In Mistissini, a young hockey sensation is making waves. Israel Mianscum, at just 20 years old, has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring athletes in the region. With every stride on the ice, he carries the dreams of his people and the legacy of Cree athletes who came before him.
Mistissini’s Robert Jr. Jimikin Softball and Fastball Tournament was a homerun success this year.
The 10th North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) was held July 15-23 in Halifax and various Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. More than 5,000 teenage athletes and their coaches from 756 Nations celebrated connections through sport and culture, including several young participants from the Cree Nation.
Ouje-Bougoumou was in high spirits April 15 when hometown fighters competed for titles at a Montreal Fight League (MFL) event. The mood escalated into euphoria as Quinn Blacksmith and Albert St-Pierre emerged with championship belts.
Companies from around the world showcased hundreds of vessels – from the million-dollar boats to small dinghies – at the Montreal International Boat Show February 9-12. This family friendly exhibition at the Palais des Congrès gave visitors a close look at rare and pricy exhibits from popular world-class brands.
The pride of Moose Factory, Jonathan Cheechoo, was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) in February for his impressive 16-year career in professional hockey, including seven seasons in the NHL. Cheechoo is a member of Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario.
Hundreds of riders, crew, family, friends and fans gathered outside Chibougamau February 25 for the fabled Festival Folifrets, which, in its 56th year, is of one of the longest-running snowmobile competitions in the country.
Gino Odjick, a former NHL player from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation near Maniwaki, passed away January 15 at the age of 52, his family announced in a social media post.
Successive weekends in July saw dozens of angling teams chasing prize walleye and pike in Lake Mistissini and Opekimiska Lake. Organizers were delighted by the level of entries, which returned to pre-pandemic levels. Plans are in the works to grow both derbies next year.
After years of intense training and support from his community and family, Neil Blacksmith has finally done what he set out to do. On June 26, the triathlete from the Cree Nation of Mistissini completed his first-ever Ironman 70.3 Challenge in Mont-Tremblant, finishing the grueling course with a time of 5:58:22.
