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TeamNWTplacessixthatindigenousgamesSportsRecreationNorthAmericanIndigenousGames18TuesdayJuly292014ByDALICARMICHAELAsmembersofTeamNorthwestTerritoriesmaketheirwaybackfromtheWANTEDTOPURCHASE2014NorthAmericanIn-digenousGamesNAIGheldinReginaSask.lastweektheirbagswillbealittleheavierfromalltheirhardware.OverthecourseofJuly20to27youthfromtheNWTcaptured51medalsinavarietyofsportstak-ingsixthplaceoutof20regionalteamsfromCan-adaandtheU.S.Ofthosemedalstheyproudlyheldsevengold17silverand27bronze.Whiletheteamdemon-stratedgreatsportsmanshipthroughouttheweektheytrulyexcelledintheca-noeingandkayakingracestrackandeldathleticsandswimmingbasedonthemedalcount.Ihaventdonecompeti-tionslikethisbeforesaidMackenzieMcDonald14ofInuvik.McDonaldtookhometwogoldandtwosil-vermedalsinthecanoeandkayakraces.IdidfunracesbeforebutcominghereIdidntknowwhattoexpectshesaid.McDonaldwaspleasantlysurprisedwithheroutcome.ApartfromhersolosilvermedalfinishesshetookhometwogoldswithherpartnerDariusAndre14ofTsiigehtchicintheunder14canoe3000mand1000mtandemmixedraces.IntotalAndreleftwithfourgoldmedalshisothertwoforkayaking.Thepaddlerswerenttheonlyoutstandingathletes.Thetrackandeldathleticsteamwon27prizesfortheterritoryveofwhichwerecapturedbyHayRiversDan-ielMelanson16.MygoalsweretotakeatleastonegoldandseeifIcoulddobetterthanmypreviousbestsaidMelan-sonwhoendedupwithtwogoldsintheunder16malehighjumpandlongjump.Healsowontwosilvermed-alsfortheunder16triplejumpcompetitionandthefour-by-100mrelayinaddi-tiontoabronzeinthefour-by-400mrelay.Withthetrackandfieldteamitsbeenreallynicebecausesomeoftheolderathletesthathavebeentoeventssimilartothishavebeenveryhelpfulandsup-portiveoftheyoungeronessaidFortSmithsBruceChadwickacoachfortheunder14trackandfieldteam.Hesaidthespiritofthegameswasenergizingespe-ciallywhentheathletesfromdifferentsportsgatheredtocheerontheirfellowNWTrepresentatives.Hehigh-lightedtheunder19boysvolleyballteamwhodressedheadtotoeincostumesandfacepainttowatchthegirlsvolleyballgames.Over4000athletesandtheirsupportersturnedoutforNAIGthisyear.Inad-ditiontothesportstour-namentaculturalvillageshowcasedtraditionsofthevariousindigenousgroupsattending.ClosingceremoniesforNAIGwereheldonSatur-dayeveningwith2014JunowinnersATribeCalledRedperformingandpumpingupthecrowdonelasttime.ThenextNAIGtournamentwillbeheldin2017biddingforthegamesiscurrentlyun-derwayandthelocationwillbedeterminedinNovemberthisyear.PhotoscourtesyofTeamNWTHayRiversDanielMelanson16tookhometwogoldstwosilversandabronzeforavarietyoftrackandeldeventsincludinghighjumplongjumptriplejumpandrelayraces.CamyrnSoucy13fromFortSmithglidesthroughtheairsnaggingabronzemedalfortheU14femalehighjumpevent.ShealsonabbedasilverforU14femalelongjump.CulturalambassadorsleadtheNWTathletesduringtheNorthAmericanIndigenousGamesNAIGopeningceremoniesparadeonJuly20hostedatMosaicStadiuminReginaSask.InadditiontothesportstournamentsNAIGisatimetocelebrateindigenousculturesfromacrossNorthAmerica.