By Sport Nova Scotia Communications
The 2025 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games (NSMSG) took place in Wagmatcook First Nation, Unama’ki (Cape Breton) from August 14-24 and saw the highest number of participants in every sport compared to prior years. This included 160 badminton players, 300 golfers and a basketball tournament that took six days to complete. In total, more than 2300 athletes competed during the Games.
“I think it’s because COVID is finally over now. People are wanting to get back out and mingle again and spend time with each other. I have always said Summer Games is about bringing back old friendships,” says 2025 NSMSG Coordinator Terry Bernard, who completed his third term organizing the Games this year.
The NSMSG has been taking place every year since 2010, excluding two years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The location of the Games changes every year, cycling through seven different Mi’kmaw communities.
The NSMSG offers a wide variety of sports and games competitions like archery, darts, floor hockey, waltes (a traditional Mi’kmaw game) and tug-of-war. These events draw athletes of all ages, especially those preparing for the North American Indigenous Games.
“The oldest competitor we had this year in canoeing was 73 and he won every division,” says Terry. “He’s always a fierce competitor; he’s one of the best canoers I’ve seen out there.”
There was also a Special Olympics event, which is something Terry looks forward to every year. But for the 2025 Games he is most proud of the Family Fun Day. Taking place on the second last day of the Games, there were bounce castles and inflatable obstacle courses, foam sprayers and tons of family orientated activities. More than 1500 people attended.
From Monday to Saturday there was entertainment every night, including performances from The City Natives, Clifton Cremo and The Relatives, but the night of the Family Fun Day had something extra special.
The festivities were originally going to include fireworks, but a few days before the Games there wasn’t enough rain and they were banned by the province, so Terry had to pivot.
“I said, ‘well, the next best option is a laser show or drone show,’” says Terry. The show came together in just 11 days. “They let me develop my sequence, I gave them pictures and images of what I wanted, and they developed the show and people loved it.” The drone show took place during the Matt Minglewood Band set.
Every year the host community holds the opening and closing ceremonies for the NSMSG and Terry says they go all out. “It’s our pride, right? It’s our pride, the Summer Games.”
Elle Gould has been participating in the NSMSG for as long as she can remember, competing in the women’s and men’s A softball and women’s and coed volleyball this year. All four of those teams won gold.
“I get to see my friends from all over Nova Scotia at this event and then compete with one another too. I absolutely love how competitive it gets on and off the field or court for these sports. It just makes the atmosphere of NSMSG amazing,” says Elle.
In addition to her success at the NSMSG, days prior to the event she was competing in the 2025 Canada Games as a member of the women’s softball team.
“I had such a fun and memorable time in St. John’s taking part in the 2025 Canada Games. And it felt amazing to come home and see my friends and family during the NSMSG after such a busy summer,” says Elle. “It was such an honour to be able to represent Eskasoni and Mi’kma’ki at the 2025 Canada games, showcasing my ribbon skirt at the opening ceremonies as the flag bearer for Nova Scotia and representing on the field for softball!”
