To commemorate the longstanding history that comes with 40 years worth of BC Games, the Cowichan Valley will forever be remembered as the first to host all-Indigenous teams at the provincial championships.

For the 2018 BC Summer Games, the society partnered with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council to create dedicated teams in traditionally First Nation sports such as box lacrosse and basketball. In canoeing and kayaking, additional spots were provided for Indigenous athletes and coaches too.

害羞草研究所淚 think people get inspired when they see something like this,害羞草研究所� said 16-year-old Clinton Kaboni of Merritt.

害羞草研究所淚 think of it like we害羞草研究所檙e the Jamaican bobsledding team, you know, it害羞草研究所檚 never been done before but we害羞草研究所檙e here. We害羞草研究所檙e just here to have fun. I think everyone is excited to play us 害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檓 excited to play everybody else.害羞草研究所�

Clad in purple, Kaboni was one of about 15 players representing the Zone 6 Vancouver Island - Central Coastal and Team Indigenous on the box lacrosse floor.

Over in basketball, the Zone 7 North-West team was made up of athletes and coaches mostly from Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert, and quickly became the underdogs of the tournament.

This team, like others from the region, took two-and-a-half days to arrive, starting with a six-hour ferry ride to Prince Rupert, followed by a two-hour drive to Terrace. There, they hopped on a plane to Nanaimo and shuttled to the valley.

The team also faces some disadvantages on the court as well: a majority off the team was made up of 11 and 12 year olds, competing against mostly 13 and 14 year old players, and their tallest player stood at 5 foot 11.

Although neither team medaled, this year害羞草研究所檚 Games were about more than inclusivity for the young boys and girls, and instead an opportunity to grow their identity, stand tall with pride and play with heart, said lacrosse coach Buzz Manuel.

害羞草研究所淭he bigger goal is to have our athletes walk away with a big sense of pride and a strong understanding of who they are and where they come from,害羞草研究所� he said.

Indigenous posters welcome guests in Hulquminum

Organizers of the games also infused ancient traditions of the Cowichan Tribes, led by Chief William Seymour, at the opening and closing ceremonies, including through a blessing, blanketing ceremony and performances.

Outside the lacrosse box and other venues in the Cowichan Valley, welcome signage written in English and French were joined by messages written in the Hulquminum language 害羞草研究所� the most prominent spoken word of the eight First Nations in the region.

Translated by Dr. Luschiim (Arvid Charlie), the signs include a bit of the long sports history Indigenous athletes share.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e putting us on their level, like we害羞草研究所檙e equal,害羞草研究所� Kaboni said. 害羞草研究所淲e have the right to speak our language害羞草研究所� they害羞草研究所檙e accepting we have our own language and we speak it and I like that a lot.害羞草研究所�

- With files from Arnold Lim

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