Historic Indigenous curling game in Cree Nation of Chisasibi aims to inspire community

Never before has there been a curling game involving Canada's elite Indigenous curlers – until now.

The Cree Nation of Chisasibi, a northern Quebec town on the eastern shore of James Bay, is making history this weekend by hosting ten elite Indigenous curlers from all across Canada who will be taking to the ice for the historic game.

Olympian Kevin Koe, his brother and sister Jamie Koe and Kerry Galusha, four-time Scotties champion Kerri Einarson, curling legend Al Hackner, Olympic silver medallist Carolyn McRorie, Patty and Joe Wallingham, Colin Hodgson and Mike McCarville – all of Indigenous heritage – have travelled to the community that's located nearly 1,000 kilometres north of Montreal.

Between the 10 curlers, there have been 82 Brier and Scotties appearances.

The one-game showdown on Saturday has been in the works for months, all with hopes of inspiring community members to get involved in the game and to also highlight the resilience and strength of a community that was home to two residential schools.

"We want more Indigenous youth to get into sports"<a href="https://twitter.com/kkoeyk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kkoeyk</a> with some poignant words ahead of Saturday's historic all-Indigenous Chisasibi Curling Classic. It's going to be a special day here.<br><br>You can watch it live right here at 3pm ET on Saturday: <a href="https://t.co/bdsraE6iqY">https://t.co/bdsraE6iqY</a> <a href="https://t.co/G6n9o6cfH5">pic.twitter.com/G6n9o6cfH5</a>

"We want more Indigenous youth to get into sports, whether it's curling or any other sport. But with curling, you can do it anywhere and in any community. Some northern communities have natural ice still," Galusha said.

"It's about being healthy and getting youth into curling. And