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By Sam Laskaris
Windspeaker Contributor
WAGMATCOOK FIRST NATION, N.S.
More than 2,000 participants are taking part at this week’s Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games. And there’s something for all ages at these Games, which feature a variety of popular sports and some more obscure activities.
Some competitors, who are playing T-ball, are as young as four. Age groupings for some sports go as high as 55 and over.
The Wagmatcook First Nation is hosting this year’s Games. They were supposed to begin on Sunday, but a massive weekend rainstorm postponed all of Sunday’s scheduled activities.
As a result, action began on Monday and is expected to continue until this Sunday, weather permitting. Mother Nature could end up spoiling some schedules once again.
“We’re expecting 15 to 25 millimetres of rain on Thursday, so we’ll see what happens,” said Robert Bernard, one of the two Games’ co-ordinators.
Bernard, who is the manager of the Wagmatcook Cultural and Heritage Centre, is being assisted with the Games’ organizational duties by his cousin Terry Bernard, who is the other co-ordinator.
Robert Bernard said the enthusiasm of those taking part at the Games was not dampened by the weekend soaker.
“We were hoping for the sun dance instead of the rain dance,” he said. “We had 25 to 35 millimetres of rain on Saturday and that washed out everything for Sunday.”
Yet moods are still upbeat.
“Everybody is so excited that they’re seeing old friends and meeting new friends,” Bernard said. “And people are just enjoying being athletes and being part of the cultural activities.”
These Games were first held in 1971. Back then they were called the Maritime Indian Summer Games.
About a decade later they started being called the Nova Scotia Indian Summer Games. They continued to be called that a couple of years into the 21st century.
“After that the Games just got too big and too expensive,” Bernard said.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) used to provide financial support to the Games in the past. But when that funding got cut off early this century, the Games stopped being held.
They were revived in 2010, underwent another change to their moniker, and have been held annually since.
“The Games are just as big now as they were in the past,” Bernard said. “But they’re managed better and the communities support it better now.”
Bernard said five Mi’kmaw communities on Cape Breton Island now have an agreement in place where they annually contribute some money for the running of the Games.
Other First Nations also make financial contributions as well. And corporate sponsors are also annually sought to help cover some of the expenses.
Bernard said it will cost between $350,000-$400,000 to operate the 2017 Games.
Participants from the 13 Mi’kmaw communities traditionally take part in the Games. This year entrants are being joined by athletes from three Mi’kmaw communities from New Brunswick and two other First Nations from Quebec.
Bernard anticipates the host Wagmatcook First Nation will end up somewhere in the middle of the pack in the over-all medal standings.
“It’s not about that,” Bernard said, adding it does not matter who ends up winning the most hardware.
“It’s about sharing cultures and traditions at the Games. If you end up winning a medal then that’s good. But if you don’t then you’re just happy that you’re there.”
The Wagmatcook First Nation, which has about 700 members, will not be hosting all of the sporting competitions. Some will also be held in a pair of neighbouring communities, Baddeck (where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone) and Whycocomagh.
Besides T-ball, some of the other sports offered at the Games are basketball, badminton, canoeing, track and field, softball, volleyball, floor hockey, tug of war, archery, darts, golf and horseshoes.
There will also be one-kilometre and five-kilometre running races.
Arm wrestling competitions will also be staged. And there is also a traditional triathlon. Participants in this event will canoe for 1,000 metres, then run 3,000 metres and conclude by displaying their archery skills.
And one of the Games’ most popular events is called Washer Toss, which is exactly what it sounds like. Competitors throw a washer and try to get it to land in box.
“We had 350 people sign up for that,” Bernard said.
The Games also included a Princess Pageant, primarily featuring females in their late teens.
The Games will conclude on Saturday with a concert by The Barra MacNeils.
“They’re a family musical group,” Bernard said. “They’re a high-end Scottish cultural performance band. They’re well known out here.”