NAIG details still up in the air

Bruce Littlechild finds himself in a state of limbo.

Littlechild, Alberta’s chef de mission for the 2011 North American Indigenous Games, is trying to make some plans. But he’s not quite sure how much planning he has to do.

Next year’s NAIG is scheduled to be held from July 10-17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Though the Games are still about 13 months away, Littlechild admitted he is somewhat frustrated.

“From a communications perspective, yes,” he said. “Right now things are to me a little uncertain.”  Littlechild said it is rather difficult to start preparing an Alberta squad. That’s because there has been talk that organizers will soon be altering the age groupings that are available in certain sports.        

              
 It has already been confirmed that there will be no senior (19 and over) or masters athletes competing at the 2011 NAIG.

In the past, most other sports that have been contested at the NAIG have featured bantam (13-14), midget (15-16) and juvenile (17-18) age groupings.

“Instead of three categories, for some sports, they’re suggesting it be cut to two categories or one,” Littlechild said.

Littlechild is also unsure of whether any 19-year-olds will be able to participate in Milwaukee. In previous years, some sports did allow teams to carry an over-ager (someone who was 19) on their roster. Littlechild said he is not sure whether that will still be the case now that those 19 and over will not have any sports to compete in.

Officials with the 2011 NAIG organizers were expected to stage a conference call in late April to inform all team officials of any changes.

“All this stuff should have been already discussed,” Littlechild said.

Not knowing which age divisions will be available in certain sports makes it difficult to start selecting athletes, coaches and support staff for any team.

A total of 15 sports will be offered at the 2011 NAIG. They are rifle shooting, basketball, archery, boxing, canoeing, swimming, soccer, field lacrosse, badminton, baseball, volleyball, golf, softball, wrestling and track and field (athletics).

Alberta, however, is not expected to have representatives in all of these sports. Alberta was represented in 11 of the 15 sports at the last NAIG, held in 2008 in Cowichan Valley, BC.  Alberta did not have any competitors in boxing, canoeing, lacrosse or wrestling at the 2008 NAIG.               

“We usually do well in archery, athletics, basketball, golf and rifle shooting,” Littlechild added.                   
The Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta) has yet to decide which sports Alberta athletes will take part in this year.
“We’re in a process now where we’ve sent out information to the communities to get their feedback,” Littlechild said.

After eligibility criteria is finalized, Littlechild is hoping that communities will start planning provincial championships to determine which athletes Alberta will send to Milwaukee next year.

“We want to get (the Alberta qualifiers) all done by the end of August,” Littlechild said.

Though age groupings have yet to be finalized, Littlechild is hoping to have about 500 athletes from the province make the trip to Milwaukee.  

“That’s what we want to go with,” he said.