The LLRIB athletes headed to Games are competing in a variety of sports. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

international event

LLRIB athletes to compete at North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia

Jul 13, 2023 | 4:07 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) is sending 14 athletes for an experience of a lifetime as they travel this week to Nova Scotia to compete in the 10^th annual North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

The event will host competitions in 16 sports within 21 venues across Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Dartmouth, Millbrook First Nation and Sipekne’katik between July 15-23. It’s expected to bring together more than 5,000 athletes, coaches and team staff from more than 750 Indigenous Nations with the help of 3,000 volunteers.

“For a lot of these kids, this will be the highest competition they will have played. It’s a national level and, of course, there are athletes from the States would participate there as well,” said Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre Director of Sports and Recreation Kevin Roberts, who is travelling to the Games as a parent and to support the athletes.

“It’s a relatively high calibre of competition and, for many, this will be the pinnacle of their athletic career. Some will carry on to university sports or other higher-level sports after these Games, but from what we see, it only ends up being a handful that continue their sports at a high national level.”

Those from the LLRIB who are attending the Games include Tyson Bird Treaty (athletics), Morgan McKenzie (canoeing), Sage Roberts (softball), Blake Johnson (volleyball), Muhikan Eninew (volleyball), Montana Kulychski (athletics), Daniel Daigneault (wrestling), Kamden Shewchuk (softball), Hunter Kajner (athletics), Jackson Mirasty (swimming), Emily Johnson (soccer), Mya Whitecap (golf), Dade Bernatchez (golf) and Everett Moccasin-Bourke (basketball).

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Athletes eligible to compete in the Games must be between 13 and 19 years old.

“I don’t know what our numbers previously were, but I think that’s probably a little higher than normal I would say from who I know went to previous games,” Roberts said. “Our numbers are a little higher and just a wider variety of sports.”

The opening ceremony of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games will showcase the Host Nation of Mi’kma’ki. It will be held July 16 at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com’

Twitter: @saskjourno