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Second Annual First Nations Track & Field Day February 21, 2007. LONDON - Smiling faces and youthful energy lit up Thompson Arena at the Western Mustangs First Nations Track and Field Day. The Second Annual event was a blast for everyone involved. One hundred and fifty students from eight First Nations elementary schools along with their teachers and Western students-athletes and volunteers arrived geared up for an exciting day hosted by Western student-athletes involved in an honors Kinesiology course. Craig Boydell’s Sport and Community Service Class, comprised of ten varsity athletes, coordinated this event in cooperation with Western’s Indigenous Services headed by Vivian Peters. The organizing team began the day with a traditional spiritual cleansing or “smudge”, offered by Sugarbear Shognosh, which set the tone for an experience that united First Nations culture, sport, and Western. The five nationally ranked track and field athletes of the Sport and Community Service Class who planned the event included team leaders Aaron Grange, Bethany Janzen, Andrew Judge (First Nations Thessalon), Shellie McParland and Jason Rhodes. These student-athletes along with other members of the class and volunteers from Vickie Croley’s Track and Field Team demonstrated numerous track and field events followed by instruction and individual feedback for participants. First Nations children demonstrated their ability to learn proper running, throwing, and jumping technique, and instructors were impressed with the number of children who showed potential as future Mustangs. In addition to Track and Field events the students were treated to a number of other attractions including a special slide show featuring noted First Nations’ Athletes as well as some Mustang Sport highlights. Western Mascot, JW, also made an appearance at the various event stations as both track competitor and pied piper to a captivated audience. There was also a pole vaulting and hurdling exhibition that generated a lot of interest. It was laughter all around as even the teachers were getting dirty in the jumping pits and a high-energy vibe could be felt throughout the arena. Kelly Nicholas from Indigenous Services helped organized the conclusion of the event with the “Sacred Run,” which First Nations people used in earlier times to spread important messages. On this day, the message was a positive and inspiring one as the children showcased their “strength, pride and determination”, the theme for this year’s event. Each of the participating schools was presented with a picture and commemorative plaque. In addition to providing a fun day of activity with quality coaching the goal of this event, and others the Sport and Community Service class has planned in the coming weeks, is to improve communication channels between Western and First Nations Communities. Western Student-Athletes at the event were adamant about the fact that they want this to be not just a fun day, but one in which Western could be seen as a place that is accessible and comfortable for Indigenous students. Class members feel that they are a part of a joint learning process aimed at breaking down barriers to First Nations participation at the post secondary education on both fronts. According to one student-athlete, when you hear a kid say “This place is awesome! I want to come here!” it’s a real high. According to Vivian Peters, Coordinator of Western’s Indigenous Services, reports from teachers, principals and students in the days following the event were extremely positive. This is a two way process according to Peters and Boydell who indicate that there has to be a lot of learning in both directions and that they are trying to provide opportunities for that to occur using sport and activity as the medium within educational setting. There are special seminars for the class to learn about and become sensitized to First Nation's people, which helps them to shape an event that is meaningful within the context of First Nations culture. ““I am impressed by the teamwork involved in the growth and enhancement of this event in the past year," note’s Boydell. This year’s class built upon the foundation laid by the student-athletes who hosted the first event last March and the partnership that has developed between the students in these two classes, UWO’s Indigenous Services and the First Nations Communities has provided a tremendous base for the future of this and other such endeavors.” The joint learning process continues as each of the participating First Nations Schools now eagerly awaits a visit on their home turf from the Sport and Community Service Class. Boydell’s students hope that these visits will strengthen this valuable relationship between UWO and First Nations students, and establish the First Nations Track and Field Day as a significant learning experience for participating children and Western Students for years to come. The First Nations communities and schools represented at the Track and Field Day are:
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