Connect with us

Anishinabek News

Sam on Sports: Greg Elijah-Brown

Published

on

Greg Elijah-Brown, a member of Oneida Nation of the Thames, has played a key role in his rookie season with the Six Nations Rivermen. – Photo courtesy of Greg Elijah-Brown

By Sam Laskaris

ONEIDA NATION OF THE THAMES – Greg Elijah-Brown is hoping an already successful lacrosse season will get even better in the coming days.

One can’t help but cheer for Elijah-Brown knowing the commitment he himself makes.

Elijah-Brown, a 22-year-old member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, is in his first season of playing Senior lacrosse. He’s a rookie with the Six Nations Rivermen who compete in the Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL).

While many of his teammates live on Six Nations, Elijah-Brown has a somewhat lengthy journey just to make it to the Rivermen games and practices.

It usually takes him 90 minutes to drive from his home to Six Nations. That’s a three-hour, round-trip commute, half of it after a rigorous match or training session.

Elijah-Brown, however, certainly isn’t complaining about his 2023 lacrosse season.

Despite being a rookie, and the fact he missed four of the club’s regular season outings, he finished fourth in team scoring. He racked up 40 points (19 goals and 21 assists) in a dozen matches.

Elijah-Brown has followed that up by averaging more than two points per outing in seven playoff games so far.

And things are going to get a lot more exciting in the coming days for Elijah-Brown and the Rivermen.

That’s because the Six Nations squad will be participating in this year’s Presidents Cup, the national men’s Senior B tournament.

The Rivermen earned a spot into the seven-team Canadian tourney by advancing to the OSL championship final series.

The Presidents Cup will begin this Sunday, Aug. 27, and continue until Sept. 2.

The OSL’s Oakville Rock is hosting the national championship. As the host, Oakville had an automatic entry into the event.

And since the OSL is allowed to have two representatives in the tournament, Elijah-Brown and his teammates knew they would also compete at the nationals when they advanced to the OSL final.

Oakville beat the Rivermen 2-1 in the best-of-three league final.

But Elijah-Brown and the Rivermen are full of confidence heading into the Canadian tournament. Members of the Six Nations squad are confident they have what it takes to capture the national title.

After winning the OSL crown in 2022, the Rivermen went on to participate and place third in the Presidents Cup staged in Edmonton last summer.

The Six Nations organization also competed in and won the 2019 national championship, staged in Kahnawake, a Mohawk community located just south of Montreal.

Elijah-Brown had finished off his junior career playing at the Junior A level in Burlington last summer. He had also spent a portion of his junior career toiling with the Six Nations Rebels, a Junior B club.

So, he kind of had his sights set on playing with the Rivermen this season. He was planning to reach out to the squad this past spring.

But Layne Smith, one of the Six Nations veteran leaders, beat him to the punch and contacted Elijah-Brown to see if he was interested in joining the team.

The fact he was able to produce consistently doing his rookie Senior season – and knowing the Rivermen will vie for a national title – Elijah-Brown is rather content these days.

Plus, he’s got even more to look forward to.

Elijah-Brown was a student/athlete the past two school years at Onondaga Community College in the state of New York.

He’s now preparing for his first year at Syracuse University. Elijah-Brown was expected to move into his Syracuse home on Friday.

But he’ll be back for the Rivermen’s Presidents Cup opener on Sunday.

If things go well, Elijah-Brown and his Six Nations teammates just might have a perfect ending to their season shortly thereafter.

Anishinabek News

Administrative Coordinator

Published

on

By

Continue Reading

Anishinabek News

Executive Assistant to the Vice-President Academic and Research (VPAR)

Published

on

By

Continue Reading

Anishinabek News

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund launches $15,000 fundraiser for GivingTuesday

Published

on

By

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund aims to raise $15,000 to provide vital winter clothing to 18 First Nations, collaborating with the KO First Nations, Keewaytinook Internet Highschools, and Fort Hope First Nation on GivingTuesday on November 28, 2023. – Photo supplied

THUNDER BAY (November 22, 2023) — Mikinakoos Children’s Fund, an Indigenous children’s charity providing essentials to youth in remote First Nations in Northwestern Ontario, is announcing the launch of a special fundraiser in recognition of GivingTuesday.

In alignment with the global GivingTuesday movement, Mikinakoos Children’s Fund aims to raise $15,000 to provide vital winter clothing to 18 First Nations, collaborating with the KO First Nations, Keewaytinook Internet Highschools, and Fort Hope First Nation. The initiative seeks to purchase over 1,500 coats for children in these regions, ensuring they are equipped to brave the harsh winter months.

“The winter season can be particularly challenging in the remote areas we serve, where many children lack access to proper winter gear,” said Mikinakoos Executive Director Emily Shandruk. “Mikinakoos Children’s Fund believes that every child deserves the warmth of hope during the colder months. With this in mind, we’re launching this crucial campaign to make a positive impact.”

Recent support from TD Canada Trust’s Ready Commitment Funding, a $50,000 grant over two years, is boosting Mikinakoos Children’s Fund’s Warm Clothing initiatives, of which this initiative is a part. With growing requests from various communities and organizations, Mikinakoos’ GivingTuesday funding alone wouldn’t have sufficed. Thanks to the extra support, the charity can now ensure that no child is left without essential resources.

GivingTuesday, which falls on November 28, marks the opening day of the giving season—a global movement encouraging people to come together for a day of generosity and positive change. Mikinakoos invites individuals and organizations alike to join in the effort to make a difference.

Here’s how you can contribute:

Donate: Your contribution, regardless of size, will bring Mikinakoos Children’s Fund closer to its $15,000 goal. Every dollar counts. GivingTuesday falls on November 28; however, this fundraiser will run until December 31.
Spread the Word: Share our campaign on social media, with friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can make a wider impact.

“The remoteness of the communities we serve presents challenges in shipping and distributing necessities, such as food, sporting equipment, and winter gear, especially with the absence of permanent roads,” said Shandruk. “Climate change has further exacerbated the inconsistency of ice road conditions, making the delivery of essential items even more difficult.”

Please consider contributing to Mikinakoos Children’s Fund’s GivingTuesday campaign through this link or by texting “WARMCOATS” to 807-500-1522. Interviews with spokespeople from Mikinakoos Children’s Fund are available upon request.

About Mikinakoos Children’s Fund

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund is a charity created to address poverty by providing basic amenities, such as food, clothing, and shelter to First Nations children residing in remote communities. Join us on this journey to create positive change and secure the safety and wellbeing First Nations children. Engage with Mikinakoos Children’s Fund on social through #FirstNationKidsFirst.

Contact:

Victoria Belton
Senior Consultant
Media Profile
Tel: 416-992-5179

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 5039589 Ontario Inc.