Inter-School games kick off

Kahnawake youth are in Quebec City for the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) Inter-School Games, where athletes from communities across the province will compete in the name of betterment in sports through education.

Team Kahnawake is made up of students from four schools in the community: Kahnawake Survival School, Kateri School, Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa, and Karihwanó:ron Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa.

The young athletes will compete at Laval University’s sports facilities in a variety of individual and team events, including classic track and field disciplines, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball, and the Ancestor’s Challenge obstacle course race.

FNEC Inter-School Games coordinator David Gill said that three different elements make the games an important event on the calendar for young Indigenous athletes.

The first is their consistency as an annual event.

“For a lot of youth, this is the only big event they will ever take part in. The fact that this is an annual event means that when they return home, they already put themselves in preparation mode for the next year. It gives them an objective that is somewhere between a short-term and a long-term one. It’s really something the youth latch on to,” said Gill.

The second is that it ties into schooling.

“Yes, they are representing their community, but they are especially representing their schools. It creates a sense of belonging in school, and that has an impact on absenteeism and on results at school,” said Gill.

The third is giving youth the opportunity to see other things than just their community, particularly for those living in more remote areas of the province.

“What we’re doing is giving them a taste of university life, campus life outside the community. For those that might be interested in going outside their communities, it makes that less of a dramatic change,” said Gill.

Before the launch of the games on Thursday, an opening ceremony took place, with all the athletes witnessing a big show that included drummers recruited from the athletes taking part in the games.

Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador regional chief Francis Verreault-Paul was also in attendance to say a few words to the athletes before the competitions started.

“It’s a big show, but it’s also a hyper efficient show because right after the opening ceremony, we’re starting the sporting events immediately,” said Gill.

Although the games naturally see a change in athletes as the years pass, Gill is proud that a large majority of them come back year after year to compete as long as they are eligible, as do the team leaders and other support staff.

“It’s fun for me to see all those faces and see them come back,” said Gill.

“I’ve developed friendships with almost all the team leaders. To see all those great people, to take care of them, it’s something I love, because while we have a lot of work to do to put together these games, it’s nothing compared to what the team leaders have to do: signing up the athletes, taking care of them and their parents, taking care of the coaching and preparation of the athletes, and more.”

At time of writing, a few results are already available.

In 10-12 mixed basketball, Team Kahnawake 1 defeated Awacak 37-7 and Team Kahnawake 2 defeated ITUM 1 20-0. In 13-15 boys floor hockey, Team Kahnawake lost 4-2 to Amo Ososwan. In mini volleyball, Team Kahnawake 1 won both both their sets against Seskitin 3; Team Kahnawake 2 won both their sets against ITUM; Team Kahnawake 3 split their first two sets against Kiwetin; and Team Kahnawake 4 split their first two sets against Amishk 1.

The FNEC games run until Sunday.

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