LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Toronto welcomes Indigenous athletes from across North America
A dancer performs at the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games at the Aviva Centre on Sunday evening. More than 5,000 young athletes from Canada and the U.S. will be competing in 14 sporting events.
Indigenous athletes from across the continent converged on the Aviva Centre in North York on Sunday to kick off the North American Indigenous Games, which are being held in Eastern Canada for the first time in 25 years.
It was hard to spot an empty seat on opening night, where an enthusiastic crowd did the wave, cheered and smashed together batting sticks.
Athletes from each team marched around centre stage, proudly waving their flags.
Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas and A Tribe Called Red were among the entertainers.
The Canadian anthem was sung in English, French and Anishinaabe. The crowd roared with approval at the rendition in the Indigenous language.
“This is how our people should always be,” said Stacey LaForme, chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.
“Happy, proud and ready for the future.”
Since1990, Indigenous competitors between the ages of 13 and 19 have taken part in the showcase that celebrates their heritage and athleticism.
More than 5,000 athletes from Canada and the United States will take part, including about 450 representing Ontario.
“I know all the athletes, when they arrive, they’re in their shell,” said Wesley Marsden, spokesperson for Team Ontario. “But towards the end of the week, medal or not, they’re pretty pumped about the new friends they’ve made and all the new memories and connections.”
Jocelyn Cheechoo, general manag- er for the host province, competed multiple times in volleyball and track and field in her youth. She fondly remembers running on the same track American great Carl Lewis ran on, and is excited for the athletes to compete on a track graced by Canadian sprint sensation Andre De Grasse.
Cheechoo added that Indigenous communities welcome some positive media coverage.
“Our youth and some of our coaches . . . are doing some really amazing work in our communities. We’re not the tragedy as often as it is portrayed in the media,” she said.
“We do have some really resilient and very strong youth in our communities, and I think that’s what we’re going to see.”
Tania Cameron, a co-ordinator for Team Ontario, believes that “sport is going to bind all of our community together (this week).”
Cameron, who has four children competing in the games this year, added that the showcase will help the country honour the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“I do appreciate and recognize that both Canada and Ontario have been making strides toward reconciliation with our nations, and part of the TRC recommendations is reconciliation in sport . . . these are good steps toward reconciliation.”
Cameron’s daughter, Rachel, who will compete in badminton, said: “It’s actually empowering watching all the youth at the opening ceremonies. It’s like: Wow! There’s a lot of Aboriginal youth playing sports here.”
Athletes will compete in14 sports in and around the GTA until Sunday. Admission for all events is free.