Raylon Baird (second from left)

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Proud to Play

This summer, thousands of young Native athletes gathered to celebrate their cultures.

November 20, 2023
By Nicole Tocco

As You Read, Think About: Does your family celebrate any special traditions?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

The Games take place every four years. Athletes go head-to-head, hoping to bring home a gold medal. They compete in 16 sports, including swimming, volleyball, and basketball. Are these the Olympics? No. They’re the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), where young athletes from 756 Native nations come together.

The 2023 NAIG took place last July in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada. More than 5,000 Native athletes and coaches came from across North America. Although competitors battled it out in dozens of events over six days, the NAIG are about a lot more than sports.

Fifteen-year-old America Cackowski from Wisconsin competed in three track-and-field events. She is a member of the Oneida Nation. Before the NAIG, she hadn’t met a lot of people from other Native groups. 

“At my school, there are not many kids from other nations—or many Native Americans at all,” America explains.

But at the NAIG, America and the other members of Team Wisconsin got to connect with many other Indigenous peoples. The athletes learned about different Native nations and shared their own traditions.

“I was proud to represent my culture and nation,” America says.

The Games take place every four years. Athletes go head-to-head against each other. They hope to bring home a gold medal. Athletes compete in 16 sports. This includes swimming, volleyball, and basketball. Are these the Olympics? No. They’re the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). During the NAIG, young athletes from 756 Native nations come together.

The 2023 NAIG took place last July in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That’s in Canada. More than 5,000 Native athletes and coaches came from across North America. Competitors battled it out in dozens of events over six days. But the NAIG are about a lot more than sports.

Fifteen-year-old America Cackowski is from Wisconsin. She competed in three track-and-field events. She is a member of the Oneida Nation. Before the NAIG, she hadn’t met a lot of people from other Native groups. 

“At my school, there are not many kids from other nations—or many Native Americans at all,” America explains.

But at the NAIG, America got to connect with many other Indigenous peoples. The other members of Team Wisconsin did too. The athletes learned about different Native nations and shared their own traditions.

“I was proud to represent my culture and nation,” America says.

Courtesy of family

America Cackowski 

Coming Together

Though early versions of the Games began in 1971, the first official NAIG took place in 1990. Many of the teams include athletes from multiple Native nations. Team Wisconsin, for example, had kids and teens from 11 different Native groups this year.

Often, teammates don’t meet until just before the NAIG. Raylon Baird says that can be a challenge. The first time the 14-year-old played with Team Wisconsin’s basketball squad, it didn’t go so well.

“The chemistry was off at first because we barely knew each other,” says Raylon. “We’re all from different tribes in Wisconsin.”

But as the players practiced together, they connected as a team. At the Games, teammates lived together in dorms or hotels, where they got the chance to bond. In the end, Raylon’s team won a gold medal.

Early versions of the Games began in 1971. But the first official NAIG took place in 1990. Many of the teams include athletes from multiple Native nations. Team Wisconsin, for example, had kids and teens from 11 different Native groups this year.

Often, teammates don’t meet until just before the NAIG. Raylon Baird says that can be a challenge. The 14-year-old was a member of Team Wisconsin’s basketball squad. The team’s first practices didn’t go so well.

“The chemistry was off at first because we barely knew each other,” says Raylon. “We’re all from different tribes in Wisconsin.”

But as the players practiced together, they connected as a team. At the Games, teammates lived together in dorms or hotels. There, they got the chance to bond. In the end, Raylon’s team won a gold medal.

Sharing Histories

But there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals. The Games are also a place to celebrate each nation’s unique history and heritage. Between events, athletes met up at the NAIG cultural village. They attended concerts, watched beadwork demonstrations, and tried foods from other nations. 

“It was inspiring to make new friends from different nations and learn some of their traditions,” says Wesay Metoxen. The 12-year-old was one of the youngest lacrosse players at the NAIG.

But there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals. The Games are also a place to celebrate each nation’s unique history and heritage. Between events, athletes met up at the NAIG cultural village. They attended concerts and watched beadwork demonstrations. They also tried foods from other Native nations. 

“It was inspiring to make new friends from different nations and learn some of their traditions,” says Wesay Metoxen. The 12-year-old was one of the youngest lacrosse players at the NAIG.

Courtesy of family

Kennedi VanDen Heuvel

Homecoming

Team Wisconsin ended up winning a total of 56 medals, including 21 golds, at this year’s NAIG. As the team buses arrived home from the airport, crowds of cheering friends and family greeted them. 

Twins Kennedi and Reese VanDen Heuvel are proud of the medals they won. But the 13-year-old swimmers are even happier about what they learned at the Games.

“Our culture is different from everyone else’s,” Reese says. 

The Games don’t get as much attention as the Olympics. But for those who attend, the NAIG are much more meaningful.

“I felt very supported by other kids, and it was just an amazing experience,” says Kennedi.

Note: All the athletes mentioned in this article are members of the Oneida Nation. 

Team Wisconsin ended up winning 56 medals at this year’s NAIG. This included 21 gold medals. As the team buses arrived home from the airport, crowds of cheering friends and family greeted them. 

Twins Kennedi and Reese VanDen Heuvel are proud of the medals they won. But the 13-year-old swimmers are even happier about what they learned at the Games.

“Our culture is different from everyone else’s,” Reese says. 

The Games don’t get as much attention as the Olympics. But for those who attend, the NAIG are much more meaningful.

“I felt very supported by other kids, and it was just an amazing experience,” says Kennedi.

Note: All the athletes mentioned in this article are members of the Oneida Nation. 

A Powerful Symbol

NAIG 2023

  • The NAIG logo shows a canoe, which is an important symbol to many Indigenous groups. Native peoples invented canoes centuries ago and used them for transportation and trade along waterways.

  • This year’s NAIG got underway with a canoe relay. Paddlers visited more than a dozen Mi’kmaw (meeg-gah-maw) communities throughout Nova Scotia. The Mi’kmaq are an Indigenous group in the area.

  • Athletes competed in more than 50 canoe and kayak events at the 2023 NAIG.
  • The NAIG logo shows a canoe, which is an important symbol to many Indigenous groups. Native peoples invented canoes centuries ago and used them for transportation and trade along waterways.

  • This year’s NAIG got underway with a canoe relay. Paddlers visited more than a dozen Mi’kmaw (meeg-gah-maw) communities throughout Nova Scotia. The Mi’kmaq are an Indigenous group in the area.

  • Athletes competed in more than 50 canoe and kayak events at the 2023 NAIG.

NAIG 2023

1. What does the author mean when she writes that “there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals”?

2. Choose one of the athletes quoted in the article. Why were the North American Indigenous Games meaningful to this athlete?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “A Powerful Symbol”?

1. What does the author mean when she writes that “there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals”?

2. Choose one of the athletes quoted in the article. Why were the North American Indigenous Games meaningful to this athlete?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “A Powerful Symbol”?

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