A look back at stories of the Indigenous Games

At venues across Toronto this week, young athletes at the North American Indigenous Games battled it out for medals, each bringing with them hopes, goals, and dreams.

CBC Toronto was able to tell some of those stories: tales of triumph over tragedy, determined treks from fly-in communities and young people who want to share their cultures with the wider world.

In case you missed it, here's a roundup of our local coverage.

Big-hearted locals give to Games

With just a month until the Games began, organizers were calling out for help: they wereshort hundreds of volunteers.

But volunteer lead KhristineCrooks Lines said locals came valiantlyto the rescue in time for the opening ceremony, helping to chaperone, time events and keep score throughout the week.

CBC Toronto spoke with volunteer Liza Parry for this story, a Mi'kmaqtriathlete proud toofferher time to the Games' young athletes.

• Games say they're still 'shy 500 people' to work as volunteers

Young artists tapped to perform for thousands

The Games' opening ceremony turned out to be a big deal.

With 9,000 in attendance at Toronto's Aviva Centre and surprise appearances by A Tribe Called Red and rapper Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, all eyes were on stage.

And so were six young dancers none of whom hadever seen such a crowd.

It took practice and discipline to build the dance performance from scratch, as CBC Toronto learned for this story:

• A sneak peek at the Indigenous Games' opening act

But for the dancers, it's not just about art. Two of theseperformers talked about role models and reconciliation:

• These Indigenous artists say there's more to life than being 'left on the reserve'

Fighting ignorance...with fiddles

The MtisFiddler Quartet serenaded the opening ceremony crowd with traditional songs. By day, quartet vocalist Conlin Delbaere-Sawchuktakes his knowledge to Toronto schools, passing on his knowledge to budding creatives.

At aconcert at St. Bernard's Catholic School, students presented the Mtissongs they wrote themselves:

• Mtis musician takes unfiltered history to Toronto schools

Sport keeps cultures alive

Ben Fleguel, an Anishnaabeg archer, learned to shoot because he wanted to hunt the way his ancestors did.

• This 3D archer learned a new sport for the ancient skills

Evan John, an Oneida track athlete and lacrosse player, wants to save the Oneidalanguage in his spare time -- and he has to become fluent, fast.

• Oneida runner racing to save his language from extinction

Welcome to Tkaronto

Indigenous custom welcomes guests into their territory by nodding to the land on which they live, work and play.

Experts explainthe tradition of territory acknowledgements:

• What is the significance of acknowledging the Indigenous land we stand on?

Games beckon young adventurers

Lavonne Kakegamic, 11, and CherilynnMoose, 12, live in North Spirit Lake First Nation a remote community where they know everybody by name. They'd never seen a skyscraper or been to a mall.

But when they heard about the Games, thegregarious pairwere determined to make their way to the bleachers in the big city to cheer on Team Ontario.

CBC Toronto experienced the city with these intrepid explorers:

• 3 days, 2 kids, 1 quest: girls find way to Toronto from fly-in First Nation

Sisters champion Indigenous rights

Renee and Alicia Corbierestarted swimming after their father drowned in rough water.

Now they're champions both in and out of the pool.

Indigenous people drown at a rate ten times higher than the national average, and these athletes think training swim instructors for Indigenous communities is desperately needed:

• 'I didn't want them to be afraid of the water': Sisters triumph over drowning tragedy

For all the week's highlights of athletes across the country, visit cbc.ca/naig.