Mi'kmaq Athletes Win 27 Medals in Cowichan

NOTE: A list of Nova Scotia medal winners follows this release.

Team Mi'kmaw Nova Scotia won 27 medals at the North American Indigenous Games. The team won seven gold, nine silver and 11 bronze medals.

The athletes competed in several events at the Cowichan, B.C.-hosted games from Aug. 3-10, including track and field, swimming, badminton and golf. Along with success in competition, the team had the opportunity to mingle with athletes from other provinces and states.

"The North American Indigenous Games are a fantastic experience for our athletes and coaches," said Tex Marshall, team chairperson. "The experiences they have gained here will leave a lasting impression on them for the rest of their lives."

The track and field team opened the competition on Aug. 4, winning four medals, including a gold medal for Christena Dykstra from Pictou Landing in the high jump. By Aug. 7, the team had increased its medal count to 11, including a gold medal for Pieter Dykstra, also from Pictou Landing, in javelin.

The swimming team won 15 medals, including four gold. Mark Gloade won a gold medal in the 200m backstroke, and the swimming team took three gold in relay events.

"The whole team did well and won medals," said Clifton Cremo from Eskasoni. "The competition was harder than in the previous games in Denver, but we worked hard and had fun."

Mr. Cremo, who also medalled at the 2006 Games in Denver, said that the games were an opportunity to meet new people. "I have talked to a lot of people from other provinces and territories and states, and they are all respectable athletes."

Shayne Stevens from Eskasoni won a gold medal in golf. Playing in the senior group, Shayne shot a 77 to take the opening-round lead. He was tied for fifth going into the final round, but had a strong day, working his way back to the top of the leaderboard.

"At an international event like this, we did amazingly well," said swimming coach Dawna Prosper. "Team spirit was up and they worked hard, and we are proud of every one of them."

List of medal winners at the 2008 North American Indigenous Games in Cowichan B.C.:

Athletics (Juvenile):
4x100 Relay Female - Bronze Stacey Paul, Afton Lindsey Denny, Pictou Landing Karen Prosper, Afton Jennifer MacDonald, Millbrook

4x400 Relay Female - Silver Stacey Paul, Afton Lindsey Denny, Pictou Landing Karen Prosper, Afton Jennifer MacDonald, Millbrook

Athletics (Midget):

Russell Marshall, Chapel Island: 100m, Bronze
Stacey Paul, Afton: 200m, Bronze
Russell Marshall, Chapel Island: 200m, Bronze
Stacey Paul, Afton: 400m, Silver
Stacey Paul, Afton: Discus, Bronze

Athletics (Senior):
Janna Dykstra, Pictou Landing: Discus, Silver Christena Dykstra, Pictou Landing: High Jump, Gold Pieter Dykstra, Pictou Landing: Javelin, Gold Christena Dykstra, Pictou Landing: Triple Jump, Bronze

Golf (Senior):
Shayne Stevens, Eskasoni, Gold

Swimming (Juvenile):

Mark Gloade, Millbrook: Back 200m Male, Gold
Sarah Gloade, Millbrook: Back 50m, Silver
Mark Gloade, Millbrook: Breast 100, Bronze
Derek Johnson, Eskasoni: Freestyle 200m, Bronze
Mark Gloade, Millbrook: Freestyle 400m, Silver
Mark Gloade, Millbrook: IM 200m, Silver

Free 4x100 Relay Men - Gold Joseph Bernard, Eskasoni Mark Gloade, Millbrook Logan Gould, Eskasoni Derek Johnson, Eskasoni

Free 4 x 50 Relay Men - Silver Joseph Bernard, Eskasoni Mark Gloade, Millbrook Derek Johnson, Eskasoni Dimitri Prosper, Afton

MR 4 X 50 - Gold Joseph Bernard, Eskasoni Mark Gloade, Millbrook Derek Johnson, Eskasoni Dimitri Prosper, Afton

Swimming (Midget):

Joseph Bernard, Eskasoni: Backstroke 200, Bronze
Matthew Patles, Eskasoni: Breaststroke 200, Bronze
Clifton Cremo, Eskasoni: Breaststroke 50, Bronze

Free 4 x 100 Relay Men - Silver Clifton Cremo, Eskasoni Kwiniq Denny, Eskasoni Matthew Patles, Eskasoni Dimitri Prosper, Afton

Free 4 x 50 Relay Men - Silver Clifton Cremo, Eskasoni Kwiniq Denny, Eskasoni Logan Gould, Eskasoni Matthew Patles, Eskasoni

MR 4 X 50
Men - Gold Clifton Cremo, Eskasoni Kwiniq Denny, Eskasoni Logan Gould, Eskasoni Matthew Patles, Eskasoni