Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Games bring great camaraderie
Athletes reflect on competition and fun
Just like Olympians a continent away, athletes taking part in the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games saw their competition come to a close Sunday.
And just like in Rio de Janeiro, there were stories of camaraderie, tough competition and, of course, medals among the athletes in Membertou.
After winning top honours in archery at last year’s games, Sienna Julian of Millbrook took home another gold medal this year.
“In arm wrestling I got gold for my left hand. It felt really good because I didn’t think I was going to win anything this year,” she said.
Julian competed in archery, arm wrestling, and waltes, a kind of dice game, played on a circular wooden dish. She enjoys pushing herself to do her best in sport.
“I like competing. I think it’s fun,” she said.
Hosted in Membertou, the annual Mi’kmaw games drew 1,500 participants from across the province.
Among them was Kassidy Bernard, 19, of Waycobah First Nation, who competed in four sports – softball, volleyball, badminton and washer toss.
“It was really busy,” she said Sunday.
But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I just love sports and I just want to participate every year. I don’t want to miss out,” she said.
“It’s great seeing everyone from all the different First Nations and getting to go to the events they have every evening, like the concert Saturday night was really fun.”
Bella Masty, of Indian Brook, who took part in washer toss and track and field, as well as the schoolyard competition, summed up her week in four words.
“It’s about having fun,” she said.
The Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games featured competition in a wide range of sporting events, that included golf, volleyball, softball, archery, canoeing, one- and five-kilometre races, horseshoes, grappling, track and field, basketball, softball, warrior up, lacrosse and Special Olympics.