By Peter Montour
For Team Eastern Door and the North Wrestling, the 2017 North American Indigenous Games will take place in Toronto Ontario. (Prior to Reconcilitation efforts, Quebec had not supported native athletes competing at the North American Indigenous Games. Because of this, athletes from the region have been representing Team Kahnawake or Eastern Door and the North (EDN). Eastern Door represents the Mohawk People who are known as the keepers of the Eastern Door and the North which represents the Northern peoples of the province or Region 6.)
Angel Robertson wins Gold at the 2014 Games
Team Eastern Door and the North will be sending approximately 350 athletes, coaches and mission staff. Approximatley 170 athletes and coaches are from the Montreal area, (Kahnawake, Akwesasne and Kanesatake.)
The 2014 North American Indigenous Games
Team Eastern door and The North Wrestling will field 16 wrestlers drawn primarily from the Kahnawake Survival School Wrestling Team and will compete against teams drawn from entire states and provinces. Team Kahnawake/Eastern Door and the North Wrestling team has been involved In the North American Indigenous Games since it's inception in the 1990 games in Edmonton Alberta. Since 1990, Team Eastern Door and the North men's wrestlers have gotten the following results:
1990 Edmonton Alberta, 1st Place
1993 Prince Albert Saskatchewan 1st Place
1995 Blaine Minnesota 1st place
1997 Victoria British Columbia 1st place
2002 Winnipeg Manitoba 3rd place
2006 Denver Colorado 2nd place
2008 Cowichan British Columbia 1st place
2014 Regina Saskatchewan 2nd place
The 1995 team wins first place in Blaine, Minnesota!
Each year at the North American Indigenous Games, Team EDN Wrestlers try to win the Mens championships which is namend in honour of Todd Diabo a former KSS Wrestling team captain. Todd was struck down in an automobile accident in 1993 just prior to the team heading out to the 1993 NAIG in Prince Albert. As a KSS Wrestler Todd was a GMAA Champion and a provincial champion. Todd was also one of the last hold out warriors to leave the treatment center during the 1990 Oka crisis. As Team EDN was already donating a trophy to the North American Indigenous Games for the men's wrestling team championships, we asked that the trophy be named in his honour. The Todd Diabo Memorial Trophy is the oldest trophy awarded at the North American Indigenous Games. When Team Eastern Door wins the trophy we always present the trophy to Todd's mother, she decides where the Todd Diabo Memorial Trophy will reside until the next NAIG.
The following wrestlers will be making up the Eastern Door and the North Wrestling Team for the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto.
Coaching staff
Head Coach Peter Montour KSS Wrestling
Assistant Coach Otiohkwanoron Montour KSS Wrestling
Assistant Coach Angel Robertson KSS Wrestling
Manager Margie Canadian KSS Wrestling
Girls Team
Lakota Norton-Glen KSS Wrestling
52 kgs
Kennikahontesha Norton-Montour KSS Wrestling
60 kgs
(National Place finisher, 2017 Canada Games Team)
Stella McComber KSS Wrestling
65 kgs
(Former Canada East Champion, 2017 Canada Games Team)
Tekahnekake Stacey KSS Wrestling
70 kgs
(Former Canada East Champion, 2017 Canada Games Team Alternate)
Wenhniseriiostha Goodleaf KSS Wrestling
90 kgs
(National Place finisher, 2017 Canada Games Team)
Mens Team
Jason-Guy Luneau Montreal YMHA
50 kgs
(National Place Finisher, 2017 Canada Games Team)
Joseph Standup KSS Wrestling
58 kgs
Karontaa Regis KSS Wrestling
63 kgs
Kye Diabo KSS Wrestling
76 kgs
(2017 Canada Games Team)
Nick Styres KSS Wrestling
85 kgs
(National Place finisher, alternate for the 2017 Canada Games Team)
Jersey McGowan KSS Wrestling
115 kgs
(National Place finisher)
Tehatokehntha McComber KSS wrestling
130 kgs
(National Place finisher)
In addition to this, the 2014 NAIG in Regina, former KSS Head Coach Dave Canadian was the NAIG President and Team EDN Chef De Mission
He lead Team EDN to a fourth place finish in the over all medal count behind B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and ahead of Alberta in the standings.
At the 2008 NAIG in Cowichan Dave Canadian was NAIG Vice President and Team EDN Chef de Mission leading the team to win the John Fletcher Award for the most sportsman-like team at the North American Indigenous Games.
Wrestlers lead the way, All the Way!
Opening ceremonies begin on July 16 at the Aviva Centre while wrestling weigh-ins are on July 17. Wrestling is set for July 18-19. The events will be streamed live on CBC.ca and followed by a transmission on APTN.
Peter Montour has been the head coach of the KSS Wrestling Club for the last 11 years and has produced national medalists and has won numerous GMAA city championship titles. In addition to this, Peter serves as the Vice-President of the FLOQ.
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