For 20 years Western University has been inviting Indigenous students from southwestern Ontario to campus for an annual Track and Field Day.
“We’ve been collaborating with the Western track team to inspire Indigenous youth to see some of the services we have on campus,” said Marisa Garis, community enhancement coordinator at Western’s Indigenous Student Centre
“We invite students from different schools on and off reserve and we bring them here for the day. They also learn more about healthy living, teamwork and healthy lifestyle.”
Approximately 100 kids in grades 6 to 8 were given the chance to learn some track and field skills, but also have some fun and share in school spirit.
“We do track and field like once a year, but when we do I like to do things that that move my body,” said Valli Miskokomon who attends Walpole Island Elementary School.
Her friend Adrennah Blackbird loved getting a day off school, but also “to be able to learn how to properly do track and field.”
The kids were blessed to learn from the best. Both Western’s men’s and women’s track teams are ranked number one in the province heading into the OUA Championships this weekend.
This program began twenty years ago when Professor Craig Boydell – the men’s basketball coach at the time - had a leadership class and reached out to track coach Vicki Croley.
“We’re trying to introduce Indigenous youth to the sport,” said Croley, who has coached some elite Indigenous athletes.
“Andrew Judge was recently inducted into our Western Mustang Track and Field Hall of Fame and Joy Spear Chief Morris was actually a real leader when she was here for this event itself. But, it’s not really about finding the next track and field superstar. It’s about giving these kids exposure to the sport - and, you know, maybe they will continue down the road.”
As kids learned high jump, shot put, hurdles and pole vault, they also had fun playing relay games including rock, paper scissors and doing limbo.
“Just let them have a good time,” said Garis.
“We don’t pressure them to do anything they’re not comfortable with. We just healthily encourage them to kind of join with us. They don’t always get the chance to do this at school, so we definitely try to bring them here as much as possible.”
