Kassua and Tuja Dreyer (Indigenous names Gínnet’ā and Tayāné’, respectively) are coming off an amazing medal haul at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) heading into the nationals in Toronto.

Tuja reeled in six gold and Kassua captured five gold and a silver medal at NAIG, which took place July 15-23 in Halifax.

The Star spoke with the super swimming siblings Monday. They were in Toronto preparing for the nationals.

Kassua and Tuja spoke about competing at NAIG together.

"I thought it was really, really cool," said Kassua. "I had the best time at NAIG this year. Being able to look back at the last games and then come back and experience that all with Tuja was just so much fun. And I'm so happy that he got to go to NAIG and compete and find success there, because it's a really cool feeling, and to meet other Indigenous athletes and yeah, I'm really excited for him."

Tuja added, "I thought it was very exciting. I had lots of fun, obviously. And my sister is someone that I've always really looked up to, so it's really cool to swim with her and to be at the same level."

The pair described how the competition went for them.

"The first day went really well for me," recalled Kassua. "I had golds in all my races and a really fun time and the competition this year was tough. So it felt good."

Kassua, 18, competing in the 19U Female category, captured gold in the 100m Butterfly, the 200m Individual medley and the 200m Breaststroke last Wednesday.

"I got to meet a lot of friends through the first day. And then the second day, I was a little more comfortable with the atmosphere and I got to talk to more people and I had a really good day too."

Kassua captured two more gold medals Thursday in the 400m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly and a silver in the 100m Freestyle with a personal best time. Tuja, 15, competed in 16U Male and won gold in the 200m Freestyle and the 200m Backstroke last Wednesday. He followed that up Thursday with gold in the 50, 100, and 200m Butterfly, and in the 200m Individual Medley.

"My fifty fly (50m butterfly) was pretty good because I had plateaued for a couple of years on it. I didn't really know how to get much faster," he related.

"I switched up my technique. I floated over the water better. I got a second faster so, it's pretty cool."

The two also spoke about some of their memorable moments from the games.

"It would be the opening ceremony, for sure," related Tuja. "It was really very interesting to watch. Great performances and just hanging out with my teammates."

"I'd have to say the same," said Kassua. "Before the opening ceremonies even started, they gathered all the athletes into a big hall and there we just started pin-trading and getting to know the other athletes. "Getting to hang out with the teammates, and eat a little before marching over to the Scotiabank Hall. "And I was so fortunate this year, I was chosen to be flag bearer. And it was a crazy experience. I was really nervous at first but once I got out and we started marching together, it was just like a highlight in my life. It will always be really special. It was just incredible. "The performances were beautiful and all the dancing and celebration during the opening ceremonies really just set the stage for the week to come."

Tuja was asked what he thought about his sister carrying the flag.

"She obviously deserves it," he replied. "She's been to multiple games for Team Yukon, and to see her representing our (territory), it's very amazing."

They were a little disappointed that the closing ceremonies were cancelled.

"For sure," said Tuja.

"Yeah, I was," agreed Kassua.

However, she chose to put a positive spin on it.

"I was very looking forward to one performance especially but unfortunately due to the weather, which is something that nobody can control, they were canceled and yeah, it is sad but you know, we still had an incredible week and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. "I think on the last day Tuja went to go watch some games and I went out with the team to explore the city and see what cultural activities we had there. We made the best out of the situation."

Kassua added, "Our success in the pool really was a team effort. It came with the help from all of our coaches." She said the coaches were key to all their team's success.

"It was all thanks to them that we were able to swim and produce the results that we got, and they really made the experience so much better."

The two were then asked how they were feeling going into the nationals.

"I'm a little tired, what you would expect after a meet," admitted Tuja. "I feel ready, though, seeing my success with my times at the games."

Kassua agreed with her brother, and said that the fun she had at NAIG will carry over. "I'm also feeling pretty tired but … going into this week, I'm just trying to stay relaxed and continue swimming in the pool and we'll see what's next, what Toronto brings. I'm going into it with a lot of excitement. "The last time I swam in Toronto was at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, so I'm excited to see how much I've grown since then, and just to enjoy the pool."

One thing is sure, they both think they'll have more confidence going into the nationals as a result of their success at NAIG. As a matter of fact, Tuja is now ranked first this season in the 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley and second in the 100m butterfly among 15-year-olds in Canada for races in 25m (SCM) pools.

As for their goals at nationals, Kassua said, "I'm really hoping for some best times. Yeah, because this long course season has been a bit rough for me and I'm feeling really good right now."

"Best times would be cool," agreed Tuja. "I'd definitely like to get a medal. But that's kind of iffy. "There's a definite separation between short course and long course. Long course is more of an endurance style, so we'll see, but (I) don't really have any expectations."

Kassua is entered in four races over the six-day event.

"When I race it's going to be one race a day, so you can concentrate more on the events and your strategy when you're swimming."

Kassua is entered in the 200m and 400m Individual Medley and two of the breaststroke events (100 and 200m) in the 18 years and older category. She'll be swimming on behalf of the University of Calgary Swim Club.

Tuja is entered in all three butterfly events (50m, 100m, 200m) and the 200 and 400m Individual medleys in the 14-15-year-old category. He'll be swimming under the Island Swim Club banner.

Kassua added, "We're also excited to be in Toronto and just explore the city and see what they have here. "Being in one of the fastest pools in Canada, that's a big one. This pool is really fast. Summer (McIntosh) swam two world records there earlier this year, so it's gonna be really exciting."

The Dreyers agreed that the competition at NAIG pushed them to be better, and the increased competition in Toronto will push them as well.

"The competition is definitely a lot deeper in Toronto," said Kassua. "Especially since the best in the country will be coming together to compete. "It's going to be very different compared to NAIG. It's going to be very interesting to see how we perform under these different circumstances. The actual racing that we'll be doing is a different kind of racing. "It's going to be a long course so it's a lot more enduring, less turns, it's just like a different type of racing. We're excited to see how we'll perform this week."