Three victorious Squamish Nation teens who competed on Team B.C. at the 2006 North American Indigenous Games in Denver have returned triumphant to the Valley with two gold medals - and one more to come in the mail.
Kayla Buckley and Vivian Joseph, both 14, played for the girl's bantam soccer team and won their gold medals after playing New Mexico, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territories and again New Mexico in the final.
"It was really hot, but we were undefeated so that made me happy," said goalkeeper Kayla. "Vivian saved us a couple of times so that was good too."
Shy to speak about her recent victory, Vivian, who plays defence, said the best thing about her trip was "beating the other teams."
Gail Joseph, 18, played for the girl's juvenile soccer team, won the tournament after defeating Northwest Territories in the final, but organizers ran out of gold medals. Her medal should arrive soon in the mail.
"It was fun. We only had three goals scored against us the entire tournament," she said. "We were a really good team and we knew how to play together."
Gail, who plays rightwing, midfield and forward, also said the opening ceremonies stood out as a highlight of the weekend.
"The opening ceremonies were in the Bronco Stadium and it was really big and we were one of the first teams to be brought in," she said.
Gail and Vivian's mother, and Kayla's grandmother, Carol Joseph, travelled to see her girls play at the games. She said was incredibly proud of her daughters' and granddaughter's performance.
"It was so awesome to see them playing," she said. "When they won, I had lots of tears."
Thirteen-year-olds Dalious McCullough and Pauline Baker also represented B.C. at the games on the girl's bantam softball team and won against Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but lost against Arizona. They also lost against the eventual tournament winners New Mexico, who have taken the title two Games in a row.
Dalious's father Daryl McCullough said the two girls enjoyed their experience and were looking forward to the next North American Indigenous Games, which are held every two years.
Approximately 7,500 First Nation athletes, representing 31 delegations from across the U.S. and Canada, competed in front of an estimated 30,000 supporters and spectators at the games last week. The Squamish Nation sent approximately 60 athletes on Team B.C. with five of those coming from the Squamish Valley.
The Nuch'u7mat Sports Society of the Squamish Nation paid for the local athletes trip.
