b'NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMESTHRIVING THROUGH SPORT With the return of the North American Indigenous Games, Indigenous women are engaging in sport and improving their wellnessBy Kelly ParkerA fter three years ofThe list of athletic disciplines includesIndigenous womens participation in postponement, thethree traditional Indigenous sports:sports is growing in Canada. Cameron summer of 2023 markedcanoe/kayak, lacrosse, and (3D) archery.says that the best indicator she sees is in the return of the NorthBanned from participating in boxISWOs efforts to increase the number of American Indigenous Games (NAIG).(indoor) lacrosse competition until 2017,women within the organization: When I As usual, young female athletes, rangingyoung Indigenous women have since beenleft, they had just secured a women and from 13 to 19 years of age, participated inparticularly successful in the sport, knowngirls grant in sport. Theres a number of grand numbers. Through the excitementas field lacrosses rougher cousin.female coaches that I would see with Team of competing in a large sporting eventOntario from right across the province, so with strong athletes from across TurtleTania Cameron learned about thethat was very encouraging. I certainly know Island, these young Indigenous women areGames just under 10 years ago when herthere is an attempt to support womens also committing to their overall wellnessson successfully participated in tryoutsinvolvement in sport leadership.through their involvement and dedicationfor the Northwestern Ontario team for to sport. the 2014 Games. Cameron herself had played some organized basketball andIMPROVED COMPETITIONThough the idea to hold a national sportingvolleyball as a kid, but like many people,Laurie Moyer, ONWAs Community event to improve the quality of life forhadnt continued to do so as an adult.Development Manager, has been involved Indigenous Peoples (naig2023.com) firstNevertheless, she was so impressed by thein sports her entire life. She competed took root in the 1970s, the NAIG finallyevent right from the opening ceremonyat the 2002 NAIG and has two kids that she decided to get involved, firstwho have also competed at the Games. saw its first edition in Edmonton in 1990.organizing basketball for IndigenousIndigenous women are definitely getting Since then, the Games, which take placeyouth in Kenora (Treaty #3 Territory),more involved, she says, but I also every two to three years, have grown toand later working for a time at what isthink the level at which theyre being host 16 sports and over 5,000 athletes atnow called Indigenous Sport and Wellnessable to compete at is improving as well. the 2023 Games in Kjipuktuk (Halifax),Ontario (ISWO). She continues toComparing the volleyball that I saw in 2014 Dartmouth and Millbrook First Nation onorganize basketball and took several teamsin Regina to the volleyball that I saw in the East Coast. to the 2023 Games. 2023 in Halifax, its improved so much. Its 42Fall/Winter 2023'