--- title: What is NAIG? The North American Indigenous Games description: The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is the largest multi-sport and cultural event for Indigenous Peoples in North America. It brings together Indigenous athletes from across Canada and the United States to compete, celebrate culture, and build lifelong friendships. Team Ontario is overseen by Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO). --- [Skip to content](https://help.iswo.ca/what-is-naig-the-north-american-indigenous-games#main-content) English - Canada Show submenu for translations iswo.ca Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - Canada Show submenu for translations - Contact us Contact us How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [ISWO Knowledgebase](https://help.iswo.ca/?hsLang=en-ca) 2. [Sports](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca) 3. [North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca#north-american-indigenous-games-naig) October 23, 2026 # What is NAIG? The North American Indigenous Games The **North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)** is the largest multi-sport and cultural event for Indigenous Peoples in North America. It brings together Indigenous athletes from across Canada and the United States to compete, celebrate culture, and build lifelong friendships. Team Ontario is overseen by Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO). ### NAIG 2028: Winnipeg, Manitoba - **Dates:** July 9 to 23, 2028 - **Location:** Winnipeg, Manitoba - **Host Nations:** Southern Chiefs' Organization and Norway House Cree Nation **Sports at NAIG 2028** - 3-D Archery - Arctic Sports - Athletics - Badminton - Baseball - Basketball - Box Lacrosse - Canoe/Kayak - Golf - Rifle Shooting - Soccer - Softball - Swimming - Volleyball - Wrestling Sport-specific eligibility, age categories and technical rules will be outlined in the **2028 NAIG Sport Technical Package** when it becomes available. ### The History of the Games The dream of Games for Indigenous Peoples began in the 1970s. **1971:** The Native Summer Games in Enoch, Alberta drew 3,000 participants competing in 13 sports, along with many cultural events. **1973:** The Western Canada Native Winter Games were held on the Blood Reserve in Kainai, Alberta. **1975:** At a meeting of the National Indian Athletic Association in Reno, Nevada, it was decided to organize Games for Indigenous Peoples. Willie Littlechild, a Cree of the Ermineskin Tribe at Hobbema, Alberta, presented the idea, building on the success of the earlier Games. John Fletcher, a Peigan from Edmonton, Alberta, is credited for his support in that decision. **1977:** At the Annual Assembly of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples in Sweden, Willie Littlechild presented a motion to host International Indigenous Games. It passed unanimously. A Brazilian elder, moved by the moment, presented Littlechild with a war arrow that represents peace in his tribe. He advised that it be pointed to the ground so it would direct anything evil toward the underground. That arrow is now part of the Games' sacred ceremonial run. **1990:** The dream became a reality with the first North American Indigenous Games in **Edmonton, Alberta**. ### The Vision The vision of NAIG is: > *"To improve the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples by supporting self-determined sports and cultural activities which encourage equal access to participation in the social / cultural / spiritual fabric of the community in which they reside and which respects Indigenous distinctiveness."* Charles Wood, Chairperson of the 1990 Games, described where it all started: > *"The vision of the NAIG, from the very beginning, along with my brothers, Willie Littlechild of Ermineskin First Nation at Hobbema, and Big John Fletcher of Peigan in Southern Alberta, was one of our interest and concern about what was happening among the young people in all of our communities... We took it upon ourselves to try and find something constructive for the young people to look forward to. And, what it was eventually, was that we would put together a plan for a Games through which the young Aboriginal people could come together to excel in their athletic field of endeavour and to come together to do other things: to make new friendships, to renew old ones, and so on..."* ### The NAIG Council The NAIG Council was formed in 1992 and 1993 with help from the hosts of the Edmonton, Alberta and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Games, along with other key individuals. In keeping with their cultural traditions, the founders of the Games from Alberta handed governance and management of NAIG over to the newly formed Council. Today, the NAIG Council is an incorporated non-profit organization registered in Marysville, Washington, USA, and is registering its non-profit status in Canada. It is governed by a board of directors and supported by member regions across Canada and the United States. ### Be Part of Team Ontario Team Ontario will send about **435 athletes, 80 coaches and 20 mission staff** to Winnipeg in 2028, and we're recruiting volunteer Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Managers now. - Learn about the roles: *Head Coach, Assistant Coach & Manager: What's the Difference?* - Apply: \[Link to application\] - Questions? Email [Team.Ontario@iswo.ca](mailto:Team.Ontario@iswo.ca) *Historical information and the NAIG vision courtesy of the* [*NAIG Council*](http://naigcouncil.com/)*.* - [FAQs](https://help.iswo.ca/faqs?hsLang=en-ca#main-content) - [Athletes](https://help.iswo.ca/faqs?hsLang=en-ca#athletes) - [General](https://help.iswo.ca/general?hsLang=en-ca) - [Sports](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca#main-content) - [National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC)](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca#national-aboriginal-hockey-championships-nahc) - [Coach Development](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca#coach-development) - [North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)](https://help.iswo.ca/sports?hsLang=en-ca#north-american-indigenous-games-naig) - [Standing Bear](https://help.iswo.ca/standing-bear?hsLang=en-ca) - [Well Nation](https://help.iswo.ca/well-nation?hsLang=en-ca) - [Bridge](https://help.iswo.ca/bridge?hsLang=en-ca) - [Women & Girls](https://help.iswo.ca/women-girls?hsLang=en-ca) - [Funding](https://help.iswo.ca/funding?hsLang=en-ca) # iswo.ca [mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com) Copyright © 2026, iswo.ca