World Indigenous Games facts for kids

The World Indigenous Games are a huge sports event where over 2,000 athletes from Indigenous communities around the world compete. These athletes come from about 30 different countries to join together and play fair. For the first three days, athletes meet and get to know each other in their sport areas. Then, the ten-day competition begins!

The Games are organized by the Inter Tribal Council, a group from Brazil that has been holding Brazil's own national Indigenous Games since 1996. The very first World Indigenous Games happened in Palmas, Brazil, from October 23 to November 1, 2015. The second Games were held in Alberta, Canada, in 2017. These Games are planned to happen every so often. They include both competitive sports and events that are just for showing off traditions.

Indigenous peoples have a long history of traditional sports and dances. They have turned these traditions into exciting competitions, making a big impact on the world and their cultures. In these games, athletes often wear body paint instead of regular sportswear. They play barefoot instead of with sneakers. The idea of winning is also a bit different; it's more about celebrating culture than just being first.

The World Indigenous Games are like the Olympics, but they also include many traditional Indigenous events. A main goal of the Games is to bring people together and show that "everyone is welcome." For example, a group of Syrian refugees even formed a soccer team and competed in the Canada Games! Big international sports events can help communities show positive images and gain social, political, or economic benefits. The organizers and Indigenous leaders wanted to use these Games to help with challenges faced by Indigenous communities. These challenges include stereotypes, not enough resources or chances for young Indigenous people, and keeping Indigenous women safe.

History of the Games

The idea for the World Indigenous Games first came up in 1977. It was suggested by Wilton Littlechild, an amazing athlete who won many championships and is in seven sports halls of fame. Littlechild worked for about 40 years to make this event happen. He faced many challenges, like not enough government support and money problems. But finally, the Games started in 2015! More than 2,000 athletes and cultural representatives took part in the first Games. Even though it was a bit messy and unorganized, it was seen as a big success for culture.

The World Indigenous Games grew from the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples Games. Brazil has held 12 national games, with about 1,500 athletes participating in each. The World Indigenous Games, sometimes called the Indigenous Olympics, are similar to other Olympic Games. They feature many sports, special opening and closing ceremonies, and Indigenous participants from all over the world.

Historical Body Paint

Body painting is a very old tradition for Indigenous peoples. It has deep meaning and value. This art is very important to Indigenous people, which is why they wear body paint during the Games. It shows respect for their land and represents all their people as one. Different designs can show family relationships, social position, tribe, ancestors, and even areas of land. For example, in Arnhem Land, young boys are painted with tribe or clan symbols on their upper bodies and thighs for special ceremonies. Every small detail in the paint has a meaning, from the design itself to the colors, where it's placed, and who wears it.

Events and Competitions

The World Indigenous Games have many different events and competitions. Participants compete in various sports. These include common sports like football (soccer) and athletics. But they also feature many traditional games. Some of these are the rustic race, spear toss, traditional canoeing, corrida de tora (log race), and xikunahati. Other events like archery, swimming, wrestling, and tug-of-war are also part of the Games.

Many events are not about winning. They are there to show and celebrate heritage. People do this by playing traditional sports and performing special dances. Other non-competitive events also celebrate culture. These include social gatherings, activities for Indigenous women, and talks and fairs for everyone to join and learn from. The Games are mainly run by Indigenous people. However, important guests might be invited to speak or take part. The main goal of the Games is to bring all Indigenous people from around the world together. This helps show off the many different Indigenous cultures and traditions.

The second World Indigenous Games in Alberta, Canada, took place from July 3 to July 9, 2017. About 1,600 athletes from all over the world competed on Indigenous lands. Over 20,000 spectators came to watch for free! Events included opening and closing ceremonies, traditional and modern games, and discussions about important topics. These topics included land, resources, climate change, and respecting Treaty rights and traditional knowledge. There was also a gathering for international Elders. Representatives from 29 countries took part in the opening ceremonies and competed in events like: spear throw, tug of strength, log races, a Mexican version of hockey (with a flaming puck!), Brazil's jikunahati (like soccer but players only use their heads), canoeing, Indian horse relays, lacrosse, Denesuline hand games, bow and arrow, swimming, and soccer.

Traditional Games

Wild Tree-Trunk Race

This game is a favorite among the crowd. It's similar to a relay race. Nine or more participants sprint 500 meters each around a red dirt arena. While running, they carry a heavy 100 kg (about 220 pounds) piece of tree trunk on their shoulders!

Archery

Participants in this event are covered with traditional body paint and are bare-chested. They line up on a mat of leaves, 40 meters away from their target. Their target is small fish jumping in and out of the water. The archers who spear the most fish get points. The highest score is achieved by shooting the arrow right into a fish's eye!

Xikunahati

This special event is a bit like football (soccer). But here's the twist: players are only allowed to touch the ball with their heads!

Overall, these Games are not just about winning. They are mostly about celebrating cultures.

List of World Indigenous Games

Games	Year	Host	Dates	Ref
					I	2015	Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil	October 23 - November 1	[1]
II	2017	Treaty 6 Territory, Alberta, Canada	July 1–9	[2]

Media Coverage

The World Indigenous Games were designed to be like the Olympics. But the organizers made sure to include the cultural parts of Indigenous traditions. Many Indigenous languages were used, along with common languages like English. Also, the Games focused on traditional sports and games instead of just mainstream sports. This helped keep the traditional spirit alive.

Canadian news and media gave a lot of attention to the 2017 Games. This helped bring focus to the challenges faced by Indigenous groups. These challenges were often linked to past government policies that tried to make Indigenous communities change their ways. They also included a lack of culturally relevant education in schools and the challenges many young Indigenous people face living in cities. Out of 147 news articles collected, all of them talked about Indigenous peoples involved in the events. And 122 of them included direct quotes from Indigenous people or had important coverage as part of the news stories.

Participating Countries

Over 30 countries and more than 2,000 athletes take part in the Indigenous Games. Some of the countries that participate are listed below.

Interesting Facts

The first World Indigenous Games in Brazil were held in Palmas, the capital of Tocantins state. They were a team effort led by the city of Palmas, Mayor Carlos Franco Amastha, the Intertribal Committee (run by chiefs Carlos and Marcos Terena), and Brazil's Ministry of Sports. More than 300 international media companies covered the event. About 3,000 athletes competed, and 10,000 people watched the 10-day program every day. The opening ceremony was attended by Brazil's former president, Dilma Roussef, and many Indigenous leaders and diplomats from the 30 participating countries.

For the second Games in Canada, a special "Friendship Spear" was passed. Mayor Carlos Amastha, who hosted the first Games, gave this symbol to Chief Willie Littlechild, the Canadian representative.

See also

In Spanish: Juegos Mundiales de los Pueblos Indígenas para niños

• Indigenous Peoples' Games
• North American Indigenous Games