Mi'kmaq and Maliseet team from N.B. capturing medals at Indigenous Games

About 85 athletes from New Brunswick are competing in the 2017 North American Indigenous games, and many are excelling.

Madison Wilson, for instance, won gold Wednesday in the running long jump and was getting ready to run later in the day in the final ofthe 80 metres.

'I think it's really showing the oldMi'kmaq-Maliseetspirit.'- Jason Peters, chef de mission

The 13-year-old from St. Mary's First Nation is one of the youngest athletes competing at the games in Toronto.

By the end of the afternoon Wednesday, the team from New Brunswick had won eight medals in one day.

Team members from New Brunswick are competing in a variety of sports, including track, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, archeryand badminton, as well astaking part in cultural events.

The North American Indigenous Games were first held in Alberta in 1970. Youth from Canada and the United States compete in 14 sports and join in vibrant cultural programs.

Badminton successes

"We are doing extremely well, we are very proud of our athletes," said Jason Peters, chef de mission, who singled out success on the badminton court.

"We have female doubles who have won both of their matches against Ontario and N.W.T.," he said. "Our male doubles have done the same."

Peterssaid the team isstruggling a bit in basketball but wrestlersare all in place for medals.

"I think it's really showing the old Mi'kmaq-Maliseet spirit from [New Brunswick]," he said in an interview.

Evolutionof the games

Peters, who is alsoCEO of Aboriginal Sport and RecreationNew Brunswick,said the Indigenous sport scene has changed a lot.

"It's well-known now that the Indigenous population in Canada is the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, but the other thing is, the Truth and Reconciliationreport that really identified gaps in the system."

Peters said sports and truth and reconciliation go well together.

"Coming from the sport and recreation world, that seems to be a win-win situation for government," he said. "We've always had a positive working relationship with Sports Canada and the Province of New Brunswick with regards to sports."

The cultural portion is also a huge part of the games, with many athletes choosing to dress in traditional regalia.

"I hope they take pride in being Mi'kmaq and Maliseet," he said. "We're a force to be reckoned with."