Former NAIG athlete now head coach for Team SK lacrosse
- Jeanelle Mandes | June 02, 2014
Keenan Cummings was a former soccer athlete for Team Saskatchewan in Denver, Colorado in 2006.
He will be participating in the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) this year in Regina, but not as an athlete but the head coach for the Youth 16 for the lacrosse team.
"I feel confident, I feel that we do have a strong team. We have kids from all over Saskatchewan so hopefully that diversity can each bring a different piece to the team and help us excel and succeed in the games," said Cummings.
Cummings is from North Battleford but currently lives in Regina where he will be convocating next month from the University of Regina with a degree in Social Work.
He said he's been playing lacrosse for nine years all across Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. He's been coaching lacrosse for the past three years and NAIG will be his highest level of coaching.
"I'm actually the only First Nations coach of lacrosse...I feel that we have a strong team. We have kids from all over Saskatchewan so hopefully that diversity can bring a different piece to the team to help us excel and succeed in the games," he said.
He trains his team by focusing on the medicine wheel by looking at each piece and incorporating it into his coaching skills.
"Just looking at the physical piece; the training, the running and to be in tip top shape. Also the mental piece by dealing with the different people that will be there like the cameras and the TV's. Also the cultural piece, learning why we're there, that's for Team Saskatchewan but to honor the elders and to have that respect and honor for the game," he said.
Cummings said lacrosse has given him that outlet to have some fun and to release some of that aggression. He said it has definitely taught him more cultural teachings and wanting to learn more about the sport that led him to find his cultural side.
He said good luck to all the NAIG athletes competing this year.
"Have fun and enjoy it. Let's do well, succeed and let's bring home some gold medals. We're in Regina so let's represent Saskatchewan well."
Be sure to check out more NAIG athlete profiles on our Interviews or Sports page.