NAIG 2020 chefs de mission get a preview of Halifax's setup for the games

Around 50 people representing Indigenous athletes and communities across Canada andthe United Statesare in Halifaxthis week getting familiar with the city's venues for the 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in July.

The visit, which includesvenue tours and meetings withNAIGorganizers and local partners, is serving as a chance for the groupto gather firsthand information about the location of facilities, accommodations,and local attractions.

The games, first held in 1990 in Edmonton, aim to improve the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples by supporting self-determined sports and cultural activities for Indigenous youth across North America. Sports include soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, archery, lacrosse, swimming andcanoeing/kayaking.

This year'sgamesJuly 12to 18are expected todraw upwards of 6,000 people to Halifax, from up to756 different Indigenous nations.

"So far it's been mind blowing. It's beautiful up here," said Matt Roberson, a tribal council member ofWichita and Affiliated Tribes, based in Oklahoma.

Robersonis one of the Native American representatives co-ordinatingathletes' participation from the United States.

On Tuesday, Roberson toured facilities at Dalhousie University, wheredoctors andsports therapists will be set up to treat athletes. The university will also be home to a new addition for NAIG, a"Coaches House"aimed at mentorship and networking for coaching staff.

Robersonsaid he thinks the games will be a success, given the planning already underway and thehospitality of the Mi'kmaq and Nova Scotian hosts.

"When I went through customs, [the customs officers] were aware of the North American Indigenous Games andaskedquestions about it, [and] just the excitement around town ...it's going to be great," he said.

Roberson is representing up to 200 Native American youth athletes, and said that aside from all of the games-related information, he was hoping to bring back details on local attractions and activities for those who'll be visiting Canada for the first time.

'Just really excited'

Levi Denny, the Team Mi'kmawNova Scotia chef de mission, who's from Eskasoni First Nation, said the collectiveMi'kmaw community is anticipating the opportunity to showcase their athletes and territory. He said the 2020 Mi'kmawNova Scotia team is the largest it's ever been, numberingaround 350 athletes from across the province.

"We're just really excited about that. The rolesport plays [in Mi'kmaw communities] is just invaluable," Denny said.

"It gives kids a sense ofbelonging,it gives them a sense of friendship. Sports in my culture is just second to none ... everybody's waiting to see how we fare against some of the some of the bigger [teams]," he said.

The scouting trip is important because some of the logisticscan be stressful for parents of athletes, said Susan House, assistant chef de mission for Team Wisconsin, who is from the Oneida Nation near Green Bay.

"Some of them are frustrated because they don't have enough information about accommodations, the facilities, how we'll all be getting from location to location," she said.

House said in some cases, this will be the first time young athletes will be travelling across state and international borders or travelling without their parents.

"If they're on the powwow circuit they're with their parents,but now [athletes] aren't even going to be with their auntyor someone like that," she said.

"Those types of concernsweresomething we didn't expect, so we're trying to address that."

Transportation tricky

Brendon Smithson, executive director of games delivery for NAIG 2020, said the biggest challenge to overcomeis transportation.

"It's a big, massive challenge for us andour focus is really on the athletes and making sure that they know that they can get around safely."

Smithson said there could be up to 50 buses a day travelling from hotels to areas and other sites around Halifax and Millbrook First Nation, and it's been a challenge just to track down that many buses.

Smithson said the NAIG2020teamhas around 20 members right now, but will grow to around 40 people in the coming months. The officialcall for more than 3,000 volunteers will go out later this week.

Smithson saidvolunteers can be very specific about where and when they'd like to help, and may go through some training depending on which area they choose.