NAIG Vaccine Policy: Local Athletes Affected

Nearly 20% of the athletes and coaches from Kahnàwake who are qualified to take part in the North American Indigenous Games are not permitted to attend because of a continuing strict vaccine mandate in-place for the games. Unvaccinated athletes and coaches have been barred from attending the NAIG games in Halifax this July by the NAIG Council. As reported in Ioriwase and The Eastern Door, there are approximately 150 athletes and coaches from Kahnawake who have met the sporting requirements to attend, however, between 20 and 30 are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Roiatate Horn is the director of sports and recreation at the Mohawk Council of Kahnàwake:

“That’s the thing, they’re not being very clear on what they are considering adequality vaccinated, they’re also not being clear on how they’re actually going to verify ‘being vaccinated.’ We’re asking these questions, we’re not getting any answers from NAIG council apart from them saying that vaccines will be mandated and required for athletes and coaches.” 

For now, Horn and others decided at a meeting on Monday evening that they will continue to push for acceptance for all:

“Right now we’re obviously disappointed. We’ve decided that we’re going full steam ahead in terms of preparing our athletes to compete. All of our athletes, were keeping them in the mindset that they’re competing and ready to go and we’re going to keep fighting for them to ensure that they are able to participate and compete at the highest level.”

There are approximately 150 athletes and coaches from Kahnàwake who have met the sporting requirements to attend, However, between 20 and 30 are not vaccinated against COVID-19.