The Team Manitoba archer prepares for the North American Indigenous Games

Among the more than 500 Indigenous athletes traveling from Manitoba to Nova Scotia for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) are four 3D archers, including 15-year-old Métis competitor Ethan Hall.

Hailing from Oak Lake, Man., 155 miles west of Winnipeg, Hall said he is excited to represent Manitoba at the Games, scheduled for July 15-23.

“I’m confident going into it, a little nervous. I’m excited to go,” said Hall.

“I show that there are people here who can shoot.”

More than 5,000 Indigenous athletes ages 13 to 19 will compete at NAIG. The games will be held at 21 locations in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Dartmouth and Millbrook and Sipekne’katik First Nations.

Team Manitoba has 30 teams competing in 16 different sports. The 3D archery event is one of three announced as traditional Indigenous sports, and those sports will have a special opening ceremony, according to NAIG’s website.

In the 3D archery competition, which has female and male 16U and 19U categories, teams head into the bush at their venue to shoot fake 3D animal targets.

Hall started archery about five years ago, through school. He has since learned more from other prominent athletes near his home in southwestern Manitoba. But his favorite part, he said, is being able to be outside.

Hall said archery is only canceled when there’s thunder and lightning, so he and his teammates have to work with anything that might involve the weather.

“I have my own 3D targets and I’m going to put them outside and I’m going to shoot them for hours,” Hall said.

“I just shoot until I feel like I’m right for the day and the next day I repeat the process.”

To focus, Hall said he focuses on his target and pays no attention to his surroundings.

“I’m nervous about going out and shooting the first arrow,” Hall said.

“Once the first dart is made, I feel more confident. But that first dart is always the worst.”

Archery a growing sport

Matthew Trudeau, a physical education teacher from Winnipeg and the head coach of the Team Manitoba archery team, said archery is a growing sport in Manitoba, especially in schools.

“A big part of it for me is mental preparation for it,” Hall said.

Each participant gets 20 arrows and however long they need to shoot at three targets per round with two rounds per day, he said.

Trudeau said NAIG will be an opportunity for the four archers to show off their talents and when the team is not competing, they will cheer on other Manitoba athletes.