‘Everyone can feel like they are welcome:’ Mi’kmaw Summer Games host Special Olympics event

Nova Scotia·NewOver a dozen people with varying abilities came together to take part in Wagmatcook.Over a dozen people with varying abilities came together to take part in WagmatcookAnna Rak · CBC News · Posted: Aug 25, 2025 4:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoChief Sidney Peters was there to cheer on his nephew, David Perkins, in the competition. (Anna Rak/CBC)The Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games is aiming to include athletes of all abilities with its inclusion of a Special Olympics event. This year, the games took place in Wagmatcook from Aug. 15 until Aug. 24. The Special Olympics event was held on Aug. 20.”We are just trying to be very inclusive during the summer games,” says organizer Charise McDonald.”Everyone can feel like they are welcome and able to play and have fun throughout the games.” McDonald has two nephews with autism, so the Special Olympics is important to her.”They don’t really get to go out much,” she says. “But when they get to do all these fun things and have fun in our community… it’s really nice.”Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games on in WagmatcookBands across the province are gathering to celebrate sports and culture. Anna Rak got an inside look at one of the traditional games.Chief Sidney Peters came to the Special Olympics to cheer on his nephew, David Perkins. It’s Perkins’ first time competing in the Special Olympics. He is representing his home community of Glooscap First Nation. He has autism.Perkins says he is most excited for the hoop toss event.”I’m a good thrower,” says Perkins.”Dave gets so excited every year knowing that he is going to come here,” says Peters.”I think it plays a very important part in the games. It includes everybody so that’s what we really enjoy.”This year, the annual event included people aged four to 63. The Mi’kmaw Summer Games included over two dozen other events, including athletes and participants from bands across the province.Chief Norman Bernard of Wagmatcook says the games were launched to help bring different Mi’kmaq communities together and to showcase participants’ athleticism.ABOUT THE AUTHORAnna Rak is a reporter for CBC Cape Breton.