We’re going to find out later today if a bid by Tk’emlúps to host the 2027 edition of the North American Indigenous Games will be successful.

The announcement at the current games, currently taking place in Halifax, is slated for later this Friday.

Sarah Reeves with Discover Halifax, the local tourism agency, suggests if Tk’emlúps is successful, the economic impacts will be substantial.

“We’re estimating about 27-million in direct economic impact from the 5,000 athletes, coaches and team staff that have come into the city,” noted Reeves.  “About 6-million of that is straight into accommodations. About 6.5-million into food and beverage spends.”

At the same time, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says if Tk’emlúps is successful in its bid, there could be additional infrastructure built up to accommodate the Games.

“It includes building up the lands for campgrounds and RV parks and a potential hotel down the road,” Casimir told Radio NL before heading to Halifax to attend the bid announcement.

“There are a whole bunch of different things that we do have on the go, and we are pretty excited about what its going to mean for our community but its also looking at how we’re going to working with other community when it comes to the tourism and other aspects”

Cultural impact of the North American Indigenous Games

Reeves says beyond the economic impacts, there is also a cultural impact that the North American Indigenous Games have brought to Halifax.

“It’s 50-per cent sports, 50-per cent culture,” said Reeves. “I’ve been volunteering on the softball side of things, which is right next door to the main cultural village. It’s been open each day, and it has been absolutely packed.”

She says the Games have also created a camaraderie among those attending.

“It’s been great to see both kids and adults kind of learning about where other folks are from, and what the differences of their culture really is,” Reeves told NL Mornings on Friday.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir echoes that, suggesting a successful Tk’emlúps bid will allow the Band to showcase its heritage and history.

“The number one legacy is about healing. It’s about sports and healthy lifestyle bringing our families together in such a good way,” said Casimir.

“Knowing that we’ve already had some community driven initiatives, that are going to be expanding with the infrastructure, that is only going to enhance and be able to support what is going forward. I just see nothing but positives coming from this and I’m very excited.”

The joint Tk’emlúps/City of Kamloops bid is up against Calgary for the hosting rights.

– With files from Victor Kaisar