The Vision Quest


The dream of a large scale Indigenous Games originated in Reno, Nevada when the National Indian Athletic Association (NIAA) held a meeting of 48 representatives. Canada's representative was Mr. John Fletcher of Edmonton, Alberta. Here, the dream was born.

In our cultures, to vision quest is strong and good medicine. To have a vision for the people is powerful and to fulfill a vision for the people is sacred. Our ancestors were given visions by the Creator, which lead the peoples to govern themselves. The North American Indigenous Games was a vision.

A few years later, Alberta's Willie Littlechild (Cree Nation) introduced the concept of a World Indigenous Games at the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives of the world's indigenous peoples were thrilled with the concept. One Brazilian Indian Chief was so moved by the idea that he presented a Sacred Arrow to Willie Littlechild. This same arrow is a part of the "Baton" which was used to open the first North American Indigenous Games in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990.

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The Spirit - Strong, Brave, True

The distinctive logo of the NAIG designed by John Fletcher, Ron Gauthier and Terry Lustsy, incorporates symbols from Aboriginal philosophy. The large outer circle of the logo represents the great Turtle Island, which houses all the Creator's creations, including animals and plants. The runner in the center of this circle represents the Native athlete. This runner has a feather in his/her hair, a very powerful symbol of the Aboriginal culture representing friendship, power, spirituality, speed, purity, courage and strength.

The sash around the runner's waist represents the Aboriginal Metis peoples. The four feathers on the four arrow shafts represent the holistic development of the athlete, which is essential for balance and harmony. The four arrows illustrate the need to cultivate the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects for the athlete's well being and complete development.

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The Sacred Baton

In order to begin the Games in a culturally correct, respectful and powerful way, a Sacred Bundle was designed through consultation with Tribal elders. The Sacred Bundle also carries two blessings/messages - one from Canadian Elder, Rufus Goodstriker and one from an American Arapaho Elder.

A Sacred Run was started from the Medicine Wheel area in the Wyoming Bighorn Mountains and this marathon culminated at the Opening Ceremonies in the Edmonton Butterdome. This Sacred Run represents the strong link amongst all Aboriginal people and included the participation of the Blood, Cree, Peigan, Blackfoot, Sioux, Sarcee, Hobbema, Metis, Ojibway, Mohawk and many other Nations. Notable runners included Billy Mills (Sioux Nation), 10,000 metre gold medallist in the 1964 Olympics, Alwyn Morris (Mohawk Nation), kayak gold medallist in the 1984 Olympics and J. Wilton Littlechild (Cree Nation).

The Sacred Run has become an integral part of the NAIG and in 1993 a Sacred Baton was run from Edmonton, site of the first Games, to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, site of the second NAIG. A symbolic run was also included in the 1995 Games at Blaine, Minnesota.

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NAIG Council

A Council consisting of 26 mandated representatives, 13 from Canada and 13 from the U.S.A. govern the NAIG Games. The NAIG Council is responsible for the philosophy, objectives and rules of the Games. The Council develops policies and procedures to guide the preparation and staging of the Games, and ensures that the Games play an important role in Aboriginal sport development. The Council is also responsible for determining the site of future North American Indigenous Games through a bid process.

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Mission

To improve the quality of life for Indigenous peoples by supporting self-determined sports and cultural activities which encourage equal access to participation in the social/cultural fabric of the community they reside in and which respects Indigenous distinctiveness.

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Short History of NAIG

1990 NAIG - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
These Games consisted of archery, baseball, canoeing, rifle shooting, soccer, swimming, track and field and a rodeo. The Games in Edmonton attracted 3,000 athletes.

1990 NAIG Final Medal Standings
 
G
S
B
Total
Saskatchewan
80
69
54
203
Alberta
52
48
39
139
Manitoba
14
26
18
58
British Columbia
14
16
20
50
Quebec
20
9
2
31
Yukon
7
7
7
21
Montana
5
1
1
7
Ontario
3
1
1
5
N.W.T.
2
0
2
4
California
0
2
0
2
Washington
0
1
1
2
North Dakota
1
0
0
1
North Carolina
1
0
0
1
Arizona
0
1
0
1

1993 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
 The Games in Prince Albert attracted 4,400 athletes.

1993 NAIG Final Medal Standings
 
G
S
B
Total
Saskatchewan
123
99
61
283
Alberta
76
82
76
234
British Columbia
21
17
15
53
Manitoba
16
19
18
53
Yukon
18
9
18
45
Kahnawake
22
7
4
33
Minnesota
8
6
3
17
Ontario
4
4
5
13
N.W.T.
4
2
1
7
New York
5
1
0
6
New Mexico
4
0
0
4
South Dakota
1
1
1
3
Washington
1
1
0
2
Arizona
1
0
0
1
Michigan
1
0
0
1
North Dakota
1
0
0
1
Maritimes
0
0
0
0
Montana
0
0
0
0

1995 NAIG - Blaine, Minnesota, USA
The 1995 Games in Blaine coordinated 8,000 athletes in 17 sports: archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, golf, lacrosse, rifle shooting, soccer, softball, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.

1995 NAIG Final Medal Standings
 
G
S
B
Total
Saskatchewan
48
31
21
100
Alberta
29
26
25
80
Ontario
14
11
5
30
Minnesota
11
10
9
30
Manitoba
15
5
3
23
North Dakota
10
4
2
16
New York
6
7
2
15
Arizona
5
4
6
15
British Columbia
5
4
4
13
Oklahoma
8
2
1
11
Yukon
1
6
4
11
Wisconsin
6
2
2
10
Quebec
2
3
5
10
N.W.T.
2
0
7
9
South Dakota
2
3
2
7
Maine
2
1
2
5
Oregon
2
0
0
2
Colorado
1
1
0
2
Georgia
1
1
0
2
Connecticut
0
1
1
2
Utah
0
0
2
2
North Carolina
1
0
0
1
Florida
1
0
0
1
Mississippi
0
0
1
1
New Brunswick
1
0
0
1
Washington
0
0
0
0
Iowa
0
0
0
0
New Mexico
0
0
0
0

1997 NAIG - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
 The 1997 NAIG Games featured 4,000 athletes and 3000 cultural performers. The Games included sports such as; archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, golf, box lacrosse, rifle shooting, soccer, softball/fastball, swimming, tae kwon do, volleyball and wrestling.

1997 NAIG Final Medal Standings
 
G
S
B
Total
Saskatchewan
101
105
92
298
British Columbia
119
68
56
243
Alberta
73
85
73
231
Ontario
67
33
50
150
Manitoba
33
57
43
133
Kahnawake
47
30
34
111
Yukon
25
34
21
80
Connecticut
25
9
10
44
Colorado
12
12
7
33
N.W.T.
11
6
8
25
Maine
5
6
10
21
Minnesota
8
9
2
19
Oregon
7
9
2
18
Wisconsin
5
4
5
14
Oklahoma
4
4
1
9
Iowa
3
4
1
8
New York
3
3
1
7
Florida
1
2
2
5
Washington
0
3
1
4
California
2
0
0
2
Montana
1
1
0
2
New Brunswick
1
1
0
2
South Dakota
0
1
0
1

2002 NAIG – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada hosted the 2002 North American Indigenous Games, July 25th - August 4th, 2002. With approximately 8,000 - 10,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit athletes, coaches and officials, 3,000 cultural performers and 5,000 volunteers, this was the largest Aboriginal multi-sport and cultural gathering in Canadian history. With the location of Winnipeg in the heart of Turtle Island (North America) and the majority of the athletes in their youth, the Games was well attended by family, friends and by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

A Host Society of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, including Judge Murray Sinclair and the Honourable Yvon Dumont as Co-chairs, coordinated the Games. Most of the Board Members had previous Games experience; many include working with the very successful 1999 Pan Am Games and are had worked side-by-side with Aboriginal volunteers to organize the 2002 North American Indigenous Games.

2002 NAIG Final Medal Standings
 
G
S
B
 Total
Manitoba 165 122 103 390
Saskatchewan 112 139 102 353
Alberta 59 53 102 163
Ontario 60 44 34 138
British Columbia 31 21 19 71
North West Territories 19 24 23 66
Washington 36 17 12 65
Eastern Door 28 18 18 61
New Mexico 26 24 11 61
North Dakota 26 22 4 52
Yukon 9 16 21 46
New York 7 12 8 27
Michigan 7 5 5 17
South Dakota 4 3 4 12
Wisconsin 6 2 4 12
Colorado 3 4 4 11
Nova Scotia 4 1 3 8
Iowa 4 2 0 6
Connecticut 0 0 5 5
Florida 1 0 4 5
Minnesota 2 0 3 5
Nunavut 3 0 1 4
Mississippi 2 0 0 2
New Brunswick 1 1 0 2
Maine 0 1 0 1
Oregon 0 0 0 0
Prince Edward Island 0 0 0 0

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