Young P.E.I. athletes get early introduction to North American Indigenous Games
CBC
The road to the next North American Indigenous Games began in P.E.I. on Saturday as a group of young athletes from across the province gathered to play some sports and have some fun.
NAIG takes place in Calgary in July 2027, but organizers said it's never too early to start fostering a love of sport, community and culture.
"We wanted to start the process now to identify Indigenous youth who are in the age range who could potentially try out for NAIG," said Lynn Anne Hogan, the senior program co-ordinator for the Aboriginal sports circle with the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
"For some, their parents, their chief, their grandparents, their friends and family may have gone, but for others this is a whole brand new experience for them."
The games take place every four years, and bring together youth athletes and coaching staff from 750 different First Nations in North America.
In 2023, NAIG in Halifax saw 5,000 competitors and coaches attend, including 29 athletes from Prince Edward Island.
Saturday's event at UPEI was meant to give the group of 30 young Indigenous people a chance to try out some sports like lacrosse and badminton, and get them thinking about trying out for Team P.E.I. when the time comes.
"I've shown a lot of interest in volleyball, and since it's one of the sports we could do for NIAG, I'm hoping me and my stepsister could also travel to Calgary, go to new places and meet new friends," said Bria Vincent, 15, of Charlottetown.
"It would mean a lot. I've been dreaming of volleyball and always played it for fun since I was 10."
For others, like 15-year-old Natalie Gallant of Morell, P.E.I., it's a chance to restart the journey to the games.
She competed in javelin, shot put and discus in Halifax, and hopes to take make either the track or volleyball teams for Calgary.
"It was really fun and I would really like to go back and compete again to see if I could make more memories just like I did two summers ago," she said.
"I want to represent Prince Edward Island, and I want to represent my people."
Organizers hope to spread the word about NAIG and grow Indigenous involvement in sports on the Island.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.