TEAM SASKATCHEWAN SHINES IN COLORADO

Released on July 12, 2006

The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) wrapped up in Denver, Colorado on Sunday and Team Saskatchewan returned home with 183 medals and memories to last a lifetime.

"I want to congratulate this group of dedicated First Nations and Métis athletes who represented our province so well in Colorado," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "They are excellent ambassadors for our province and wonderful role models for their peers, families and communities."

Team Saskatchewan consisted of more than 500 athletes, coaches, mission staff and chaperones from around the province. They joined 30 other delegations, made up of nearly 8,000 other athletes, coaches and supporters, from the United States and Canada.

Saskatchewan has dominated NAIG since the event began in 1990, taking first place in all but the last competition in Winnipeg in 2002; the team placed second there only to Manitoba. Team Saskatchewan's medal count for the Colorado games includes 68 gold, 70 silver and 45 bronze medals from victories in sports like archery, Tae Kwon Do and track and field events.

NAIG is a large-scale multi-sport and cultural celebration offering competition in 16 sports for North American Indigenous youth between ages 13-19 and adults ages 20 and older. The competition fosters individual physical, emotional, mental and spiritual potential while promoting teamwork and friendly competition.

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For More Information, Contact:

Shelley Fayant First Nations and Métis Relations Regina Phone: (306) 798-4071