TORONTO 2017 NAIG – Plethora of team sport champions crowned on penultimate day of Indigenous Games  
 
Toronto, ON – July 21, 2017 – With the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games coming to an end on Saturday, most team sport champions were crowned over the past two days, including a dozen on Friday.
 
Team sport gold medallists from the Toronto 2017 NAIG so far include:
 
Baseball: Wisconsin (17U men)
 
Basketball: Wisconsin (14U women), Minnesota (14U men), New York (16U women), British Columbia (16U men), Ontario (19U women), Washington (19U men).
 
Lacrosse: Ontario (16U men), Eastern Door & the North (19U women), Ontario (19U men).
 
Soccer: British Columbia (16U men), British Columbia (19U men)
 
Softball: California (16U women), Saskatchewan (16U men), Saskatchewan (19U women), Ontario (19U men).
 
Of note, Eastern Door & the North defeated Team Ontario 4-3 Friday afternoon in the gold-medal final of the first-ever women’s lacrosse NAIG tournament (19U).
 
On the cultural side, it was the final night of the popular Cultural Festivals at York University and McMaster University. Tonight’s performances featured award-winning Indigenous artists Kathia Rock, Tanya Tagaq Shibastik, Mimi O’Bonsawin and Midnight Shine.
 
The Toronto 2017 NAIG wrap up on Saturday with the end of competition in women’s soccer (16U & 19U), women’s volleyball (16U & 19U) and men’s volleyball (16U & 19U), followed by the closing ceremony on the York campus starting at 7 p.m.
 
MEDAL STANDINGS:
 
http://results.naig2017.to/leagues/medals.cfm?clientid=6400&leagueid=28299
 
QUOTES OF THE DAY:
 
“It was an extreme honour to present medals today. I had the fortune of representing Canada and standing on the podium and I know what being on the podium means to athletes. As a former athlete, it is a big honour. Support of the North American Indigenous Games is super important – it shows our commitment as a country in reframing the conversation with Indigenous people. We all know that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gave five calls to action that directly impacts sport. One is the North American Indigenous games, and I am so proud to be fulfilling that commitment.”
 
– Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities
 
“It was very exciting. I was very moved by it. I never really won anything this big. It was really cool to win it with my brothers, my teammates. My most memorable moment of the Games is winning this gold medal. We worked hard to get here. We’ve been dreaming about it and talking about it all week. Most importantly we’ve been staying focused. Winning this just feels like a big relief.”
 
– Richard Wayka, age 16, Team Wisconsin, gold medalist in baseball (17U men)
 
“I had tears of joy to be honest. The feeling is indescribable. It’s my last year of NAIG eligibility and it’s a way to go out with a bang.”
 
– Kirsten Maracle, age 19, Team Ontario, gold medalist in basketball (19U women) 
 
“It’s unexplainable, this is my first medal of the Games. I feel great! To be part of these Games is a dream come true. I want to thank my coaches, my parents, my friends and Team Sask!”
 
– Sistene Yuzicappi, Team Saskatchewan, gold medallist in athletics (800m 14U women)
 
IN ACTION ON FRIDAY, JULY 21 (DAY 5):
           

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Volleyball

COMING UP ON SATURDAY, JULY 22 (DAY 6 – FINAL DAY):
 

• Soccer (women)
• Volleyball (women & men)

IMPORTANT LINKS

Live Stream
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/naig/broadcast
 
Photo Dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/silw2m6u313vfml/AAA9OLNHJDX5BhSS92uwFTe1a?dl=0
 
Results and Scoring:
http://results.naig2017.to/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=6400&pageID=18521&link=NAIG
 
Medal Standings
http://results.naig2017.to/leagues/medals.cfm?clientid=6400&leagueid=0
 
Athlete Search
http://results.naig2017.to/leagues/athleteSearch.cfm?clientid=6400&leagueid=0
 
About Team 88
http://naig2017.to/en/team-88/about-88/
 
Cultural Festival Schedule
http://naig2017.to/en/culture/cultural-festival/

TORONTO 2017 NAIG SOCIAL MEDIA

Official website: www.naig2017.to
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