Sisters Melody and Lylee Horn stick together, on and off the soccer field

When Melody and Lylee Horn step on the soccer pitch, they have each other's backs.

"No one messes with my sister, but me," said 17-year-old Lylee Horn of her 19-year-old sister Melody.

The duo will be representing their home reserve of Kahnawá:ke in soccer at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) that run from July 16-23 in Toronto.

Both Melody and Lylee have been playing soccer since they were young. It's become an important part of their lives, and leading up to their second NAIG, they reflect on what soccer has meant for them growing up.

"What I love about soccer is when you're out on the field, you just forget about everything in your life," Lylee said. "You just get a sense of freedom out there."

Challenging racism in sport

But sometimes the game can be more than just physically challenging. For both sisters, experiencing racism is not uncommon.

Lylee recalled that during one high-school soccer practice, Melody was called "savage" by another player.

While Melody and Lylee can joke between each other about similar things, when it comes from others who don't understand that context, Lylee says the sisters go into "defence mode, two on one."

At last year's World Indigenous Games in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, they met a reporter who asked if their cousin was well-known Olympic water polo player Waneek Horn-Miller.

• Indigenous Games: How Oka Crisis strengthened water polo star's resolve

"She looked at Melody and said, 'That makes sense because you have the nice dark Native hair, those dark eyes and the dark complexion,'" Lylee recalled.

Lylee, who has lighter skin and green eyes, says she didn't receive the same stereotyping from that reporter.

"I don't fit that stereotype of what everyone thinks an Indigenous person or Aboriginal person should look like … it's not a picture perfect Pocahontas," she said.

Melody echoes her sentiment. "The way people judge these days is really disgusting," she said.

At NAIG, she added, it's a chance for people to see the culture come alive for everyone.

But despite their challenges with racism, Melody and Lylee always had soccer to fall back on as their escape.

"When playing soccer and being on the field, it just helps me deal with any emotions and cope with any stresses or anxiety," Lylee said.

Inspiring the next generation

For the past month, the sisters have been coaching younger players in Kahnawá:ke. For them, it's a chance to show upcoming players of what's possible through sport.

"To teach the sport my sister and I grew up learning and playing all our lives, and being able to teach it to the next generation … that's a win for me," Melody said.

Melody gave birth to a daughter last December. Both sisters want their newest family member to learn the game they grew up with.

"Me and my sister, we're so close," Melody said of their years on the soccer pitch together, "and me and Lylee will be able to help her out."

Lylee added that she can teach her niece not only about soccer, but also about some of the struggles Indigenous women face.

Both sisters say the advice they give to younger players is to have fun when starting soccer, and to never give up — because they certainly haven't given up on each other.

"I always try to be there for you and I always will," Lylee said to her sister.

Said Melody, "I'll always be there for you."

You can hear more from Melody and Lylee Horn and other teen athletes competing at the North American Indigenous Games on CBC Radio's New Fire.

To watch and follow along the North American Indigenous Games, visit cbc.ca/naig. We kick off our coverage on Sunday with a livestream of the Opening Ceremony.