On behalf of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, Grand Chief Jerry Daniels is pleased to offer the following congratulatory message to 99 youth from SCO Nations on being chosen to compete at this summer’s North American Indigenous Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia:
As Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, supporting and empowering youth and celebrating your achievements is a top priority. What you have achieved so far embodies everything that is possible and positive with dedication, healthy living, and hard work.
You have shown you have the competitive fire in your heart and the determination to achieve your goals. You chased your dreams and caught them. You are a true inspiration.
With this accomplishment comes great responsibility. I encourage you to go to Halifax and represent your Nation with dignity, humility, and pride. You are a role model for thousands of First Nations children and youth across Turtle Island. I encourage you to embrace this challenge and responsibility to the fullest.
Above all else, I sincerely hope you savour and enjoy every minute of this significant opportunity. I wish you much success and happiness.
Once again, please accept my sincere congratulations on being chosen to compete at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. I look forward to seeing you there!
The names of the 99 SCO youth selected to compete at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games are as follows:
- Adlore Richard, Pine Creek First Nation, 14U Male Basketball
- Aiden Walker, Lake St. Martin First Nation, 16U Male Basketball
- Albert Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Aliyah Amin, Poplar River First Nation, 14U Female Basketball
- Andrew Maruschak, Sandy Bay First Nation, 19U Male Soccer
- Angelo Daniels, Long Plain First Nation, 16U Male Basketball
- Aniya Monkman, Lake Manitoba First Nation, 19U Female Softball
- Anthony Bruyere, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Antoine Stevens, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Softball
- Bailey Gardner, Sandy Bay First Nation, 19U Female Softball
- Blaze Benediktson, Hollow Water First Nation, Athletics
- Bradley Price, Sandy Bay First Nation, Athletics
- Brock Eastman, Sandy Bay First Nation, 16U Male Volleyball
- Brooke Lacquette, Black River First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Bryce Raven, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, 19U Baseball
- Caridee Pelletier, Peguis First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Carter Courchene, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Chanelle Sumner, Pinaymootang First Nation, 3D Archery
- Chelsea Cameron, Sagkeeng First Nation, 14U Female Basketball
- Chevy Bruyere, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Claire Johnson, Sandy Bay First Nation, Swimming
- Colby Young, Long Plain First Nation, Athletics
- Connor Bruyere, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Connor Courchene, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Dakota Traverse, Lake St. Martin First Nation, Swimming
- Danny Whitford, Sandy Bay First Nation, Athletics
- Darci Omeasoo Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Della Johnson, Sandy Bay First Nation, Swimming
- Demeraye Clearsky-Meeches, Waywayseecappo First Nation + Long Plain First Nation, 16U Female Volleyball
- Devin Parris, Swan Lake First Nation, 14U Male Basketball
- Dillyn Cook, Berens River First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Drake Starr, Sandy Bay First Nation, Golf
- Elias Kent, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Eliza Mckay, Rolling River First Nation + Roseau River Anishinaabe Nation, 16U Female Basketball
- Emerald Reeves, Lake St. Martin First Nation, 16U Female Soccer
- Emma Bear, Peguis First Nation, Wrestling
- Ethan Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Frederick Spence, Peguis First Nation, Canoe/Kayak
- Grace Mckay, Rolling River First Nation, 19U Female Basketball
- Harmony Guimond, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Harrison Parboosingh, Skownan First Nation, Swimming
- Heath Everett, Berens River First Nation, 14U Male Basketball
- Hugh Stucky, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Issac Catcheway, Dauphin River First Nation, 16U Male Basketball
- Jayden Bruyere, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Jayna Maytwayashing, Lake Manitoba First Nation, 19U Female Basketball
- Jenelle Cook, Bloodvein First Nation, 19U Female Basketball
- Jessalyn Mecas, Wawayseecappo First Nation, 16U Female Volleyball
- Joseph Sumner, Lake St. Martin First Nation, Swimming
- Kaidence Tran, Peguis First Nation, Wrestling
- Kaitlyn Tanner, Wawayseecappo First Nation, 16U Female Volleyball
- Kayson Omeasoo Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Keisha Cook, Keeseekoowenin First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Kenton Davis, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 19U Male Soccer
- Kierstan Sinclair, Peguis First Nation, Wrestling
- Kobe Shorting, Little Saskatchewan First Nation, 19U Male Volleyball
- Kolbie Wilson, Peguis First Nation, 16U Male Basketball
- Kyler Omeasso Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Landen Bjarnason, Sagkeeng First Nation, 16U Male Box Lacrosse
- Lawson Spence, Peguis First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Leland Malcolm, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Lily Dorie, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Loewen Hunter, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 16U Female Basketball
- Lyle Guimond, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Macie Urban, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, 16U Female Volleyball
- Mackenzie Gardner, Sandy Bay First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Madison Cochrane, Peguis First Nation, 19U Female Softball
- Madison Hefferman, Peguis First Nation, 19U Female Volleyball
- Manny Moose, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Margret Bruneau, Peguis First Nation, Wrestling
- Mason Chartrand, Pine Creek First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Maureen Thompson, Pine Creek First Nation, Athletics
- Merrill Cochrane, Peguis First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Naomi McKay, Waywayseecappo First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Nastassija Gabriel, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Norman John Lacquette, Peguis First Nation, 16U Male Softball
- Peter Flett, Peguis First Nation, 16U Male Softball
- Puya Amin, Poplar River First Nation, 14U Female Basketball
- Raelyn Young, Long Plain First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Randie Houle, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 19U Female Volleyball
- Riley Korosil, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, 19U Female Soccer
- Riley Anderson, Pinaymootang First Nation, Swimming
- Rylan Chartrand, Pine Creek First Nation, 19U Male Basketball
- Rylee Boychuk, Peguis First Nation, 19U Female Soccer
- Sally Leask, Waywayseecappo First Nation, 16U Female Softball
- Shanice Stevenson, Peguis First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Shayelynn Guimond, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Female Box Lacrosse
- Sienna Hunter, Ebb and Flow First Nation, 14U Female Basketball
- Skyla Burns, Keeseekoowenin Band, 19U Female Soccer
- Sullivan Lavoie, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse
- Tayah-Rae Morrisseau, Lake Manitoba First Nation, 16U Female Volleyball
- Theo Courchene, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Softball
- Trayden Guiboche, Skownan First Nation, 19U Male Softball
- Trent Forster, Peguis First Nation, 16U Male Softball
- Trey Cote, Waywayseecappo First Nation, 19U Male Softball
- Tyanne Martinez-Okemow, Peguis First Nation, 16U Female Soccer
- Waasayah Munro-Soldier, Swan Lake First Nation + Fox Lake Cree Nation, 3D Archery
- Wizdom Smith, Hollow Water First Nation, 19U Male Volleyball
- Xylon Canard, Sagkeeng First Nation, 19U Male Box Lacrosse