Team Haudenosaunee Athletes from Akwesasne Heading to the Indigenous games

This is the first year that Akwesasne has been able to try out for Team Haudenosaunee. Thanks to the help of the Akwesasne Rep's, April Seymour and Denise Homer, for working as much as they have to make sure that more Akwesasne Athletes had the opportunity to play in the Indigenous games taking place in Toronto and surrounding areas on July 16-23. The northern portion of Akwesasne has always had the opportunity to try out for Eastern Door and North. So, it is a big deal that the southern portion of Akwesasne has also been included this year to try out for Team Haudenosaunee, which comprises of all the six nations throughout the confederacy.

The North American Indigenous Games are a multi-sport, multi-disciplinary event which involves Indigenous youth from Canada and the United States. The Games offer 14 sport competitions in addition to a vibrant cultural program, showcasing local and North American Indigenous cultural groups and entertainers. The NAIG was first held in 1990 in Edmonton, Alberta and has been staged on seven other occasions since then, in various locations throughout Canada and the United States. Athletes competing in the NAIG must be born of North America Indigenous ancestry. All contingents participating in the North American Indigenous Games must represent the Indigenous Peoples of a Province/Territory in Canada or a State/Region in the United States of America. Only athletes registered with a contingent are eligible to compete in the NAIG. The games provides indigenous youth, aged 13-19, an opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities through 14 sports and to celebrate their heritage through numerous cultural events.

The Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games are expected to be the largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous People in North America. The Toronto 2017 NAIG will host more than 5,000 participants, 2,000 volunteers and countless spectators for 14 sport categories being held within world-class venues located across the Greater Toronto Area, including the Region of Hamilton and Six Nations of the Grand River. Participating teams include all 13 provinces and territories of Canada, as well as 13 regions from the United States. Toronto 2017 NAIG marks the 10th games and the first time in over 25 years the NAIG will be held in the Eastern Region of Canada.

The 14 core sports of the Toronto 2017 NAIG include:

3-D Archery

Athletics (100m, 200m, 300m, javelin, long jump, etc.)

Badminton

Baseball

Basketball

Canoe/Kayak

Golf

Lacrosse

Rifle Shooting

Soccer

Softball

Swimming

Wrestling

Volleyball