If you were around McMaster University from July 16-21 you would have noticed the hive of activity as campus served as a hub for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). Host society members, mission staff, officials, and more than 2,180 athletes were housed in the Athlete’s Village for the duration of the Games. A Cultural Village was set up on JHE field and the Ron Joyce Stadium soccer fields were used for competitions.
In a LinkedIn article by Michael Cvitkovic, General Manager for the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, he praises McMaster for being the most impactful external partner of the Games.
“These Games would not have been the success it was, without the leadership shown by McMaster University,” said Cvitkovic. “They were a model for sport event hosting and showed that with a campus-wide approach, the benefit can go both ways.”
The Games, jointly hosted in Toronto and Hamilton and surrounding communities, provided Indigenous youth, aged 13-19, the opportunity to showcase their athletic achievements and cultural heritage. The Games are the largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous peoples in North America.
