Three players from the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts will be part of a free football camp for youths in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Monday. Starting quarterback Cameron Dukes, former all-star offensive lineman and starting centre Peter Nicastro, and all-star defensive end Folarin Orimolade will join Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback Ben Maracle as part of the free, non-contact football camp at Quinte Mohawk School. Maracle, who is from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, has also played for the Kingston Grenadiers, in the Kingston OPP league, with St.
Theresa Catholic Secondary School in Belleville, and with Canada’s national junior team. He also went the CFL Combine in Edmonton as an underclassman and then attended the Ottawa Redblacks training camp as part of the CFL’s quarterback internship program. The Argos reached out to Maracle about initiating the camp, which happened for the first time in 2022.
Participants will run through the football basics, learn a little about Indigenous culture, and be treated to local cuisine for lunch, all at no charge. There will be multiple pro and college players at each drill to instruct the kids. Orimolade, who has played for the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams as well as the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, said in a telephone interview that he cherishes the opportunity to participate in such camps, something he didn’t have the luxury of doing himself as a youth.
“I find it really cool to be able to go back do something like this because I wish I’d have been able to do something like this,” Orimolade said. “You never know when you’re able to come into someone’s life and hopefully be able to help them.” Orimolade also said he’s eager to experience some Indigenous culture.
“It’s honestly something that I want to learn more about,” said the Washingston, D.C., native.
“Since I have this opportunity, I want to be able to learn from Indigenous people and really understand their way of life, hopefully be a help and hopefully I can learn.” The camp will be held Monday, July 29 at the school, 1624 York Rd., from 10 a.
m. to 2 p.m.
It’s open to all youths aged six and up at all skill levels. The goal is to introduce newcomers to the sport, as well as to give more experienced players a chance to get tips from CFL and OUA players. janmurphy@postmedia.
com x.com/Jan_Murphy.
