Locals haul in medals

The North American Indigenous Games ran Aug. 3-10 in Lake Cowichan, B.C. (near Duncan), with a number of area residents not only bringing home fond memories, but also some shiny new medals to show off.
In golf, Sheldon Kelly earned a silver medal in the senior (age 19-49) age bracket with a three-day total of 226, including an opening-round 71 on the Cowichan Golf Course.
“It was fun to be honest with you,” said Kelly, 28. “I felt comfortable, but sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t, but when things went my way, the 71 came along.
“I wasn’t getting into physical training [this summer], but maybe if I was doing that, it would’ve made a difference,” he added. “But I just kept focused on golf to keep my game up to par and it paid off.
“Everyone was quite pleased with the way things went.”
Fellow golfer David Bruyere followed up Kelly’s performance with a silver medal of his own in the Masters division (age 50+) with a three-day total of 244 while Laura Bruyere wound up fifth in the female Masters class.
Jordan Sinclair took fourth in the Midget division with a solid score of 234.
In the Bantam age bracket, Sheanna Bannon of Thunder Bay took a bronze medal while Karen Commanda won gold in the
female Masters division (both have relatives in this area).
Meanwhile, Nigigoosiminikanning First Nation sent Kayla Windigo and Shana Windigo to the Games in volleyball, with Kayla bringing home a silver medal in the juvenile women’s bracket.
Five athletes went to the Games from Seine River First Nation in volleyball, as well, including Talbot Johnson Jr., Jasmine Kabatay, Rachel Kabatay, Myles Morrison, and Rodney Spencer.
Johnson Jr. and his juvenile men’s team captured the bronze in their bracket.
Team Ontario finished with 143 medals—second only to Team Saskatchewan with 243.
The event featured 23 teams representing different provinces and states who competed against one another in 14 different sports.