Chippewas of the Thames First Nation youth make NAIG history
By Sam Laskaris
HAGERSVILLE—Five teenagers from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation are among those making a bit of history.
For the first time in the 27-year history of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), females are participating in the sport of lacrosse.
Five squads have entered the girls’ under-19 division, the only female age grouping being offered. And those who managed to crack Team Ontario’s roster included five players from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in southwestern Ontario.
They are sisters Taylor and Kenzie Deleary, Hayley Grosbeck, Shawnah Albert and Kiyana Simon.
Ontario is considered a medal contender in the sport. And possibly even the gold-medal favourite now after winning its first two round-robin matches on Tuesday.
Ontario eked out an 8-7 victory over British Columbia at the Iroqouis Lacrosse Arena located in Hagersville. That match earned a spot in the record books as it signified the first female lacrosse game in NAIG history.
Ontario blanked Manitoba 20-0 in its second round-robin outing, held Tuesday night at the Harry Howell Arena in Hamilton.
The Gaylord Powless Arena in the Six Nations community of Ohsweken is also hosting lacrosse matches at this year’s NAIG.
About 5,000 athletes and coaches from across Canada and North America are participating in this year’s NAIG. The Games are being held primarily staged in Toronto, but nearby communities are also hosting some events.
Team Ontario members are well aware of the historical significance of the girls’ lacrosse competition at NAIG this year.
“Everybody has their own words for it,” said 18-year-old Taylor Deleary. “But everybody is just so happy to be a part of this.”
The elder Deleary, who will begin her Social Service Worker program at London’s Fanshawe College in September, was forced to sit out the opening two matches due to severe migraines. But she is hoping to be in the lineup for the club’s final two round-robin matches today.
“I’m starting to get better now and I expect to play,” Taylor Deleary said in a Tuesday morning phone interview.
Ontario will square off again Saskatchewan in a 9 a.m. game and then battle the Quebec-entry called Eastern Door and the North in the afternoon. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Kenzie Deleary was also cognizant of the importance of the match versus B.C. Besides pride, the 17-year-old who will begin her Grade 12 studies at London’s Saunders Secondary School in September, said she was also experiencing another emotion.
“I was kind of scared because I didn’t want to lose,” she said.
Despite the fact Ontario edged B.C. in round-robin action, Kenzie Deleary is still concerned with what will happen if the two clubs meet again later this week.
“I’m still scared because it was a relatively close game,” she said. “It could have gone either way.”
The Deleary sisters, Albert and Simon also all play together for the London Blue Devils intermediate team. Grosbeck plays for a Six Nations team.
“I think it really helps because the London players are a really major part of the [Ontario] team,” Kenzie Deleary said. “We’re so familiar with each other and we know what each other will be doing.”
The NAIG were first held in Edmonton in 1990. This marks the ninth time the Games have been staged. But it is the first time they are in eastern Canada.
Athletes aged 13-19 are competing in a total of 14 sports at this year’s NAIG. Besides lacrosse, other sports are archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, canoeing/kayaking, golf, rifle shooting, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.
Action in this year’s Games kicked off on Monday, the morning after the opening ceremonies were held at the Aviva Centre, located on the campus of Toronto’s York University.
The Games will continue until Saturday.