World Indigenous Nations Games come to a close in Alberta

A week of international competition amongIndigenous athletes has come to a close in Alberta.

More than 1,500 hundred athletes representing all seven geopolitical regions of the world have been on Treaty Six territory near Edmontoncompeting in events, including: lacrosse, archery, soccer, swimming and canoeing.

• 'We have so much to offer': World Indigenous Games comes to Alberta this summer

When the second edition of theWorld Indigenous NationsGames opened on July 3, most of the athleteswere strangers. At Sunday's closing ceremonies, they looked like friends who had known each other for years.

Cori Arcand from Muskeg Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, said that they've learned a lot about each other and themselves.

He competed in javelin on Saturday. It was his first time throwing a spear.

It gives me a chance to go back and learn about myself.- CoriArcand

"It gives me a chance to go back and learn aboutmyself, where I came from as an Indigenous person," Arcand said.

"I think stuff like this is going to make young people, young First Nations people who havelost their way, realizethere's a reason that we should be proud of who we are."

Bringing people together

Treaty Six Grand Chief Willie Littlechild is the founder of the games. He first broached the idea at the United Nations nearly 40 years ago.

The inaugural eventwas held in Palmos, Brazil in 2015.

"The first one is always the hardest," Littlechild said. "The second one is to keep the momentum now that there's interest."

More than 20,000 spectators took in sporting events in Maskwacis, the Enoch Cree First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Paul First Nation. Among them were non-Indigenous people.

"That was one of our dreams to have a getting together of both societies, both cultures, and they were out there supporting. It was good. It was really good," Littlechild said.

Growing pains

The games weren't without some hiccups. There were organizational challenges related to transportation and scheduling.

EyasuJoffeof the Raptbaetribe in Ethiopia, competed in the first edition of the games. He said that in Palmosit wasall fairly central, which wasn't the case this time around. There was a lot of back and forth between Maskwacis and the Enoch Cree Nation, which are about anhour apart. This resulted in events being delayed.

"The gamesare in different places," Joffe said."They didn't know about the time."

Littlechildacknowledgedthere were growing pains. Organizers didn't get the funding they'd hope for. At least three quarters of the $10- to 12-million budget came from in-kind donations andthe local communities rallied to host the athletes and the events.

WhetuRangihaeata, of Aotearoain New Zealand, said the hospitality was fantastic.

"They know how to look after people," he said. "And when I say they, I'm talking about the community that we lived at, we're talking about the people atMaskwacis."

• Alberta First Nations proud to host World Indigenous Nations Games

Littlechildwill be reporting to the United Nations this week on the games.

He said he's looking forward to discussing where the third World Indigenous Nations Games will be held.