Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know how we top that; that's amazing.
Mr. Speaker, as the House is aware, the North American Indigenous Games 2023 were held in Halifax and surrounding communities between July 15th to 23rd. The NWT sent a strong team, and I witness the support these athletes received from parents who traveled to Halifax to cheer them on. Most athletes were able to get to Yellowknife in a timely manner to join up with their teammates. Unfortunately, Ava Erasmus had a really interesting adventure to get to the games. As some of you may have heard from Cabin Radio, she had to get a working cabin in the Nahanni National Park to Fort Simpson, then to Yellowknife, for Saturday's flight to Halifax.
As part of her job, she would take regular trips into the park and help at Virginia Falls with tourists. Everything was going smoothly until a threat of a flash flood held up the trip in the park, tightening the timeline between finishing up work at the falls and getting back to Fort Simpson to catch the flight to Yellowknife and then to Halifax. Upon getting into the park, things were going well for the first two days, then storms started rolling across the park delaying her departure from the falls. Some of the other adventures included food supplies being rationed, have a prolonged visit from a passing grizzly bear, and growing wildfires further complicated efforts.
Later on during the week, there was a break in the smoke and a Twin Otter was sent to pick them up but like the adventure to this point, it continued. The plane could not land, and it happened the next day too. After this happened, they started thinking about how far they could make it down the river and if they could make it to Nahanni Butte so they could be picked up there. At last a small aircraft, a Beaver, made it in and after a brief scare of having to turn around, the plane landed in Fort Simpson. Her parents picked her up with a packed a bag for her and headed off to the main airport. Unfortunately as she got to the airport, they witnessed the plane leaving.
Mr. Speaker, this led to her next adventure, a sevenhour drive to Yellowknife. She made it in at around midnight to have a quick sleep and then she met her teammates at 6:30 as they head off to Halifax.
Mr. Speaker, I would like recognize the other athletes from the Nahendeh. We had 21 athletes and coaches represent the NWT and their community. I will add the list and request it be deemed as read. They were great ambassadors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ava Erasmus
Brittany Kendo
Christian CliHopf
Ryder Hardisty
Colton HardistyGillis
Tanner Isaiah
Ashanti Beaulieu
Nicholas Bilodeau
Amy Duntra
Kadence Norn
Javen Payou
Syles Timbre
Cadence Erasmus
Gina HardistyIsaiah
Helena Landry
Lydia Nelner
Blake Speed
Amaria TancheHanna
William TancheHanna
Jacqueline Thompson
Jaicee Tsetso
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
