Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Aug10/01) - The spirit of a decades-old canoe race down the Mackenzie to Inuvik lives on in what has become a friendly family rivalry.

These days the six-person war-canoe race goes just a few kilometres, and enthusiastic paddlers look forward to trying to capture victory from the Nadli team.

It used to be the Sabourin team.

"They used to win all the time. Now it's our turn. For the past four years we've been beating them," says Eric Nadli, leader of the team that finished in 49 minutes, 50 seconds. Henry Sabourin's team was just 10 seconds behind.

Sabourin's team "gained on us when we went too far out in one spot," Nadli said.

Knowing where the Mackenzie River's current is the most swift is key to winning, says Rosemary Minoza, who headed the winning women's team.

She's been racing every Mackenzie Daze for the past eight years, but gives much credit to Eric's sister, Sylvia Nadli, for knowing where to go. They've been the women's champs for the past several years.

"We always leave the others behind."

The women had just one practice run this year, but did it by paddling upstream.