Manitobans bring home 70 NAIG medals

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This article was published 23/07/2023 (1153 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

North American Indigenous Games athletes returned from Halifax Sunday, arriving at the Winnipeg airport where they were greeted with signs, cheers and hugs from their loved ones.

Medals were won and memories were made in the Maritimes last week with Manitoba finishing with 70 total medals and 32 golds at the NAIG. The young athletes may remember their experience at the games more than the hardware they came away with.

Riley Anderson, 14, stepped on the podium three different times at the games, winning two bronze medals in the 16U 100m backstroke and 4x50m freestyle relay and a gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

“It’s a really good experience,” said Anderson of the NAIG. “If anyone has the opportunity, definitely take it. It’s tons of fun, the competition is fun and (there is) lots of good sportsmanship.”

Riley’s performance at the games was particularly special for his mother, Christy, who has had a front row seat to watch her son train and prepare for his trip to Halifax.

“I’m so proud, it’s overwhelming, so proud of him and all the hard work,” said Christy.

The proud mother seconded her son’s feelings about young people participating in the NAIG.

“I think it’s really an amazing experience to go and have a little independence, explore the world a little bit, train in a new environment with new people, and make new friends.”

Sixteen-year-old Kaitlyn Tanner returned home with a silver medal around her neck. Tanner was a member of the 16U women’s volleyball team that lost a five set thriller to Wisconsin in the gold medal match. Although the games felt a little crazy and frenetic for the silver medalist at times, it was a week she will never forget.

“It was really hectic and crazy, but it was fun. It went by really fast and slow at the same time, I’ll always remember it, it was really fun,” said Tanner.

The chance to compete for Team Manitoba and stand on the podium was a full circle moment for Tanner and one she had not processed until she received her medal.

“I thought ‘damn, I went from club volleyball to Team Manitoba in Halifax’, it hit me that I actually made it here.”

Mel Whitesell, executive director of the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council was thrilled with the overall experience the NAIG provided for its athletes.

“I think it was amazing, the organization here, the venues and everything was top notch, our kids had the best time,” said Whitesell.

The executive director said the NAIG ia a special event because it gives young Indigenous athletes the chance to compete against Indigenous competitors from across the continent.

“I think the kids think the most special thing is they actually get to participate against other Indigenous kids and everyone there is like them. It’s very heartwarming to see the looks on their faces when it’s like ‘wow everyone here is Indigenous’. It’s very special.”

Despite a population that is significantly smaller than competing provinces, territories and states, Manitoba athletes more than held their own against bigger provinces. The 19U mixed baseball team blew out Wisconsin 11-0 and the 19U women’s basketball team beat Ontario 65-55 in the gold medal match. Whitesell said the feeling of vanquishing powerhouses like Ontario and Wisconsin was particularly enjoyable for everyone that was competing and rooting for Manitoba.

“It’s really heartwarming for us to see little Manitoba, because we have one of the smallest populations, beating the powerhouses like Wisconsin and Ontario. I think the kids really enjoyed that.”

It had been six years since the NAIG were held, with the previous games having been in Toronto in 2017. The Halifax Games were set to take place in 2020, but were postponed until 2023 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the long break, these Games served as a reminder to many about all the wonderful things the event can offer. Whitesell said the province’s success at the 2023 games is already setting the stage for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games in Calgary.

“It was almost like a restart of the Games, it was a new generation of kids and parents that got to come,” said Whitesell.

“Some of the younger kids that were there, or even the kids that were too young to come and their parents were saying, ‘We can’t wait to go to Calgary in 2027.’”

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca