Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) held in Regina, Saskatchewan wrapped up on Sunday July 27. Regina 2014 NAIG hosted athletes and teams from 21 regions in North America's Indigenous communities who competed in 14 different sports. It celebrated and shared North American Indigenous cultures through a showcase of language, tradition, art, song, dance and ceremonies. The theme of Regina 2014 North American Indigenous Games was "Raising the Bar," which the games did by exhibiting youth excellence in sports and culture.

U19 Team Eastern Door & the North win silver in 2014 NAIG volleyball! Back row: Jenny-Lee Vachon, Kayleigh Spencer, Kasennakohe David, Tewennine Delormier, Janisa Benedict, Seven Green, Jaden Barnes, Krista Loran. Front row: Sidney Thompson, Shayla Oakes, Nicole Smoke and Roraks McComber. Photo submitted by Tewennine Delormier.

British Columbia came in first place with medal counts of 63 gold, 49 silver and 48 bronze, for a total of 160 medals. Saskatchewan came in second with 72 gold, 54 silver and 33 bronze, for a total of 159 medals. Team Ontario came in third with 55 gold, 54 silver and 40 bronze. Eastern Door and the North took fourth with 20 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze, with a total of 58. Team Haudenosaunee (NY) received 5 medals total, with 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.

Of particular interest...

In U19 female volleyball, Team EDN, which is made up primarily of ladies from Akwesasne, (see picture) took the silver medal.

In U19 Male Lacrosse, Team Eastern Door & the North, which includes Alex Thompson and Donovan Thompson, took gold.

In U-19 Female Softball, Team Haudenosaunee, which includes Bineh Garrow, Kwiio King, Cierra Hill, Sierra White and Destiny Delormier, came in fourth place.

Team Eastern Door & the North U18 Female Soccer, which includes Serena Hall, Josee Sunday, Jenna Thompson and Iakokwenienstha Porter, took the gold medal.