Team Yukon’s 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) team held a rally Thursday prior to departing to Halifax for the games, the first since the 2017 games in Toronto.

There are about 130 Team Yukon athletes and coaches in Nova Scotia for the games.

The rally started at the Healing Totem on Front Street, where the Star spoke with athletes and coaches.

Eric Porter and Lisa Vowk are coaching the Athletics squad.

Porter said the team is looking good.

“Two weeks ago we were just in Kelowna and brought back a bunch of medals for sprinting and throwing events.

“After having that experience and exposure because it was their first track meet, they gained confidence. They saw that the training and practice was actually paying off and it gave them that passion for it too.

“Once you break the ice and get those nerves out of the way, now it’s just been pure excitement, especially the last 14 days.”

Vowk figured this was her fourth NAIG.

“I’m excited. I love the cultural element.”

One of their athletes, Carson Nelson, 15, was at the rally. He said his goal was to “have fun. A medal would be really nice but I don’t know if I can hope for that high.”

Beach volleyballer Samuel Thorn, 18, was attending his first NAIG.

“I’m pretty pumped. I think it’s gonna be a pretty fun experience playing with my team.”

Basketballer Hudson Sias, 16, had an optimistic outlook on his team’s chances.

“I think the team is ready to shock some people. Definitely underrated.”

A march to the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (KDCC) followed. After the team gathered for photo ops and some brief speeches, the rally moved inside the KDCC.

Kassua Dreyer (Gínnet’ā) was named the flag bearer.

“I’m really, really excited and so honoured to have been awarded flag bearer. When I went to my last games in 2017, one of our swimmers was also flag bearer that year, Cassis Lindsay, and she was an inspiration growing up. I always looked up to her and her sister Rennes when we swam, and it was always my dream to be flag bearer, so I’m really happy. I feel nervous and overwhelmed.”

Gínnet’ā said she was really looking forward to competing in the games.

“I was 12 years old at the last games, so I was just a little girl. So now I’m coming back as an 18-year-old with my little brother and just so excited to represent Team Yukon in the pool again one last time.”

On the rifle range Tuesday, Jorga Jackson shot her way to second in the 16U Female Individual 3P, but had not been awarded a silver by press time.

On the volleyball court, the U19 team of Jennifer Tuton and Jamie Nickel downed both Alberta and Ontario in straight sets to go undefeated in Pool A.

– With files from Diego Brisebois-Bourget..