WIN Sports International

04/01/2024

Happy Birthday greetings going out to Dr. Willie Littlechild on his 80th birthday.

05/17/2022

03/23/2022

Message from the Paralympics in Beijing

03/10/2022

The Drum given to the Canadian Paralympic Team has been beating loud and proud in Beijing....here is a photo of Chef de Mission Josh Dueck with the WINSI Drum, showing off the Drum Bag made by Mrs. Wade (Melanie) Okeymaw.

02/27/2022

MASKWACIS (February 24, 2022) – Mr. Robert “Bob” Steadward the first President of the International Paralympic Committee (1989), and was instrumental in combining the Paralympic and Olympic Movements in having both hosted by one city, was presented a Cree Traditional Hand Drum by the World Indigenous Nations (WIN) Sport International today. Elder Rick Lightning accompanied by Chief Willie Littlechild and WIN Sport International Board member Bobbi Herrera performed a travelling song as Mr. Steadward received the drum and now travels to meet those Team members departing from Calgary on their way to Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games that will commence March 4 – 13, 2022.

The ceremony was held in the Tipi Room of the Ermineskin High School surrounded by pictures of the former Chiefs of the Ermineskin Cree Nation. “It is our great honour to transfer this drum to Team Canada via you as we did to Chef de Mission Catriona Le May Doan for the 2022 Winter Olympics. We wish you a safe journey as you meet with the Team and please express our best wishes to Team Canada for the Spirit of the Games.”

As explained, the sound of the drum reflects the heartbeat of Mother Earth and is meant to inspire all of Team Kakanatak. It was asked that Creator watch, bless and guide the athletes, coaches and supporters as they compete in the 2022 Winter Paralympics, “Thank you for acknowledging the transfer ceremony as an act of Reconciliation.”

The drum previously transferred to the Chef de Mission prior to the Olympics was seen world-wide at various games and events, and it is hoped that this separate drum also brings the Spirit of the Games and of Reconciliation to the Paralympic Games. The Drum Bag was designed by Mrs. Wade (Melanie) Okeymaw with the WIN Games Logo on one side and the Maskwa (Bear) Spirit that represents the Team of courage, strength, trust and faith. The WIN Sport logo is on the drum itself that symbolize the principles of leadership of Honesty, Kindness, Sharing and Strength, along with the colors representing the elements of life: Blue for the waters, Green for the medicine grasses, Gold representing the Sun and Read for the fire. Appreciation is also extended to Mr. Kevin Powder for the drum.

02/18/2022

International Chief Littlechild Inducted into the NAIAHF Hall of Fame 2022

An Indigenous lawyer of Cree ancestry, bestowed as Honourary Cree Chief and International Chief, Wilton Littlechild was elected a Member of Parliament in Canada and Vice-President of the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas. 

02/08/2022

Last night watching the Women’s Hockey at the 2022 Olympics where Canada beat the USA Team and each time Canada scored the camera went to the Chef de Mission in the stands where she hit the drum we at World Indigenous Nations (WIN) Sport International gifted for the Olympics. The drum was provided to WIN Sport International by Wade Okeymaw and his wife Melanie made the drum bag with the WIN Games Logo on it. Great game!

02/04/2022

CALGARY (February 2, 2022) – Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Catriona Le May Doan was presented with a Maskwacis Cree Nation drum prior to departing for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The drum was presented by Chief Wilton Littlechild, International Chief on Treaties Six, Seven, and Eight, during a private ceremony held outdoors at WinSport in Calgary, Alta. on January 15. Elder Patrick Lightening from Treaty Six Territory performed a travelling song during the ceremony.

“It is our great honour to transfer this sacred drum from Maskwacis Cree Nation to Team Canada and to Chef de Mission Catriona Le May Doan,” said Chief Littlechild. “As a former Winter Olympics Ambassador, I am so proud of all of you on Team Canada and wish you all the best and are behind you, in full support in the joy of effort and success. The drum beat is the heartbeat of Mother Earth and it always brings us together much like the power of sport and the Olympic Games. Let the heartbeat of Mother Earth inspire all of Team Kakanatak. May our Creator, Great Spirit, watch, bless and guide you as you lead our country and thank you for acknowledging this is an act of Reconciliation.”

Treaty Six Elder Patrick Lightening sung a travelling prayer song in the four directions during the ceremony, symbolizing how the Olympics call people together from all points of Mother Earth.

This past summer, Tewanee Joseph and his family, conducted a special Coast Salish witness ceremony to present a custom made drum for Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission Marnie McBean. The drum was created to celebrate the athletes competing in Tokyo.

“We were all so inspired by Marnie’s initiative last year and I had hoped to have been presented the honour as well,” said Le May Doan. “I am so thankful to Chief Littlechild and Elder Patrick Lightening for the emotional ceremony that was conducted. This drum will be coming with me everywhere in Beijing and will be an inspiration to the athletes as it symbolizes our connection to Indigenous communities.. It will truly be the heartbeat of Team Canada and connect us all.”

Some features of the drum as described by Chief Littlechild:

The four pegs we chose that usually close the teepee are significant in two ways. The colours represent the elements of life: blue for the waters, green for the medicine grasses, gold represents the sun and red is for the fire. Secondly they also symbolize the principles of leadership: honesty, kindness, sharing and strength. I believe these are appropriate for athletes, and leaders, and especially the Chef de Mission of Team Canada.

The four teachings are: honesty, kindness, sharing and strength. The Maskwa (bear) spirit tells us about family (team), courage, strength, trust and faith. These are what is embedded in the World Indiginous Nations Sport logo on the drum.

Credit to Wade and Melanie Okeymaw of the Samson Cre Nation for the drum and drum bag.

-30-

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Josh Su
Beijing 2022 Press Operations Lead
Team Canada
C: +852-6726-3967
E: [email protected]

Thomas Hall
Communications Lead & Press Secretary
Team Canada
C: +852-6726-3962
E: [email protected]