Fun and Games in Eskasoni
Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games wrap up
Dolores Francis is not a competitor at the 2018 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games, but somehow the Pictou elder represents everything that is good about the annual event.
On Sunday, Francis was clad in a bright pink T-shirt as she cheered on the 11 members of the Piktuk women’s tug of war team as they battled it out with their friendly rivals from Wagmatcook in a field at the Noel R. Denny Memorial Powwow Grounds in Eskasoni.
“Oh, they did so well — I don’t know if we’re winning or not, but it doesn’t matter,” she said, as the Pictou women traded victories with their opponents.
“I’m retired, so I’m just here cheering them on — this is fun and the whole Games are fun, we brought a lot of kids down and they’re all just having a great time.”
Lateesha Denny of Wagmatcook was on the other side of the rope.
“This is fun, we’re just having fun and my arms aren’t sore or tired,” said Denny, who was anchored in the lead position, thus giving her a clear view of the efforts of the rival tuggers.
But there were lots of medals, as evidenced by four-yearold Braiden Marshall and older brother Cameron. The Eskasoni siblings were captured by the photographic lens as they proudly showed off their medal haul while proud mom Georgina Marshall looked on.
The boys didn’t say much, but their hold on their medals was a giveaway about how proud they were of their accomplishments.
Eskasoni First Nation Chief Leroy Denny told the Cape Breton Post that the Games are all about connecting, person to person and community to community.
“We’re promoting healthy,
active living and comradery, and it’s also all about making
friendships — there are lots of sports activities and competitions
to go along with the culture component of the Games,” said Denny, whose community spent more than a week hosting and entertaining competitors and visitors from across the province and beyond.
The Games kicked off Aug. 19 with a sunrise ceremony and sacred fire lighting in Eskasoni, before the five Unama’ki chiefs took part in a ceremonial teeoff prior to the start of the golf event at The Lakes Golf Course in Ben Eoin.
Over the next eight days, athletes would take part in a diverse array of sporting events, including horseshoes, softball, darts, arm wrestling, track and field, and canoeing, to name but a few.
The Games also featured lots of cultural events and entertainment, including a Saturday night performance by legendary Indigenous singer songwriter Buff Sainte-Marie.