Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games return in 2025

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This article was published 18/03/2024 (593 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games will return in 2025 to Norway House Cree Nation and Sagkeeng Anishinaabe Nation.

Details for the 10th iteration of the multi-disciplinary event were unveiled Monday during a ceremony hosted by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council.

The Games will run July 9-14 in NHCN and Aug. 17-23 in Sagkeeng. It’s the first time since 2022 the event has been held, although the last time was through virtual participation.

“This selection is a testament to the strength, resiliency and vibrancy of our community. It speaks volumes about the rich cultural heritage and sporting prowess that Sagkeeng embodies,” SAN Chief E.J. Fontaine said, adding the region is anticipating upward of 3,000 visitors during the event.

Sagkeeng has upgraded its sports facilities in recent years to build for a successful bid at hosting the Games. Norway House has done the same, building a multiplex and adding fibre optics for high-speed internet.

“It’s certainly not an easy endeavour,” NHCN Chief Larson Anderson said. “It’s something that takes time and lots of effort, but we are, I believe, ready for such an event. We spent many years dating back to the 90s getting our community into a position where we can have recreational and athletic activities happening locally to try and keep our youth engaged and busy.”

The last two iterations of the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games (2021 and 2022) were held virtually and focused on a recreational style of play, as more than one thousand participants from communities across the province took part in traditional games such as leg wrestling and fox tail.

The renewed event, projected to host more than 5,500 athletes, will return to a competitive style, with 16 sports and medals to declare winners.

Returning to an in-person event has required key co-ordination between the communities and the MASRC, said Robyn Cruz, Games manager.

“I would say the transportation is a huge challenge for a lot of remote communities. We’re looking at different ways of making sure the Games are equitable for all Indigenous children. It’s just exploring those options right now,” Cruz said.

The MARSC is entertaining the idea of regional tryouts for some sports, which could take place in 10-12 communities across the province.

The hope, Cruz said, is some Manitobans who compete in next year’s event will qualify for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games in Calgary. The opportunity at hand is bigger than sports, however.

“It goes way beyond sports,” Cruz said. “The opportunities that we’re offering Indigenous kids is an opportunity to excel at sport. This is going to be a high-level Games — a lot of elite athletes and there may be scouts there. It also reduces at-risk behaviour, improves employability — it increases their chances at improving their overall health and well-being.”

Perhaps no one in attendance on Monday understood that better than Justina Di Stasio, who began wrestling at 12 years old. Earlier this year, Di Stasio, 31, qualified for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games. She grew up in Burnaby, B.C. but is a member of NHCN through her mother, who was raised there.

“When you’re a team sport person, you rely on a lot of other people. For me, wrestling was the sport that pushed me out of my comfort zone and I think that’s a big thing when you’re a kid,” Di Stasio said.

“Wrestling really made me step out of that and figure out who I was, build confidence, self-reliance, all that kind of stuff. So, hopefully, an opportunity like this will give these kids that too.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam