Photo: Courtesy of Star Flower Photography/Team Yukon – NAIG
Team Yukon takes on the first day of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games today
YUKON – Athletes have begun competing at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games as the opening ceremony wrapped up last night.
Over 5,000 athletes from over 750 Indigenous nations from across North America have ascended to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the 2023 NAIG. This is the 10th year anniversary of the games and is set to run from July 15-23.
15-year-old Yukon Athlete Carson Nelson is competing in the 100 metre, discus, javelin, shot put and long jump and his goal for the tournament is to have fun. He explains how he is preparing for the games.
“About 20 minutes on each (sport) just the day before just to get warmed up and then the day of just warming up between every single event there’s going to be lots of athletes who that have been training for a long time so it’s going to be really hard but push through.”
13-year-old Yukon Athlete Cullen Sias has be
en training for his sport since May and he’s been having fun with the pin swapping, while participating in four events: sprints, long jump, and throws.
“I’ve just been doing long-distance running for quite a long time now and I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I’m just hoping that I know it worked out my way. You know, it’s pretty nerve-wracking considering that there’s way more athletes than any other tracking I’ve been to but the nerves are turning into excitement very slowly to compete because I’m a very competitive person.”
Today, Team Yukon is participating in under 16 male and female Rifle Shooting, under 16 3000 metre Canoe & Kayaking, under 16 and 19 Volleyball, and under 14 Basketball.
For more details and to follow the games, click here.
Listen to the full interview with both athletes here.
