THE RARÁMURI ATHLETES ARE COMING TO CANADA FROM MEXICO FOR THE MASTERS INDIGENOUS GAMES

 A multi-organizational partnership is making it possible for Rarámuri athletes to attend the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games.

Mississauga, Ontario — August 15, 2023 — The Masters Indigenous Games organizing committee is excited to announce its partnership with the Mexican Embassy and the delegate of Rarámuri athletes who will be competing at the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games. 

“ISWO is incredibly excited to have Rarámuri athletes attending the Masters Indigenous Games. Our goal with this event is to showcase Indigenous sporting and cultural excellence across North America, and having athletes from what is now known as Mexico aligns perfectly with that mission. With the support of the Mexican Embassy, we’re also able to host the Friendship Run/Walk at the end of the Games to collectively celebrate our unique cultural heritages,” said Marc Laliberte, president of ISWO.

Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) is the official Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body(P/TASB) for Ontario and consistently delivers outstanding sporting and cultural events. Following a few challenging years of restrictions and limitations on in-person programming, ISWO successfully hosted the 2022 Ontario Summer Indigenous Games.

“Cultural and Sports Diplomacy is an excellent tool for understanding and building bridges between nations and their peoples. It is a privilege for Mexico to have such talented athletes who represent us abroad. Indigenous rarámuri (meaning running foot) who inhabit the Tarahumara Mountains in Chihuahua are known worldwide for their endurance to run long distances, as well as their sport known as ‘ball or ariwueta race’, recognized in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage,” said Carlos Joaquín González, Ambassador of Mexico.

The Rarámuri is one of North America’s largest indigenous tribes. This year, the Embassy of Mexico is hosting seven indigenous athletes from the Rarámuri/Tarahumara ethnicity in Chihuahua, Mexico, and his trainer, as well as Romeyno, the first Tarahumara pianist and composer in full development. His music stands as a testament to multiculturalism. Their participation has been possible thanks to the partnership between the Embassy of Mexico, the Government of Chihuahua, Ah Chihuahua,

Canadian Pacific, and ISWO.

Acknowledgment

ISWO honours the traditional lands and homelands of all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis living both on and off reserve, in rural and urban communities.

Contact Information

Dustin Peltier
Marketing & Communications (ISWO)
dustin.peltier@iswo.ca