
The safety of participants will be ensured at all times.
“Safety really comes first,” says Mr. Flamand. We have identified all the tracks… We do off-trail, yes, but we try to make it a little easier because we have women who are not used to snowmobiling. […] We don’t want glitches; we want everyone to arrive healthy, from point A to point B.”
“We’re going to have to be very careful with the weather conditions this year, especially on the bodies of water,” he continues. We have plots of facts: a plan A, B, C and D in case of major necessity. We asked all participants to have a GPS because it can happen that we arrive late at night. »
Participants will sleep in their tents for at least four nights. They will face certain challenges, such as climatic conditions; Mr. Flamand expects temperatures ranging between -35 ohC and -55 ohC in certain sectors. Wildlife may also require some precautions.
“For some time there have been many packs of wolves circulating in the large territory, both in our territory [atikamekw] than among the Crees. It is still a danger. […] You have to plan ahead, you never know, ”he says.
Whatever happens, the participants will work together, in the same direction. This is the very essence of this project, which aims to bring people together. The organizers are also in discussion so that a 60-minute documentary stems from this sporting, social, community and cultural adventure. “It would leave a long-term legacy,” says Mr. Flamand.