Three young Innu from the Atanukan program of the Manikanetish school in athletics, Marley St-Onge Pinette, Mikaël Mckenzie and Pishimuss Vollant-Roy who will be heading to Nova Scotia for the NAIG 2023. (Photo Courtoisie Atanukan)
A delegation of about 40 athletes from the Innu communities will leave Pessamit and Uashat very early Saturday morning to go to the North American Indigenous Games, which begin Sunday in Mi’kma’ki, Halifax and Dartmouth in Nova Scotia . They are part of the team of 275 young Aboriginal athletes from Quebec grouped under the name Porte de l’Est et du Nord.
The North Shore Innu delegation also includes several coaches and guides. Badminton coach, Georges Roy anticipates an exceptional experience for young people in terms of cultural and sports exchanges.
Coordinator of the Atanukan sports-study programs at Manikanetesh secondary school in Uashat, he also has good hopes for medals in athletics, golf, women’s softball and volleyball.
Athletes selected in advance
The athletes were selected during camps in March, specifies Georges Roy. The coaches then planned some activities to prepare the young athletes. The girls in volleyball U-16 and the boys in badminton Portes de l’Est et du Nord are training intensively in the gymnasiums of Uashat until Friday evening.
Double gold medalist at the Quebec Games last summer, golfer from the Uashat mak Maliotenam community Mercedes St-Onge will act as the flag bearer for the Quebec delegation.
The North American Indigenous Games will run until July 23. They will bring together approximately 5,000 athletes, coaches and supporters from more than 756 indigenous nations from across the continent. Hosted by Millbrook First Nation and Sipekne’katik First Nation, NAIG 2023 will host competitions in 16 sports at 21 venues.
The Porte de l’Est et du Nord team is mandated by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador for various national sports competitions, including the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.
2023-07-13 23:52:03
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