Team EDN Shows Best Team Spirit

by Greg Horn

TeamKahnawake.com

August 10, 2008 - 5pm PDT.

COWICHAN, B.C. - Throughout the 2008 North American Indigenous Games the athletes of Team Eastern Door and the North showed the utmost respect and sportsmanship both on and off the field. And because of the conduct of its athletes during the week-long event, Team Eastern Door and the North was awarded with the “Spirit of the Games” award at Sunday’s closing ceremonies.

As soon as it was announced that Team EDN won the award, the athletes of the team burst into thunderous cheers and applause. As Chef de Mission Dave Canadian took to the stage at the Cultural Village, one athlete yelled, “EASTERN WHAT?”

“EASTERN DOOR!!” responded the rest of the team in unison. The chant continued for several minutes before Canadian was able to speak.

Canadian was quick to call up Assistant Chef Bryan Deer and Mission Staff member Frankie Phillips to accept the award with him. The award is a beautiful oar painted with Coast Salish art and adorned with a 2008 NAIG gold medal.

Canadian said that none of this would be possible without the people on the mission staff or all the people back home who made this trip possible.

Throughout the Games, athletes from the various teams within Team Eastern Door and the North would show up to support their teammates competing in the different sports and events. No matter how their teammates were doing the athletes would be very vocal in their support, whether it be at wrestling, a soccer game, a lacrosse game, or a swimming event. If a Team Eastern Door and the North athlete or team was competing you knew about it.

Midget boys lacrosse coach Spencer Stacey said that the team was extremely polite and well behaved throughout the week. He said they always said please and thank you to everyone they encountered.

He told them that they should continue this behaviour once they get home, saying that once they start showing people respect they will get the respect that they deserve.

This was a banner year for our athletes, finishing sixth in the medal count with over 70 medals, 33 of those gold, as well as recapturing the Todd Diabo Memorial Trophy as the top wrestling team and also winning the award for having the best team spirit.

The athletes who will be competing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2011 will have some big shoes to fill. Congrats Team Kahnwake, Team Akwesasne and all the athletes who make up Team Eastern Door and the North.

Coverage of the 2008 NAIG on www.teamkahnawake.com is brought to you by Goodleaf’s Auto and Recycling.

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