2014 NAIG Journal: Opening Ceremonies as told by Ikuhkskiituwa Smithx

NAIG JOURNAL – Entry #1: Opening Ceremonies as told by Ikuhkskiituwa Smithx (Gallery Below)

Regina, SK – The winds were crisp, fluid and smooth at Mosaic Stadium. The 18,000 plus crowd exuded a pride stronger than that of the colonial transplant nations of the Americas, the Mosquitos kept at bay by the medicine of a thousand first nations.

The ceremony kicked off in anthem as the “star spangled banger” came first as thousands of our young Indigenous people waited on stand-by for these “2014 North American Indigenous Games.” Once the French/English Canadian national “O’Canada” came to a close the “Drummers” were summoned and the festivities were official “Un Der Way.”

Dancers from the various powwow categories stood at the ready as the first of the bunch broke turf with his orange hoops. Team BC entered the stadium first as the previous host of the games at Cowichan Valley. A lone seagull looked down from 100 feet up – blinked like Furbie and thought “whoa!!”

Team Alberta followed next in their blue track suits looking like a battle tested crop of new prospects. M.C.s Sarain Fox and Jeff Richards did their best with frantic running commentary.

Team California entered lacking numbers but not lacking confidence as reps of Sunshine state, Colorado and Connecticut also rolled in ready to rumble.

Team Kahnawake ripped the eastern door open looking sharp in their slick white jackets complete with Mohawk and Iroquois flags, Florida made the next cameo, another team low in bodies but high in tribal pride.

Manitoba marched in next like a pre-contact war party of hungry hunters chanting “Team Toba!!!”

New Brunswick sauntered in like a maroon lagoon, shouting NB!! The  exuberant pride never waned.

Newfoundland and Labradour strolled in with patriotic maple leafs at arms.

Nova Scotia showed up with good numbers holding a large baseball as if to prophesize a trip to the podium in that sport.

Nunavut by far has the best flag of the games, which is fronted by a traditional “inukshuk.” NWT walked in looking solid, gwich’in pride abound.

New York purple aka Haudenosaunee were next representing the Big Apple State, the MCs began to waiver a bit, not really knowing who was coming in next, while directing traffic.

MC Fox yelled Ontario as her voice began to crackle with excitement. PEI must have entered 8 times according to the frazzled hosts, but when they finally entered they were stopped in their tracks by the poorly times and placed blockade of Ontario of competitors. The dozen or so green Prince Edward Islanders eventually found their place in the spotlight.

Team Washington came in complete with west coast style paddles, followed by Wisconsin Red and Grey, the hosts reminded the crowd to “use that #NAIG hashtag.”

Yukon made it right on time led by members wearing traditional cedar hats and well matched uniforms.

Sask came last to close an impressive parade of teams. The white, yellow and Roughrider green  were well represented as the host team represented a good mix of Cree, Saulteaux, Metis and Sioux lineage. RezX editor Chris Ross somehow managed to time perfect cloud cover as his home team took their seats, must be that good medicine he carries in his left pocket.

The wind was picking on the war bonnets of the Saskatchewan Chiefs – feathers were ruffled but no one was hurt or impeached.

The dancers ran off the field as the opening entertainment prepared at the north end of the stadium.

Some stiff white lady said her migwitches and hiy hiys on the big screen. Prime Minister Harper didn’t even have guts to make a welcome video as he was repressed by his gaming clone.

Then there was rumbling – the show was about to begin. Aerial shots of various traditional territories took over the big screens which were being wielded by Archer Pechawis’ Digital Drum. The contemporary dancers dragged blue canvas and called out to the spirits watching in the next life on APTN.

Thunder rolled as little chickadees chased mother goose across the 50 yard line – it was a fine moment in the presentation. Then the Rick James Buffalo herd took the field with relative ease. Counting in Cree, looking like the CFL’s next expansion team, I must admit I was digging this performance. High fives and a canoe cruise transitioned this modern epic into it’s final act.

A beautiful song sung live in stage by Pechawis and his female lead Melissa Worme. The dancer troupe brought the performance home with the formation of a tent structure provided by the aforementioned canvases. Wind ran a muck on the canvas’ but the contemporaries carried on in round dance, the presentation concluded with the formation of a soaring super eagle fighting through a plains style hurricane. The seagulls were envious as they trolled the show on #Twitter. Then out of NOWHERE!! two fighter jets did a fly by.

Musical performances from Plex, Crystal Shawanda, Inez Jasper and George Leach wrapped up the opening ceremonies in fine fashion. The competitors filed out of the Saskatchewan Mecca and went to their respective HQ’s to prepare for the first wave of these 2014 North American Indigenous Games.

– Ikuhkskiituwa Smithx