Two soccer stars have returned with gold medals after representing Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation and Canada at the first ever World Indigenous Games in Brazil.
Brittany Harry, 17, and Brandy Francis, 22, joined 21 elite First Nations soccer players from across the country as part of the 53-member delegation representing Canada at the indigenous games in Palmas, Brazil, October 23 to November 10.
The games brought together over 2,000 athletes from 25 countries to compete for gold in traditional sports such as archery, spear toss and tug of war. In addition to traditional sporting events, soccer was also represented at the games.
“There was a feeling of pride,” said Harry. “Knowing we were both representing Tla’amin soccer.”
With aunts, sisters, mothers and grandmothers who have played soccer, both players have deep ties to the game. However, their experience in Brazil went above any expectations.
“The final game was in such a big stadium with 8,000 people watching and cheering,” said Francis. “We usually don’t play for such a crowd.”
Both women had played soccer locally, Harry as forward and Francis as centre back. However, after the under-18 Powell River Edge folded this year due to lack of numbers, the two were playing on a drop-in team in Powell River.
Given how difficult it sometimes is to find a place to play at home, the experience of representing Sliammon and Canada was also unique for the young players.
“It felt a bit weird,” said Harry. “We typically don’t represent Canada, but we did our best to represent where we were from.”
After fielding victories against indigenous teams from Chile, Peru and Brazil, the women won their final game 3–0 in a shootout against the against the Xerentes, a home team from the Tocantins area of Palmas.
In addition to the gold medal in soccer, first nations athletes from Canada also brought home gold and silver in long-distance running.
Despite Canada doing well at the games, the event was controversial. Due to criticisms that the games masked a history of violence and abuse, two Brazilian tribes boycotted the event. However, the two Tla’amin players said they saw little unrest.
“We heard there were protests,” said Francis, “but we were either playing or practicing so didn’t know very much about it.”
Meanwhile, connections made on the national first nations team have earned the two women spots on Squamish United in division two of the Metro Women’s Soccer League.
“Soccer is a passion,” said Francis. “We plan on inspiring other girls to play.”
Both players said they hope to represent Tla’amin soccer at the 2017 World Indigenous Games scheduled in Canada at a location yet to be determined.
