TORONTO 2017 NAIG – North American Indigenous Games concludes with soccer, volleyball finals  
 
Toronto, ON – July 22, 2017 – The Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games came to an end on Saturday with medal matches in women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s volleyball.
 
Final champions crowned at the Toronto 2017 NAIG included:
 
Women’s soccer: British Columbia (16U), British Columbia (19U)
 
Women’s volleyball: Alberta (16U), Alberta (19U)
 
Men’s volleyball: Saskatchewan (16U), Saskatchewan (19U)
 
For the second straight NAIG – and the second time in history – Team British Columbia ended up atop the overall medal standings with 176 podium finishes (65-57-54). Team BC had also pulled off the feat in Regina in 2014.
 
Team Saskatchewan, which won the overall competition six times over the first seven NAIG between 1990 and 2008, was a close second in Toronto with 164 medals (64-54-46). Host Ontario rounded out the team podium with 137 (51-42-44).
 
More than 5,000 from 22 delegations (13 Canadian provinces and territories / 9 United States regions) competed over six days in 14 sport categories at the Toronto 2017 NAIG.
 
The largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous people in North America officially concluded Saturday night with the closing ceremony on the campus of York University.  
 
Final Medal Standings:
http://results.naig2017.to/leagues/medals.cfm?clientid=6400&leagueid=28299
 
QUOTES OF THE DAY:
 
“I had a really great game. My team did unreal good. We came out flat footed in the first set, but second and third we all did well. We played hard and came out with the gold. There were so many emotions. It’s just the greatest feeling I felt in a while.”
 
– Don Campbell, Team Saskatchewan, gold medallist in men’s volleyball (19U)
 
 “Winning feels wonderful. I’m so proud of my team and how far we came together. I’m so honoured for this opportunity. The most difficult moment was when we started getting down on each other, but we came together as a team and pushed through it and the results are here.”
 
– Jade Eagletail, Team Alberta Captain, gold medallist in women’s volleyball (16U)
 
“We had a great week with up to 5,000 youth here in Toronto celebrating sports and Indigenous culture, and we hope that they will take away some conversations and dialogue around Team 88. You see it on their clothing and on their team uniforms. We hope that they’ll engage in conversations about reconciliation and the importance of sports and culture in their communities.
 
“Our staff was a small but passionate and committed group of people who were able to pull everything together in a short period of time. I think their demonstrated their commitment not only to sport but to Indigenous people. I also want to recognize the mission staffs from the 22 delegations that have travelled here and all the work that they did in their own communities, provinces, territories and states to prepare for these Games. Finally, as we all know, Games are not possible without the amazing work of volunteers and these Games are no different. On behalf of the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games Host Society, I’d like to thank all our wonderful volunteers who helped make these Games a memorable experience for all.”
 
– Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry, CEO, Toronto 2017 NAIG

TORONTO 2017 NAIG SOCIAL MEDIA

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