Metis in Spotlight

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The Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games will be held in Brandon in July, and for the first time will be hosted by the Manitoba Metis Federation (Southwest Region).

The federation is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the history and culture of the Metis people of Manitoba.

According to Jason Gobeil, the assistant co-ordinator of this year's games, "there will be a focus on Metis culture."

Those attending the games will not be dancing to the beat of drums, but to the tunes of Metis fiddles, because the cultural component of the 2003 games will spotlight Metis pride.

Metis singer Ray St. Germaine is a headliner. National Aboriginal Coach of the Year, Brody Batsen, will be on hand to lend support.

The games were born on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in 1999, when members of that community envisioned a gathering that would bring together Aboriginal athletes from across Manitoba. The first games were held at the Opaskwayak reserve. In 2001, the games were held at the Peguis First Nation. No games were held in 2002, because the North American Indigenous Games were held that year in Winnipeg.

About 1,000 Aboriginal athletes are expected to participate at the Manitoba games this year, representing 62 First Nations and the Metis communities of Manitoba. Athletes will take part in six different events: golf, softball, beach volleyball, canoeing, soccer and track and field.

The games will be held July 17 to 20 at various locations in and near the city of Brandon. With a population of 40,000, Brandon is the second-largest city in the province of Manitoba, located two hours east of Winnipeg, the largest city, on the Trans-Canada Highway. Like Winnipeg, Brandon has a growing Aboriginal population.

Brandon is also a one-hour drive to Belcourt, North Dakota, where visitors can stay at the Sky Dancer Hotel and Casino or visit the International Peace Gardens at the U.S./Canada border.

Organizers hope to attract 250 volunteers to help in the successful completion of this event. If you would like to volunteer or would like additional information about this year's events, you can call the games office at 204-727-8190. You can also e-mail the co-ordinator at misg@mts.net. For accommodations in Brandon, you can call the Brandon Tourism office at 1-888-799-1111.