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The North American Indigenous Games
Athletic competition and games have
been part of the social and cultural life
of aboriginal peoples for countless generations.
In modern times, aboriginal individuals
and communities have become active in
many different sporting events, including basketball,
soccer, lacrosse, war canoe racing
and many others. It is in the spirit of both
traditional and contemporary aboriginal
sports that the dream of an Indigenous
Games was born in 1972 during the first organizing
meeting of the National Indian Athletic
Association in Reno, Nevada.
The idea was the brainchild of J. Wilton
Littlechild, a Cree of the Ermineskin Band
in Hobbema, Alberta. He shared the idea
with John Thomas Fletcher, a Peigan from
Edmonton, Alberta, but it would be several
years before the concept began to develop.
In 1977, Littlechild made a presentation to
the World Council of Indigenous Peoples
in Kiruna, Sweden, and was enthusiastically
received. One chief from Brazil was so
moved by the presentation that he presented
Littlechild with a sacred arrow.
In the mid-1980s, Littlechild and Fletcher
began communicating their idea for the
games to supporters throughout Canada
and the United States.
By 1990, the dream of the games culmi-
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nated in the first North American Indigenous
Games (NAIG), held in Edmonton,
Alberta. The second Games were held in
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1993, followed
by Blaine, Minnesota in 1995; Victoria,
British Columbia in 1997; and Winnipeg,
Manitoba in 2002. The next games
will be held in 2005 in Buffalo, New York.
Participants in the North American Indigenous
Games compete in 16 Olympic-style
sports, of which canoeing is one of three
traditional indigenous sports.
The NAIG canoeing competition consists
of male and female singles, doubles and
First Nations on both sides of the Canada/
US border experienced devastating impacts
on their culture with the coming of
Europeans. The legacy of contact included
widespread disease epidemics, alcohol and
drug abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and
government repression.
In recent years, recovery projects have
been developed to help address the lasting
effects of these problems. In BC, a program
developed at Alkali Lake has been a model
for others, including the Full Circle Carving
Project in Washington State.
The Full Circle Project, developed under
the Suquamish Tribal Council, is a cultural
as well as a personal recovery program. Its
inspiration was the Canoe Journey to a
potlatch in Songhees (on southern Vancouver
Island) by the Suquamish Tribe. The most
significant event was when the Suquamish
canoes were welcomed ashore, creating
great pride in the young people.
The youth, adults and elders from
Suquamish met with other canoe tribes and
discussed their cultural needs, and it was
determined that a priority for Suquamish
should be to obtain the tribe’s own cedar
canoe.
mixed doubles for Bantam, Midget, Juvenile,
Junior and Senior classifications in the
1000 metre, 3000 metre, 6000 metre and
10000 metre events. The canoeing events
adhere to the most recent version of the
Marathon Canoe Racing Competition Rules
under the Canadian Canoeing Association
(CCA).
For further info on the NAIG, contact
Sandra Roach (204-984-0094) or Harold
Joseph, NAIG Council Chair (harold_
joseph@msvl.wednet.edu). ❏
Thanks to Gordon Ali and Frank Nelson.
Full Circle—Recovery in Action
The Project began in 2001 in North Vancouver,
BC with Ray Natrall, Master Carver
from the Squamish Band. He had worked
on two Rediscovery Projects with his First
Nation, giving youth cultural teachings to
make positive healthy choices in their lives.
Once completed, the canoe was blessed
and named at a potlatch in Suquamish in
2002. The canoe then took part in the Tribal
Journeys to Quinalt, on the Pacific coast of
Washington State, that summer.
The same year, the second round of the
Project took place in Suquamish territory.
Ray Natrall came to Suquamish and instructed
the apprentices on carving in their
home village on the Port Madison Indian
Reservation.
The Full Circle Cedar Canoe Carving
Project has been a great success, and the
Suquamish Tribe hopes to have funding to
continue this healing for its people. ❏
For further information, contact Chuck Wagner,
CDP Administrator, Suquamish Tribe Wellness
Program, Chemical Dependency & Mental
Health Services, P.O. Box 1228, Suquamish,
WA 98392. Ph: 360-394-5200.
Thanks to Chuck Wagner.
Coastal Kayak Leadership Training Course
May 2 – 11, 2003
Malaspina University-College offers an intensive 10 day ocean kayak
course, providing participants with the knowledge and skills necessary
to lead groups of kayakers in coastal waters. The course takes place on
the west coast of Vancouver Island and includes basic training, followed
by an expedition into unprotected coastal waters. Fee: $1,459.00 Cdn.
PH/FAX: 250/539-2442
kayak@gulfislands.com
www.seakayak.ca
For more information contact
The Centre for Continuing Studies
(250) 740-6160
Nanaimo Campus
900 Fifth St., Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5
20 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com February/March 2003