Nation 2 Nation News

By

Angela Lavallee

CURVE LAKE – Youth from Curve Lake First Nation are getting ready to compete in the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.(NAIG)

The NAIG first came to light in 1990 with the first games held in Edmonton Alberta. Since then, it has grown into a national sporting event. There are 15 sports venues, where upwards of 5000 athletes will compete for gold, sliver or bronze with the opportunity to represent their community in the process. The games are meant for Indigenous youth to dream and shine. According to the NAIG council, officials would like to see the games held every 3 years. This year NAIG has Team #88 a campaign to recognize Truth and Reconciliation with success stories from the athletes.

Anjolene Pine, 16 a student in the academic program at Korah Collegiate in Garden River, Ontario is on the wrestling team for the province. Pine has been wrestling for 3 years and looks forward to competing. She first got into the sport in high school and has spent countless hours practicing and getting ready for the games.

“I’m happy I made the team. Before, I may have been appointed, but now, I had to actually work for it,” says Pine. “I’m ready and I’m pretty excited.”

Her parents Randy Pine and Gene Taylor are quite smitten with their daughter making the team.

“She’s our pride and joy,” says Taylor.  “All of our families are proud of her.”

 

16 – year old Holy Trinity Catholic School student Mira Pearson from Whitby, Ontario has butterflies about going to NAIG. Pearson shines in the softball category and is eager to play on Team Ontario U-19 in Toronto. She says she just shrugs of the nerves, plays ball and welcomes the nerves because it only makes her play better.

“I play bat-catcher. I love the game,” says Pearson. Chosen out of a group of 29 girls, Pearson was stoked when she found out in April that she made the team “I’ve been playing since age 8 and these games, well they come around every 2 to 4 years,” she adds. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Pearson says during the games her mother will be celebrating her birthday and hopes she can win a few games for her, but all in all, Pearson says her parents are amazed that she is going to the games.

“They are very, very proud, they love it.”

Other than Pine and Pearson, 7 other youth from Curve Lake will compete in soccer, baseball, box lacrosse, and archery.

Wes Marsden Operations and Communications Coordinator for NAIG says over 500 athletes are representing Ontario and their First Nation respectively. Marsden says the entire ordeal of being a host nation is the daunting task, but he is stoked to be involved. Marsden is from Alderville First Nation and thinks there is a strong athletic team of Indigenous youth from all over the province.

“We are very confident in our athletes and we’ve set a standard to come out on top,” says Marsden.  “Team Ontario has all the correct people in place from the athletes down to the coaches and managers,” he adds.

“Our goal is the win the NAIG with overall medal wins and golds.”

Marsden admits even though there is a lot of work, meeting forever friends and being a part of the process is surreal.

“I didn’t have the opportunity that these athletes do now. I could play, but was never asked to go anywhere. Being involved is like fulfilling my teenage dream and it’s very gratifying.”

According to Marsden, tryout’s for Team Ontario for NAIG were all year-long. He says he feels good that officials managed to keep the grassroots in sports.

Curve Lake First Nation officials were asked to comment on the success of the 9 heading to the games, but in an email reply, Chief Phyllis Williams said she nor council will comment on the youth due to the nature of the questions asked and to protect the athletes privacy.

The NAIG games will be held in Toronto July 16- 23. Opening ceremonies begin Sunday at 7:00 p.m.