Akesha Hardisty-Norwegian saw big changes in the young people who participated in this year's Mackenzie Youth Summer Games.
Organized by the Mackenzie Recreation Association (MRA), the event occurred in Whati from Aug. 12-16. Roughly 16 youth between ages 9 and 18 attended the camp, and by the time it was over, they had developed new skills and, for some, enhanced self-confidence.
鈥淚 definitely [saw improvements] in their confidence and competence and expressing themselves," said Hardisty-Norwegian, MRA's program coordinator and the facilitator for the summer games. "At the beginning of the week, everyone鈥檚 timid, everyone鈥檚 quiet, everyone鈥檚 to themselves, so it鈥檚 really nice over the course of the week for kids to come out and show their personalities and express their interests.
"I see that there鈥檚 a lot of skill and care and wanting to be part of something bigger when these youth do participate in a multi-community event like this. It鈥檒l be really nice to see what they do in the future."
The objective of the summer games is to teach participants the importance of recreation by keeping them active "all day, every day." This is primarily achieved through sports, with activities like basketball, kickball, handball, volleyball, soccer and swimming featuring heavily on the schedule.
Kickball seemed to be particularly popular, according to Hardisty-Norwegian.
鈥淚 think the kids gravitated more towards kickball and handball," she said. "I know that kickball is a community favourite in most of the MRA communities."
The summer games also featured opportunities for arts and crafts to give the youth a break from all the physical activity, and to provide some respite from the wildfire smoke that crept over Whati during the week.
"We did a lot of arts and crafts for the kids because it is hard to be go, go, go all throughout the day, and also with the smoke that was very visible in Whati," said Hardisty-Norwegian.
While recreation is the main focus of the summer games, the young people involved also build connections and friendships with each other 鈥� relationships that often last long after the event has concluded.
"I think that鈥檚 probably one of the most fun opportunities that the summer games provides, is that you are able to build connections with other youth who are interested in the same things as you, and meeting other youth from other communities," said Hardisty-Norwegian.
"We had a few returning participants who came to the summer games last year in Fort Simpson," she added. 鈥淚 would not be surprised to see some of them again next year."
The MRA serves a long list of NWT communities: Behchoko, Dettah, Enterprise, Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Gameti, Hay River, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, K'atl'odeeche, Lutsel K'e, Nahanni Butte, Ndilo, Sambaa K'e, Wekweeti, Whati and Wrigley.
Those communities have been competing in the summer games for years, and Hardisty-Norwegian, who was facilitating the event for the second time, is hopeful it will continue.
"I think it鈥檚 very important as it increases the capacity in sport and recreation and it also shows youth that recreation isn鈥檛 just about sports," she said.
Hardisty-Norwegian, who aims to become a teacher in the next couple of years, knows first-hand how beneficial the summer games can be. She participated in the event when she was younger, and credits it with helping her turn into the person she is today.
"It鈥檚 also very important to me as I grew up participating in these events when I was younger," she said. "That turned me into the active person I am today, and it gives me the sense of a full circle moment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also nice to build connections, knowing that in a year or two, I鈥檒l be in one of these communities teaching.鈥�
