Team Saskatchewan prepares to leave for NAIG in Halifax | 24CA News
Over 400 athletes for Team Saskatchewan are getting ready to go away the Prairies for the Maritimes, competing on this yr’s North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax.
After six years, 1000’s of Indigenous athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators are gathering from throughout Canada and the United States to play in sporting occasions and signify their nations.
Thirteen-year-old athlete Julianna Reimer-Marion of Regina will get a style of her first expertise competing within the kayaking sport.
“I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and seeing other like athletes and how they do in kayaking,” mentioned Reimer-Marion. “I think I’m really excited to see, you know, like what others the skills that the others have.”
When she acquired the news final yr that she was picked to signify her province for kayaking, she devoted every day to coach and excellent her talent.
“I practice like three times a week. I go to this gym called OPEX Fitness Regina … at least like 3 to 4 times a week just to like workout,” she mentioned. “I used to (practice at Wascana Lake) six times a week during the school year. (But) during the summer, I do it five times.”
Her thoughts is just not set on successful first place however she goals to obtain a NAIG medal on the very least.
“The designs on them are really cool and I think it’d be really cool to go home with like a medal from NAIG,” mentioned Reimer-Marion. “So, I am kind of aiming for that top spot, top three, maybe even fourth.”
Seeing the dedication and pleasure from athletes like Reimer-Marion is one thing that drives Mike Tanton to do the job he does for Team Saskatchewan because the chef de mission. On Thursday, Team Saskatchewan will host a pep rally in Whitecap Dakota Nation to ship off the athletes in a optimistic approach.
“I’m just happy that our young people are going to get to experience that. I know a lot of our young people are struggling with a little bit of anxiety as none of them have been to the games before,” he mentioned. “I think seeing that level of support from our community back home is going to help with alleviating a little bit of that anxiety and sending them off on such a strong and powerful positive note that I hope carries them through until the end of the end of the competition.”
This will likely be Tanton’s ultimate yr as Team Saskatchewan’s chef de mission. Ever since he was a child, he at all times attended NAIG, first as a spectator, then athlete and coach.
“It’s really exciting. And I just I’m looking forward to experience in these games where it’s been a long time in the waiting,” he mentioned.
The NAIG opening ceremonies kick off on Sunday with the video games following the subsequent day. Folks to observe the reside stream on the NAIG 2023 web site.
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