![2019 Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Summer Games underway in We'koqma'q](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1297/files/2019/08/ns-mikmaw-summer-games.jpg)
Members of an Inverness Co. First Nations community are hosting the 2019 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games.
The event runs Aug. 18-25.
Rod Googoo, the chief of the We’koqma’q First Nation, says they’re focused on creating a safe, inclusive and healthy environment for the young people attending.
Googoo tells The Hawk it’s their first concern.
“The whole idea behind these games (is) to promote a healthy lifestyle for our children who are competing,” he says. “We want to create a safe, healthy environment for the athletes who are coming in- we take every precaution we can to make sure their safety is paramount.”
Googoo says the games highlight Mi’kmaw culture.
He says they’re proud First Nations communities in the province could come together to support the games.
“This is the chiefs and councillors of all the bands in Nova Scotia promoting and supporting these games,” he says. “We feel it’s very important for us to promote a healthy lifestyle for our children.”
Googoo says they’ve spent roughly $300,000 to make the games happen.
He says more than 2,300 competitors will take part, some from as far away as Quebec.
Googoo says events include archery, arm wresting, and tug of war, as well as the first-ever indigenous princess pageant.
He says artists including Classified and Eskasoni’s Emma Stevens, who went viral with her rendition of “Blackbird”, will perform.