'Lacrosse is like family' for B.C. men's lacrosse team manager at Indigenous Games
Athletes from B.C. women's and men's teams are supporting each other at North American Indigenous Games
Marina White, team manager with the British Columbia under-19 men's lacrosse team, didn't come to the North American Indigenous Games to support only one of the kids — for her, they're all her kids.
"Lacrosse is like family," she said, sitting in the front row beside Team B.C.'s bench.
The air was thick and humid inside Gaylord Powless Arena on Monday afternoon as the U19 men's teams from British Columbia and the Eastern Door and the North squared off in their first match of the games.
B.C. won in overtime with a final score of 11-8.
This is the third NAIG that White has attended. She always comes for lacrosse, the sport that runs deep through her family, who are Cosailish from Snumeymuxw on Vancouver Island.
"Lacrosse is in our blood. I have two uncles who both won Mann Cup championships," she said, referring to the national senior amateur lacrosse trophy.
One of her grandsons tried out for the team this year and he didn't make it, so she said she thought to herself, "I'll try out then," and she got the role of team manager.
It's an opportunity that has afforded her the ability to travel with the team and support them, as a way of giving back and supporting the sport and the youth.
'Keeps his spirit alive'
But there's another reason why she supports the team and loves the sport so much.
"My late son was a fantastic lacrosse player. I love the sport and wanted to be a part of it," she said.
"It keeps his spirit alive and keeps the kids grounded. Playing sports teaches them determination and to follow their dreams."
White has been involved in lacrosse directly for 31 years. She started after her son, Blake, took up the sport when he was nine years old. She has been volunteering with the lacrosse teams in her community of Nanaimo, B.C., ever since.
Blake died by suicide in 1997. No one saw it coming, White said.
She has three other children and 14 grandchildren who have helped with the healing, and many of them also play lacrosse like Blake did, she said.
Supporting each other
Meanwhile, a number of team members from B.C. are from communities that have been or are now are facing evacuation orders because of the wildfire spreading through the province's interior.
- Wildfire evacuees in central B.C. brace for news on their homes
- Team B.C. prepares for Indigenous Games despite 'heavy situation' with fires back home
White said the team helps cheer them on and offers support to teammates whose family members couldn't be at the games in Toronto with them.
One of her favourite moments at NAIG so far has been seeing the B.C. U19 female and U19 male teams bonding and supporting each other.
This is the first NAIG in which there has been a lacrosse category for girls to compete in.
- Close win for Ontario in 1st women's lacrosse match at Indigenous Games
- 'When you pick up your stick, you're picking up history'
Ainsley Allan, who is representing B.C. on the U19 women's team, is White's niece. She said seeing all of Team B.C. sitting together at the NAIG opening ceremonies was a special moment, and seeing so many young people fill the Aviva Centre for the event was really inspiring.
White said a speech at the opening ceremonies by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde struck a chord with her.
"He was talking about how these games and the sports help to inspire youth and help build a better future for them," White said. "Sport teaches them to be whatever they want to be."
While the competition has been fierce so far, the energy has been overwhelmingly positive.
"In the end it's not about winning or losing," said White, "it's about being here together."
Follow along the latest NAIG action on our live blog.