Registration is now open for the 2026 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games, which are set to return to action this summer with events hosted in Norway House Cree Nation. The games, which serve as a developmental pathway for Indigenous athletes heading toward the North American Indigenous Games, are returning after a 15-year hiatus and a one-year postponement due to wildfires.
The first phase of the competition will take place in Norway House Cree Nation from July 8 to July 12, 2026. Athletes aged 17 and under who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and hold band membership or are permanent residents of Manitoba or Northwest Ontario are eligible to sign up. The registration fee for participating in the Norway House phase of the games is $75.
Organized by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council, the games will feature a variety of athletic and traditional activities. Athletes in Norway House will compete in badminton, volleyball, beach volleyball, soccer, canoeing, 3×3 basketball, softball, wrestling, 10,000-metre foot races, and York Boat races. Up to 3,000 youth athletes from across the province are expected to participate.
The event was initially planned for 2025 but was postponed following a province-wide state of emergency declared in May 2025 due to widespread wildfires. The organizing council moved the games to 2026 to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants and host communities. Financial support for the return of the games has been provided by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro.
Following the events in Norway House, a second phase of the games is planned for August 10 to August 15, 2026, in Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation. Further information regarding the games and athlete registration can be found on the official event website.
