TORONTO—The North American Indigenous Games were a big hit with local athletes and there are quite a few medals on their way home to Manitoulin First Nations.
“The Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games were a success,” said Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry, CEO of the Toronto 2017 NAIG and a Wiikwemkoong band member. “We delivered a multisport and cultural event in world class venues for up to 5,000 indigenous athletes from across Turtle Island with a year to plan, and our small but committed team is very proud to have also started important conversations about reconciliation with our ‘Team 88’ campaign.”
The Manitoulin contingent to the NAIG certainly has plenty to be proud of, not only did they send a good number of athletes to this year’s games, but a good number of those athletes are hauling home an impressive cache of medals.
In Athletics, Wiikwemkoong’s Victoria Trudeau won gold in the 14U 4×400 relay and Francesca Pheasant took home silvers in the 1,200-metre and 2,000-metre cross country, as well as gold in the 4×400-metre relay. Sagamok/Wiikwemkoong competitor Jade Paquette won gold in the 4×400-metre relay.
In the U14 male athletics category, Wiikwemkoong’s Julian Wemigwans won bronze in the 1,200-metre and silver in the 4×400-metre relay. In the U16 female division, Zena Pregent of Whitefish River scored bronze in the 300-metre and another bronze in the 4×400-metre relay.
In the U19 male division, Kinew Cleland of Wiikwemkoong won silver in the 4×400-metre relay and silver in the 800-metre.
In the U16 girls’ division canoe/kayak, Gabriella Corbiere of Aundeck Omni Kaning won silver in 200-metre. In the U19 female division Delaney Webkamigad of Wiikwemkoong won gold in the 19U mixed MC2 6,000-metre canoe/kayak doubles.
