The Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle of NL calls for track and field athletes to compete at the North American Indigenous Games in Regina 2014

Application Form and Information:

Athlete Expression of Interest - TEAM NL Athletics. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS March 14, 2014.

About NAIG 2014:

Towards NAIG 2014

Towards NAIG 2014

In July, 2014, approximately 5400 participants will converge in Regina, SK to participate at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) for 10 days of multi sport competitions and cultural events and sharing opportunities. The Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle of Newfoundland and Labrador is preparing its athletes and coaches for our second participation at this event.

 

Why?  -   The Vision of NAIG

To improve the quality of Life for Indigenous peoples by supporting self-determined sports and cultural activities which encourage equal access to participation in the social, cultural, spiritual fabric of the community in which they reside and which respects Indigenous distinctiveness.

“The vision of the NAIG, from the very beginning, along with my brothers, Willie Littlechild of Ermineskin First Nation at Hobbema, and Big John Fletcher of Peigan in Southern Alberta, was one of our interest and concern about what was happening among the young people in all our communities...We took it upon ourselves to try and find something constructive for the young people to look forward to, and what it was eventually, was that we would put together a plan for a Games through which the young Aboriginal people could come together to excel in their athletic field of endeavour and to come together to do other things: to make new friendships, to renew old ones, and so on ...”(Charles Wood, 1990 Chairperson)

• In Cowichan, BC (2008), Team NL had 34 athletes participate in team and individual events (male and female Athletics, Badminton, Golf, and male and female Volleyball, cumulatively capturing 18 medals!...and extremely competitive in any sport in which we did not medal). Aside from medal results, the event provided a cultural experience that will forever be remembered by the participants and their families. It is/was every bit as memorable as Canada Games for our participants, except that it was more. Our athletes were challenged to compete at their maximum potential....and had a reasonable chance for success in terms of medals/winning....and they did. This is a fundamental principal of what Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development model wants for athletes, to provide competition for participants which is challenging and meaningful (meaning the participant have a chance for success).
• There is no way to quantitatively measure the exceptional cultural experience and effect on our participants, their families, and the communities from which they came. Individual and community pride, instilling hope and motivation for the next generation of athletes, the creation of sports heroes and role models for our youth...this is what our legacy was.
• ASRCNL will field a Team which can capture medals in Regina 2014, but the medals will not be our greatest legacy of this event – it will be how we are building our people, communities, and our culture.

 
ASRCNL has a plan in place - we have identified sports, coaches, athletes...and people are getting excited in our communities. Sport is a tool for building and connecting people. It can inspire and bring out the best in people, it can instill community and cultural pride, and it can solidify one’s sense of identity. This is what NAIG is about...the Medals are nice too (and definitely within our reach)...but the true value of why NAIG exists is found in what it can do for our people...which is why it was created, and why  Aboriginal youth in Newfoundland and Labrador deserve the opportunity to participate.

Mike Alexander

Regional Coordinator  
Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle, NL

 

West Coast Training Center
383 Massachusetts Drive
Stephenville, NL
A2N 3C2
Phone # (709) 643-3130
Fax # (709) 643-3150
bsgasrc@nf.aibn.com
Website www.asrcnl.ca