Team Saskatchewan prepares to leave for NAIG in Halifax

Thirteen-year-old Julianna Reimer-Marion is one out of 440 athletes on Team Saskatchewan who will be competing in the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax.

Over 400 athletes for Team Saskatchewan are preparing to leave the Prairies for the Maritimes, competing in this year’s North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax.

After six years, thousands of Indigenous athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators are gathering from across Canada and the United States to play in sporting events and represent their nations.

Thirteen-year-old athlete Julianna Reimer-Marion of Regina will get a taste of her first experience competing in the kayaking sport.

“I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and seeing other like athletes and how they do in kayaking,” said Reimer-Marion. “I think I’m really excited to see, you know, like what others the skills that the others have.”

When she received the news last year that she was picked to represent her province for kayaking, she dedicated each day to train and perfect her skill.

“I practice like three times a week. I go to this gym called OPEX Fitness Regina … at least like 3 to 4 times a week just to like workout,” she said. “I used to (practice at Wascana Lake) six times a week during the school year. (But) during the summer, I do it five times.”

Her mind is not set on winning first place but she aims to receive a NAIG medal at the very least.

“The designs on them are really cool and I think it’d be really cool to go home with like a medal from NAIG,” said Reimer-Marion. “So, I am kind of aiming for that top spot, top three, maybe even fourth.”