North American Indigenous Games
It has long been a dream to have a meeting of indigenous people of
North America for sport and culture. A meeting was held in Reno Nevada
to organize these in 1975. The key people were John Fletcher, a Peigan
from Edmonton, Alberta, and Willie Littlechild, a Cree of the Ermineskin
Tribe at Hobbema, Alberta.
Then in 1977, "Willie Littlechild presented the motion to
host International Indigenous Games at a meeting in Sweden. It was
unanimously passed. A Brazilian elder was so moved, he presented Willie
Littlechild with a war arrow representing peace in his tribe. Advising
it be pointed to the ground, this arrow would direct anything evil
toward the underground. It is now part of the sacred ceremonial run."
Few Indigenous peoples compete in mainstream sport,
"The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is an opportunity for
Indigenous youth across North America to:
- compete in 15 sports: archery, basketball, boxing, canoeing, golf,
box lacrosse, marathon, rifle shooting, rodeo, soccer, softball,
swimming, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling;
- prepare for sporting events such as Provincial and Canada Games;
- and celebrate their heritage."