The Eeyou Istchee Summer Games (EISG) packed Chisasibi for a fun-filled week July 20-25, bringing nearly young 600 athletes from all 11 Cree communities, including Washaw Sibi and MoCreebec.
Athletes aged 9 to 18 competed in 23 categories, including team events, track and field, aquatics and canoeing. With support from the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association (CNACA), the Games were also a vibrant cultural festival featuring concerts, traditional Cree contests and intergenerational workshops.
“This is a rare occasion where all the communities can get to know each other,” said Darius Neacappo-Pelchat, Deputy Youth Grand Chief. “The opening ceremony was so empowering, the parade with every athlete, having those flags lifted up with their communities. It gave me chills seeing them so happy with smiles on their faces.”
Each flag bearer held a small paddle with their community logo, carved and painted by local artisan Peter House, symbolizing the traditional rite of passage when youth were ready to navigate the region’s rivers and lakes.
Brought back in 2024 after a lull since 2011, the EISG is now held every two years, organized by a regional steering committee including the Eeyou Istchee Sports and Recreation Association, CNACA, Cree Nation Youth Council and the Cree health and school boards.
The committee introduced new ideas since the last Games in Mistissini, which several communities weren’t able to attend. Workshops were added to address issues faced by communities while certain sports were added or dropped. The biggest change was simply adapting to Chisasibi’s larger size and unique infrastructure.
“We tried our best to make a central hub in the downtown area,” explained Neacappo-Pelchat. “We had to scatter ourselves because baseball had to be played at the ball field, track at Km 0. We have buses that transport athletes to locations.”
Participants, coaches and chaperones were guided by a handy map indicating not only the sporting venues spread over 20 km but also amenities like the mobile health clinic. While nearby forest fires were a concern in preceding weeks, only one day of heavy rain impacted scheduling.
“There were a lot of defaults from rescheduling because the athletes play so many sports,” said Chisasibi Chief Daisy House. “Mother Nature rules the world and we adjust to her schedule. Beach volleyball had to be played indoors.”
While softball, volleyball and basketball remained popular spectator sports, Chief House was impressed by additions like pickleball and badminton. At the community’s pool reopened two weeks before the Games following years of technical issues, Mistissini swimmers dominated – 12-year-old Ava Dominique won an impressive 13 gold medals.
Mistissini easily won the overall medal count, outpacing Chisasibi and Waswanipi, although every community went home with at least one medal. Beyond the competition, the EISG was about fun, friendship and camaraderie. As Joni Boudrias highlighted during the opening ceremony, “Everyone is a winner just for showing up.”
“It was awesome how everyone came together,” Chief House exclaimed. “Kids would run up to me collecting pins, looking so tiny and happy – it was surreal. I spoke to participants from different communities to reassure me they did have fun.”
With every athlete receiving community pins to trade, collecting them all was another sport and a useful icebreaker. School classrooms were equipped with cots for each community, separated by age and gender.
“They were in awe of the new high school because it’s so modern,” said Chief House. “They had a kitchen nearby with little nooks for them to get together. It looked like a slumber party.”
Daily activities included painting of a huge mural, led by Lindsay Chewanish, and traditional beading, carving and drum-making workshops. There was a DJ workshop from Hank House, songwriting from David Joyner, and traditional dance demonstrations. Cree musicians Siibii and Mariame performed a concert.
“It’s been great exposure for local artists, spotlighting the talent in their community,” said CNACA executive director Dale Cooper. “We have our marketplace for artisans and even brought the Wachiya Store as a popup. We had an interesting storytelling workshop with Margaret Sam-Cromarty that ended up like a sharing circle – it got emotional.”
Miss Eeyou Eenou Iskwaau, Esther Bosum, purchased strawberry earrings from the Wachiya Store before presenting medals at the closing ceremony. Winning gold for Ouje-Bougoumou in beach volleyball with partner Tessa Bosum, she expressed gratitude “for the memories and life lessons these games have given me over the years.”
Neacappo-Pelchat emphasized that the EISG is “starting to show youth that there are more sports out there than just hockey and broomball.” Waswanipi’s Haven Cooper said the Games in Mistissini ignited a passion for track and field that she’s pursued during her studies at Algonquin College in Ottawa.
“When I started competing, I fell in love with it and I definitely want to keep going further,” said Cooper. “I started with the 5k because that’s what they had in Mistissini but I’ve gotten more interested in the shorter distances, like the 800m and 400m. I competed in all the track and field. I got a few golds in the running, gold in the long jump and some silver.”
Chisasibi’s Cherish Scipio-Monger also credited the last EISG with helping take her love of softball to the next level. Last September, she made Team Quebec’s U17 softball team and was flying to Calgary following the Games to compete at the National Championship – her first time venturing out of the province.
“I’m very grateful I get to represent the Cree Nation,” said Scipio-Monger. “It makes me feel good that I make other people happy just by playing, seeing how many people enjoyed watching and cheering. It’s nice seeing everyone getting more into sports – there’s a lot of potential out there.”