Team Florida Returns Triumphant From NAIG

Amy Johns, Don Osceola Bring Home Five Medals

By PEGGIE REYNOLDS
Contributing Writer

COWICHAN, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — Amy Johns, Steven Johns-Ashley, Kyle Henry, Don Osceola and Robert Delorimiere represented Team Florida at the 2008 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), held in Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada, Aug 3-10.

These five joined thousands of their fellow athletes to compete in NAIG, which take place every three years. During the games, indigenous peoples from across North America celebrate their cultural heritage and sporting abilities during the weeklong competition.

Amy Johns’ four medal wins in rifle shooting and Don Osceola’s bronze medal in archery brought the spotlight to Team Florida. Johns earned medals in the senior rifle shooting division in the following events: standing position, gold medal; kneeling position and aggregate/overall ranking, silver medals; and prone position, bronze medal.

Following three full days of rifle competition at the Cowichan Fish and Game Facility, the final medal ceremony took place onsite on the evening of Aug. 8. With Team Florida coaches, staff, supporters and her teammates cheering her on, Johns received her four medals.

Don Osceola also earned Team Florida a medal during the NAIG competition. He took home the bronze in the senior division for traditional archery.

Following his win, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) of Canada interviewed Osceola. APTN is a Canadian-wide television and broadcast network that airs and produces programs made by, for and about Aboriginal peoples; and Osceola’s win put him in the national spotlight.

The remaining eight athletes who rounded out Team Florida’s roster competed in a variety of events; Steven Johns-Ashley, bantam rifle, Kyle Henry, juvenile rifle and Robert Delorimiere, senior golf.

Johns-Ashley just missed the medal mark in three categories, archery’s standing position, prone position and aggregate, coming in fourth in all these events. Henry placed ninth in the juvenile rifle’s standing position event and 11th in both the prone position and aggregate. Delorimiere placed 12th overall in the senior golf competition.

Behind the scenes, both in Florida and at the actual games, the coaches have played a vital role in Team Florida’s success. The archery coaches, Steve Young and John Waterhouse, and the rifle coaches, Joe Frank, Richard Henry and Rhonda Roff, provided instruction, technical support and encouragement to all of the athletes.

The athletes and coaches paid many of their own travel costs to attend NAIG. The financial support of dozens of businesses, organizations, Tribal governments and individuals from across the U.S. helped cover the additional expenses involved in sending the team to the games, which Team Leader Joel Frank (Chef de Mission) expressed gratitude for.

The next Indigenous Games will take place in Milwaukee, Wis. in the summer of 2011. Preliminary competitions in the coming weeks, months and years will determine who will make the journey to represent Team Florida.