Image: Pauline Isadore (left) introduced her granddaughter Cassandra Paul (right) to archery at the age of two. The pair both competed at the 2019 Mi’kmaw Summer Games in Waycobah. Both brought home gold medals.

Cassandra Paul, a 15-year old archer from Wagmatcook, is hoping to secure a spot on Team Mi’kmaw Nova Scotia 3D Archery at the 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax.

To be eligible to make the team, Paul must attend at least three of seven tryouts across the province between May and September 2019.

She most recently competed on Aug. 18, alongside her grandmother Pauline Isadore, at The Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games at Camp Rod in Orangedale. Both archers came home with gold.

Pauline sparked her granddaughter’s interest in the sport around the age of two by purchasing a plastic archery set for her as a gift. She says Cassandra has been doing really well throughout the entire tryout process, and that she has a great shot at making the team.

Both Pauline and Cassandra have been members of the Bras d’or Archers Association (BAA) for two years. Pauline believes this support system has played a vital role in her granddaughter’s archery success.

BAA Coach Stephen Kerr was recently named Head Coach of Team Mi’kmaw Nova Scotia 3D Archery. Cassandra’s success comes as no surprise to him.

“She had a goal - her and her grandmother - that they wanted to win a medal at the 2018 Mi’kmaw Summer Games in Eskasoni. Between May and June 2018, until the competition in August 2018, she practiced a lot and came to the club 3 times per week and won a gold medal at the Eskasoni Games. She was over-the-moon happy about that. And good on her! At the age of 14, to have a goal and put in the effort to achieve that goal, I think that says a lot about a person.”

Pauline has seen her granddaughter gain confidence in all aspects of life since taking up archery.

For Cassandra, archery is much more than a sport.

“It’s really therapeutic,” says Paul. “I deal with issues such as anxiety. I’m always thinking, but with archery it calms me down and I feel relaxed. It has helped me out a lot. It really has.”

Paul will attend the last tryout for the 2020 NAIG at The Nova Scotia Provincial 3D Archery Competition hosted by Glooscap Archery Club in Gypsum Mines on September 8. Coaches will decide who makes the team based on a combination of scores as well as other criteria following the final shoot. The results will be announced on Sept. 15.

Regardless of the outcome, Paul plans on competing for a long time.

“I plan on doing this forever.”