Inuvik - A group of young swimmers is raising funds to travel to Yellowknife in January, to try out for the North American Indigenous Games.

Raven Firth and Tessie Chinna, 11, listen to instructions from swimming coach Nikki McKie, not pictured. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photos

Richard Phillips, 16, Tessie Chinna, 11, and Raven Firth, 10, have been practising four times a week at the Inuvik Family Centre pool.

They swim after school and on weekends, trying to improve their times by a few seconds every day.

"I just want to see how good I'm going to do in Yellowknife," said Phillips on Dec. 1, as he practised swimming lengths with coaches Rob Smith and Nikki McKie.

Phillips added he has a training routine which builds up all aspects of swimming.

Angela McInnes, who is Raven's mother, said the total bill for flights to Yellowknife and accommodations would be more than $7,000 combined.

However, if the youth pass the tryouts, they will be flown to Cowichan, B.C. in August free of charge.

"I made sure we got that in writing," she said.

To get to the tryouts, the youth have been holding bake sales, seeking local sponsors, and also helped organize the "haunted swim," which happened at the Family Centre over the Halloween season.

Nancy Chinna, who is Tessie's mother, said it's taken a lot of organization and dedication and the youth are on track.

But she said the youth are determined to try their best in Yellowknife.

"They're the ones who are dragging us out of bed in the morning, they have the drive and determination," she said.

Rob Smith said the Inuvik Family Centre will be hosting Reindeer Games and a "Swim with Santa" activity on Dec. 8, with some proceeds going towards helping the three swimmers.

"When you consider that it's a private sports group, they have to raise all their money themselves," he said.