Team Colorado, New Mexico compete in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Proudly carrying the Southern Ute tribal flag, Team Colorado athletes and coaches make their way through downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia where spectators lined the streets in anticipation of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, Sunday, July 16.

A Team British Columbia athlete stands before the shooting line after completing his turn for shooting practice; despite adverse weather, athletes gathered each day at the Millbrook Powwow Grounds near Truro, Nova Scotia.

Bird Red and Tamarius Roland stand along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, sharing laughs and enjoying the view from the popular Peggy’s Cove lighthouse.

Team Colorado gathers for a photo during their trip to Peggy’s Cove, enjoying the views as they wrap up their visit to the 2023 North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia.

Team Colorado explores Peggy's Cove on Thursday, July 20.

Angelo Frost and Trajan Garcia enjoy warm weather and the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean during Team Colorado’s field trip to nearby Peggy’s Cove, a tourist attraction located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay.

Team Colorado athlete Angelo Frost walks down the court during the match against British Columbia.

Athlete Elijah Lee of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe dribbles the ball down the court weaving around Team British Columbia athletes in attempt to score on Tuesday, July 18.

Team Colorado athlete Cody Astor stands before the free throw line during the match against Team British Columbia on Tuesday, July 18.

Team Colorado athlete Tamarius Roland takes to the middle of the court for a jump ball at the beginning of Game 12 (Team Colorado’s second match) against one of the athletes for Team British Columbia. Despite small team size, Team Colorado fought through each game during the 2023 North American Indigenous Games held in Halifax, Nova Scotia– Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, July 23.

Colorado coaches, Bird Red and Hawkins Wall share words of encouragement as Team Colorado battles through their first match against Team Manitoba. Despite their small team size, each athlete did their best throughout the competition.

Athletes Trajan Garcia, Elijah Lee, Cody Astor, Angelo Frost, and Tamarius Roland represent Team Colorado in the Men’s 19U Basketball category.

Team Colorado athlete, Auq-uwey O'John.

Auq-uwey O’John serves the shuttle over the net during day one of the Badminton competition, O’John represented Team Colorado as the only male badminton athlete–his sister Eva O’John the only female badminton athlete for Team Colorado.

Ketiera C.S. Lopez is one of three archers representing Team Colorado during the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Lopez pulls an arrow in her compound bow during the early morning practice.

Ute Mountain Ute archer, Summer Marsh represents Team Colorado in the traditional archery category. Millbrook First Nation hosted the 3D archery competition for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games despite adverse weather on the course, Wednesday, July 19.

Archers from each team take to the shooting line during their practice on Wednesday, July 19. Taking time to warm up before they take to the course for competition.

Team New Mexico was recognized for winning the most medals for a smaller team (Under 150), 52 medals in total, including a gold medal win in women’s softball for their U19 team. New Mexico had 89 athletes, coaches, and chaperones in Halifax for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

Waving their state flag — athletes and coaches from Team New Mexico enter a fully sold-out Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia during Sunday night’s opening ceremonies for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

Southern Ute Royalty representatives — Miss Southern Ute Alternate, Rhianna Carel and Miss Southern Ute, Grace Gonzales, joined by athletes and coaches from Team Colorado, lead the procession in front of the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia ahead of Sunday night’s opening ceremonies for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

Brimming with excitement, Southern Ute tribal member, Eva O’John carries in the Colorado Flag during opening ceremonies for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Team Colorado golfer, Austin Romero, warms up on the driving range during practice, Monday, July 17. Teams played their tournament at The Links at Brunello, an 18-hole award winning golf course in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Austin Romero was the sole representative from Team Colorado at the golf tournament, where teams vied for points on the green. Joined here by SunUte’s Morgann Graham who was part of the mission staff for Team Colorado.

Team Colorado athletes, coaches, and mission staff — joined by Miss Southern Ute Alternate, Rhianna Carel and Miss Southern Ute, Grace Gonzales — make their way through downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sunday, July16, where spectators lined the streets ahead of Sunday night’s opening ceremonies for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. This marked the 10th edition of the North American Indigenous Games, where Native athletes from across Canada and the United States compete in a variety of sporting events and traditional Indigenous sports every four years.

Southern Ute tribal member, Eva O’John playing badminton for Team Colorado, where athletes faced off at the Citadel Community Center in downtown Halifax.

Siblings, Auq-uwey and Eva O’John represented Team Colorado in badminton at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, competing each day at the Citadel Community Center in downtown Halifax.

Southern Ute tribal member Auq-uwey O’John represented Team Colorado in badminton at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, competing each day at the Citadel Community Center in downtown Halifax.

Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum

Divine Windy Boy |

Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum

Divine Windy Boy |

Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum

Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum

Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

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Thu Jul 27th, 2023 , by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

North American Indigenous Games awarded to Calgary for 2027

The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) took place from July 15 – 23, in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia. Teams from Colorado and New Mexico traveled to Nova Scotia last week to compete against some of the best Indigenous athletes from across Turtle Island in their respective age categories.

“I’m proud of our team. We had a great group of athletes that gave it their all on the basketball court and on the archery courses,” said SunUte’s Virgil Morgan, who served as a Chef de Mission at the North American Indigenous Games. “With all the obstacles that Team Colorado had to endure to get to the games. It was incredible to see our athletes compete on the Mi’kmaq land.”

Team Colorado was comprised of Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute and Native athletes from across the state — competing in basketball, badminton, archery and golf.

Team New Mexico was recognized for winning the most medals for a smaller team (Under 150), 52 medals in total, including a gold medal win in women’s softball for their U19 team. New Mexico had a total of 89 athletes, coaches, and chaperones in Halifax.

The 2023 North American Indigenous Games was billed as the largest multi-sport event held in Nova Scotia since contact. More than 5,250 athletes, coaches, and officials from over 750 Nations from across Turtle Island participated in more than 16 sports, attracting thousands of visitors, VIPs, officials and media. NAIG hosted athletes competing in 16 different sports with three traditional Indigenous sports including Canoe/Kayak, Lacrosse, and 3D Archery.

“The North American Indigenous Games play an important role in the development of young Indigenous athletes, coaches and artists by providing them with valuable training, competition and artistic experiences,” said the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “Our government is proud to provide further support to the 2023 NAIG as it showcases the richness of Indigenous sport and culture to all Canadians.”

NAIG 2023 marked the 10th edition of the North American Indigenous Games, the games were previously held in Toronto, Canada in 2017.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 edition of the Games. “In light of recent events around the continued history of residential schools, we hope that the announcement of NAIG 2023 and the lead-up to the Games [served to] uplift and inspire youth and families across Turtle Island in a good way, as they looked forward to celebrating their cultures and stories in Kjipuktuk (Halifax)” said Shannon Dunfield, NAIG Council President.

“One … it was an honor to be a part of this and be able to travel with our youth,” SunUte Director Robin Duffy-Wirth said. “The biggest thing I got out of this, besides developing amazing relationships with the kids, was watching them grow. Every experience, good or bad, is an opportunity to learn and grow and they took those opportunities and pushed themselves.”

Duffy-Wirth served as mission staff alongside Virgil Morgan, Morgann Graham and the athletic coaches from Ignacio and Towaoc.

“Having the opportunity to be there and be a part of Team Colorado with Ute Mountain Ute was great. We got to eat together, to see some sights together, to play basketball and cheer each other on,” Duffy-Wirth said. “It just brings people together.”

“Cultural was my main highlight from the games,” Virgil Morgan said. “Having elders greet and present awards to the athletes was incredible. With so many people volunteering and the host society treating everyone like family — these games were something else.”

“This could not have happened without Virgil’s history with NAIG and his position right now with NAIG as ‘Chef de Mission’ … and a big thanks to Morgann Graham, Velma Armijo and to Jen Seibel – who helped with logistics, car rentals and coordinating uniforms ahead of the games,” Duffy-Wirth said.

“It was exciting to have royalty and our two Tribal Council members and the Drum — along with Ute Mountain Ute,” she said. “We consider it one big family.”

The 2023 North American Indigenous Games concluded on Saturday, July 22.

The North American Indigenous Games Council announced the winning city of Calgary for the 2027 Games. 

   Over the spring of 2023, the NAIG Council’s 2027 Bid Committee conducted a comprehensive review of the two bid packages and visited each of the communities to witness firsthand their tremendous energy and enthusiasm to host NAIG. Following each community’s final bid presentation, the winning bid was determined through a vote of NAIG Council’s Board of Directors.

  “Congratulations to the Indigenous communities of Treaty 7 and the City of Calgary on their selection to host the 2027 NAIG,” said NAIG Council President Shannon Dunfield. “We are excited about the opportunity for Indigenous Nations from across Canada and the United States to gather in the summer of 2027 in Nations of the Treaty Seven lands. We know that these Host Nations and the City of Calgary will deliver an extraordinary celebration of athletic excellence and cultural unity.”

  The selection of Calgary will represent the 11th hosting of NAIG and mark the second time the Games have been held in Alberta. The first NAIG was held in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990. 

“We’re delighted that the Calgary bid is successful,” said Alberta Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow. “Alberta has a history of presenting world-class sporting events, and we look forward to sharing the best of what the province has to offer with athletes and teams from across North America in 2027,” 

  The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is an international multi-sport, multi-disciplinary event involving Indigenous youth from Canada and the USA. The Games offer 16 sport competitions with up to three age categories in each sport for both male and female participants. The NAIG includes a vibrant cultural program showcasing local and North American Indigenous cultural groups and entertainers.

The 2023 Games were supported by the Government of Canada, the Government of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality.