Team Saskatchewan leads medal count at 2023 North American Indigenous Games

With the 2023 North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia drawing to a close, Team Saskatchewan has won more medals than any other delegation.

The 2023 games — which mix Indigenous culture with sporting events and brought together about 5,000 athletes, coaches and mission staff from 750 Indigenous nations across the continent — officially end on Sunday.

As of Saturday at  3 p.m CST, heading into the final hours of competition, Team Saskatchewan had a total of 159 medals — 47 gold, 60 silver and 52 bronze.

"There have been 10 North American Indigenous Games — we've won the overall championship seven of those times," said Mike Tanton, Team Saskatchewan's chef de mission.

"We're not slowing down and we're back on top, and that's something our entire province can be proud of, because they've all contributed to making that happen. "

Team Saskatchewan was followed in medal standings by Team British Columbia, with 138, and Team Ontario, with 118, as of Saturday afternoon.

The Saskatchewan delegation had about 430 Indigenous athletes competing in a variety of sports, including the traditional Indigenous sports of canoe/kayak, archery and box lacrosse, plus soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, wrestling, beach volleyball, rifle shooting, badminton, baseball and basketball.

Tanton says First Nation communities from all corners of Saskatchewan were represented at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

In addition to representing Saskatchewan, "they're representing their home communities, they're representing their families, and that's something a lot of these young athletes carry on their shoulders," he said. 

"Seeing the amount of time, energy that our athletes have put in, and seeing them be so successful, that's been the ultimate highlight." 

Tanton added the sportsmanship the Saskatchewan athletes showed throughout the 2023 games was commendable. 

Julianna Reimer-Marion, a 15-year-old kayaker from Regina who competed at the games, didn't know she had Métis heritage until about a year and a half ago.

Attending the games allowed her to learn more about Indigenous culture, she said.

"The community was so big and welcoming," Reimer-Marion said.