Alberta Indigenous Games kick off in Edmonton

The competition is heating up atthe Alberta Indigenous Gamesthis week.

Every second year, Indigenous youth from across the province descend on the Edmonton area to try new sports and sharpen their skills at others.

"It's created by Indigenous, for Indigenous peoples," AIGpresident Martha Campiou said Monday.

Participantshave 12sports to choose from, includinggolf, volleyball and basketball.

Aside from sports, the coachesalsoteach cultural pride. Somehave the youths smudge or pray before every game.

"We also felt it was important that we include the cultural part of who we are as Aboriginal people and that it'll help them get to know their identity better," Campiou said.

"Sports is more than sports ... it's about the mind, the body and the spirit."

A dream realized

The Alberta Indigenous Games were started eight years ago by Allan Ross, a Cree man from Timber Bay, Sask.

Ross arrived in Edmonton and decidedthere was a need in the city for more Indigenous inclusion in sports.

That's when Ross created the Edmonton Native Basketball Association, a group that organizes and develops basketball tournaments for Indigenous teams across the province.

Today, the organization continues to support the Alberta Indigenous Games with volunteers and minor donations.

The first games in 2009had 400 athletes sign up, but Ross always wanted to see more than 1,000 people register.

Ross passed away after a lengthy battle with cancerafter the last games were held in 2015.

His goal was reached this weekend, when over 1,100 youths showed up for the first day.

Marnie Ross said her father would be proud to see all of these young people playing on their traditional lands.

"For my dad, it wasn't just about having a thousand athletes," Ross said. "My dad's vision is for there to be an Alberta Indigenous Games forever."

The games continue in Rundle Park until Friday, August 18.

anna.desmarais@cbc.ca

@anna_desmarais