Inter-School games in full swing

Council (FNEC) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, its Inter-School Games - which started yesterday, Thursday - are in their 17th year, and while that’s not a nice, round number like 40, FNEC Inter-School Games coordinator David Gill said it is still a meaningful number.

“Seventeen isn’t a special number in and of itself, but at the same time it is special because of the longevity, 17 years of having these games is special, and it shows consistency, which is very important in the minds of the kids, knowing that next year there will be games,” said Gill.

“My background is that I started with the Jeux Autochtones Interbandes when I was 11 years old, back then those games happened each year as well.

“Speaking from experience, me and kids my age were in preparation mode for these games each year. We’d get there, the games would finish, and then as soon as they were done, we immediately started thinking about the next ones, because we knew they were going to happen. So I am well placed to know what impact having these games every year has on these kids.”

Like last year, four local schools will be joining up to form Team Kahnawà:ke for the Games at Laval University in Quebec City: Kahnawake Survival School, Kateri School, Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa, and Karihwanoron Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa.

According to a statement given by the Kahnawake Education Center to The Eastern Door, 147 students would make up Team Kahnawà:ke, separated into teams based on age and event. For ages 10-12, there are two ball hockey teams, five mixed volleyball teams, one mixed basketball team, one girls’ basketball team, and two boys’ basketball teams.

For ages 16-18, there is one team each for mixed volleyball and boys’ and girls’ basketball. There is also a 13-15 boys ball hockey team and a track team encompassing students 13-18.

The opening ceremonies took place Thursday morning, with almost 1,300 athletes, coaches, and other support workers, as well as new Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador regional chief Francis Verreault-Paul. It took the form of what Gill called a mini powwow.

Drummers and dancers from different participating delegations came together to sing and dance for the ceremony, after holding a practice the night before and not drumming together before that.

“The opening ceremony was a nice moment for everyone, and then right after the sporting events got started at 10 a.m.,” said Gill.

The events stay broadly the same year over year to provide stability and help make what would otherwise be very difficult logistics easier for each delegation, Gill said. Still, that does not mean there are no new events.

For example, after two years without access to a running track, the javelin toss, 200M, and 400M events will return to the games. Furthermore, cross-country running and the Kahnawake favourite Ancestor’s Challenge have also been added in recent years.

The Inter-School Games will take place over three days, until May 25. But the athletes have been training for much longer than that, in Team Kahnawà:ke’s case doing so since the fall.

“This long-term preparation reflects their dedication and drive, setting them up for success as they take on the competition at the 2025 FNEC Games,” said KEC’s statement.

Some results have already been recorded in time for The Eastern Door’s publishing deadline.

In their first 10-12 boys ball hockey game, Kahnawake 1 beat Kahnawake 2 13-4; in the 13-15 ball hockey age group, Amo Ososwan beat Kahnawake 5-3.

In 10-12 mixed volleyball, Kahnawake 1 won both their games, one against Amo Ososwan and the other against Amishk; Kahnawake 2 also won both their games, against Rotiwennakehte 2 and Niska; and Kahnawake 3 won against Rotiwennakehte 2 and Seskitin.

Full results will appear on the Inter-School Games’ website, and more coverage will be featured in next week’s issue ofThe Eastern Door.

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