More to NAIG than just medals

Of course the teams participating in the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) wanted to win as many medals as they could for their regions, but athletes, coaches and supporters say there is much more to the games than the hardware.
“I told the kids to go out there and have fun and build relationships with the other youth because that’s what it’s all about,” said Duane Waukau, chef de mission for Team Wisconsin. “For sure we want to win the medal, but I want the kids to enjoy being here. Being at INVESCO Field, I’d say, is the number one experience because you’re coming in with all of the Native youth in the country and that will be an awesome feeling to be part of.”
Team Wisconsin has athletes competing in basketball, baseball, volleyball and athletics. This is Wisconsin’s fourth time competing in the games. The baseball team took gold and two bronzes, the volleyball team served up a bronze medal and the basketball team dunked silver and two bronzes during the games held in Winnipeg in 2002.
“The kids are holding their own,” said Waukau. “There should be some very good competition this year because there are a lot more U.S. teams, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
The NAIG is a multi-sport competition for youth between the ages of 13 and 19 and adults 20 years and older.
Thirteen-year-old, Leona Cook, Woodland Cree from Saskatchewan, sees the advantages that the games provide. She has met a number of athletes from other regions that she says are very interesting. As one of the players with the most volleyball experience, Cook said her volleyball team had only three practices together before attending the games, however they won their first game against Kansas.
“We all thought that we wouldn’t win because we were looking at the other girls and they looked good in practice,” said Cook. “We were surprised that we won.”
During the first day of basketball and volleyball competition at the Gold Crown Field House, Windspeaker caught up with Minnesota’s basketball Coach Daniel Ninham. His midget boys team had just won their second game, but coach Ninham appeared calm and collected, as if expecting the win.
When asked if there was a specific team that he was maybe concerned about he said “Every team that we play against we’re concerned about. It doesn’t matter who it is.”
He expected his team to do well, but said the games highlight more than just taking the medals home. “The main awareness of the Indigenous people all coming together is mostly important,” he said.
“It was emotional and powerful in the stadium yesterday and it’s emotional and powerful every time we come out here on the court,” said Ninham. “In a sense, it’s like our own little powwow. You have the game players here in the middle and then on the outside circle you have the spectators. So, it’s just really invigorating to really participate in this capacity. I see us blending in with the other 30 teams that are here. We’re all diverse but all multi-Indigenous.”
Sixteen-year-old swimmer Bree Menge views the games only as a stepping stone to opportunities like obtaining a scholarship.
Willie Littlechild, the founder of NAIG, agreed that the games can be used as a way to further an athlete’s goals.
“Yes, these games are a stepping stone for some who are wanting to go to higher games like the Pan-American Games or the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics,” said Littlechild.
“However, for others, the games are also the highlight of their career. This to them is the Olympic games. They don’t want to go to any other games. This Indigenous games to them is the highest level they want to aspire to, so, that’s also very good because it acknowledges a feeling by our people that these are our games. These are our Olympics.”