Correction: No Team Montana for 2008 NAIG

On March 2, Crownews.net reported on the 2008 North American Indigenous Games set to take place this
summer on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and encouraged Crow athletes to participate.  However,  it has come to our attention that event organizers have set a December 31, 2007 deadline for team entries and the
deadline passed without successful entry of a Team Montana.

NAIG organizers believe standing firm on pre-established deadlines is important in order to help portray the event as well-organized.  According to various sources associated with the host tribe in Canada, diligent efforts were made by the NAIG planning council to notify all tribes in Montana to elicit interest.

      (Left to Right: Tuff Harris, John Bird In Ground, Team Leader Joey Jayne, Casey Bird In Ground, Jay Harris at the 2006 NAIG in Denver)

The last NAIG was held in 2006 in Denver, Colorado and Team Montana was represented by 14 athletes, including Tuff Harris, who won the gold in the 100 meter dash, long jump, and high jump.  Click here for a 2006 Billings Gazette article on Team Montana's performance.

Some states that were very well represented in 2006, including Team New Mexico which had nearly 400 athletes, are not going to participate in the 2008 Games.  Typically the Canadian provinces field more athletes than their American counterparts in the NAIG and the same is expected this year. Further, the absence of states with relatively high American Indian populations, such as New Mexico and Montana, seems to significantly detract from the validity of the Games as being the premier Native American/First Nations sporting event.

For more information on the 2008 NAIG, please visit the official website of the Games' host tribe, the Cowichan people of British Columbia.  Click here for the official Indigenous Games rules and standards.

The next North American Indigenous Games will be held in Wisconsin in 2011.