How the origins of the North American Indigenous Games continue to be felt among young athletes
When the North American Indigenous Games was just an idea in the 1970s, the positive effects it could have on Indigenous youth was top of mind for the founders.
Willie Littlechild, Charles Wood and John Fletcher had come up through the residential school system and used sports as a way to "escape" the hardships they faced.
"It provided them with a platform to show another side of them that other people didn't often see," Janice Forsyth told CBC Radio's Information Morning Halifax on Monday.
"It's not to say that they weren't subject to stereotypes, because they certainly were, but it was a positive space where they could excel and show their own potential."
Forsyth, who is from Fish River Cree First Nation and has competed in the games, said the men wanted to share that with younger generations.
"They knew that sport, you know, for all of the rhetoric, was racist and wasn't welcoming, and they wanted their kids to have a positive space," she said.
"And so that's where the idea of the Indigenous games came from. They worked for decades to try and make it happen, and so eventually the first ones happened in 1990 in Alberta."
The North American Indigenous Games have continued to grow and officially kicked off in Halifax Sunday evening, welcoming thousands of young Indigenous athletes from across the continent to compete in traditional and non-traditional sports.
'Sport did save my life'
George (Tex) Marshall, who is from Eskasoni First Nation and is the president of the North American Indigenous Games, said the event continues to provide a safe and welcoming space for teens to play — more than 50 years after that initial idea was born.
"Sport provides hope, it provides a future for anyone. It builds character and builds leadership skills," Marshall told Maritime Noon on Monday.
He said when he was young, he went through some "dark times," but he always gravitated toward sports.
"Through the dark days, sport did save my life, and with that in mind, that's my whole purpose in life, to give back to sport because it saved mine and I believe it can save the lives of our youth," he said.
Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade, left, with student Ella Scothorn, Mi'kmaw artist Tayla Fern Paul and George (Tex) Marshall, president of the 2023 NAIG Host Society. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)
Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation shares a similar sentiment. He said his band has been investing in its youth by creating a funding program that covers the costs of sports and activities for young band members.
Gloade said the idea came to him more than 20 years ago when he first started on the band council. At the time, kids in the community would often get into trouble: vandalizing buildings, throwing rocks and breaking windows.
The reason? They were bored, he said.
But instead of punishing them, Gloade and the band council started allocating funds to families so their children could join sports and clubs without worrying about the cost.
"We're able to fund every community member and sporting activities, regardless of employment status, regardless of where they live, and we do it right across Canada," Gloade told Mainstreet Halifax.
Gloade said by investing in these kids, they're able to channel their energy elsewhere and stay out of trouble, setting them on a positive path.
"There's a lot of benefits to sports," he said. "They may all not be turned into professional athletes, but what it does is it helps build character, helps build support and also helps them transition from sports to school to employment to life just in society."
Gloade said the band continues to empower its kids, which is something that will be on display during the games this week. He said 31 kids from Millbrook will be competing.
"Anything that we can do to promote and support individuals in our community to compete and be the best that they can and also to have fun," he said, "that's what it's all about."
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