3,000 volunteers are committed to making North American Indigenous Games a reality
As the 2023 North American Indigenous Games kick off in Halifax and surrounding areas, thousands of volunteers are working behind the scenes to make it happen.
At a volunteer lot in Dartmouth, NS, stacks of color-coded T-shirts fill the room; yellow for general volunteer, blue for chief volunteer and red for medical.
“It’s a well-oiled machine,” says Kathy Banfield, who helps register every volunteer who comes in. She estimates it was nearly 200 before her shift ended at noon.
The space at Dartmouth is one of three spaces that has been converted into a drop-in site where volunteers can pick up their kits and complete their shift schedule ahead of the Games.
“The energy is getting very high, the Games are so close,” said Banfield. “Everyone is getting more and more excited.”
Volunteers must work a minimum of three shifts, from security and registration to accommodation and transportation.
According to the NAIG organizers, 3,000 volunteers are needed to bring the Games to a successful conclusion, and they will put in a total of 100,000 hours.
Banfield said she has seen volunteers of all ages come by to pick up their kits. After doing so, they can sign one of three canvases painted with Mi’kmaw hieroglyphics, which will be given to each of the three locations that have been opened as volunteer sites.
Some volunteers come from outside the province to help, but many are from Nova Scotia.
In Millbrook First Nation, where the 3D archery competition will take place, the Confederacy of the mainland Mi’kmaq is giving its 140 employees a week off to volunteer and participate in the Games.
“I’ve seen how the Games are going, and if the volunteers aren’t there, it’s not going to happen,” said Angie Gillis, the executive director. “So here we are giving back to our community by saying, ‘Volunteer, be a part of it.'”
Gillis, who competed in the Games as an athlete and coach, said she didn’t want to stand in the way of her staff getting the chance to experience a unique opportunity.
“Youth in sports is life-changing…and you get to interact with young people from all over North America,” Gillis said. “That’s big.”
Gillis said she is looking forward to seeing her friends and family compete in the Games, as well as checking out the cultural showcases taking place at the Halifax Common.
Volunteers and NAIG staff have been transforming the space into the Cultural Village over the past few days. It will host cultural demonstrations, indigenous vendors from across the continent and musical performances on the main stage every night.
It is also free to the public, as are all sporting events.
“Anyone can come and see it. People can ask questions. It’s just a great learning opportunity,” said Lauren Mills, the cultural village’s lead media volunteer.
Mills said the village alone has about 50 volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly.
In addition, there are 18 different sports venues, plus sports facilities in various hotels and university campuses, each with its own team of designated volunteers.
“We love our volunteers. You can’t do events like this without volunteers,” Mills said.
This year’s Games will bring together more than 5,000 athletes from more than 750 countries in North America, or Turtle Island, to compete in 16 sports.
The cultural village will open on Saturday, a sold-out opening ceremony is scheduled for Sunday evening and the first sports competitions will start on Monday.
