Photographer's family hosts sports weekend

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The friends and family of the late Jim Goodstriker plan a memorial weekend sporting event in his honor.

The weekend will include men's hockey, senior men's hockey, men's basketball, ladies' basketball, and a youth basketball tournament.

The event is scheduled for March 17 to 20 at the Kainai Sports Centre, the Senator Gladstone Hall, and the St. Mary's Kainai high school in Stand Off. Opening ceremonies for the event takes place on Friday at the sports centre.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and tickets are $5 for basketball and $7 for hockey. Concessions will be available at all venues.

Prizes for the events include a $1,500 first prize for hockey, and $1,000 for basketball. First place teams will also receive jackets.

In addition to these prizes, All-Star teams will be chosen from each tournament, and a MVP will be selected. A game star will also be chosen at the conclusion of each game. There are many more prizes available.

There will be a skill competition for hockey, and a three-point shooting competition for basketball on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday night a cabaret will be held at the Kainai Sports Centre.

There will also be an awards presentation on Sunday at the centre.

Jim Goodstriker (1937-1997) began his career as a sports reporter and photographer for the Kainai News in the early 1960s.

In 1968, he turned his attention to rodeo, eventually becoming one of Western Canada's best-known Native rodeo photographers.

Goodstriker won many awards for his work. He was the official photographer for the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the National Indian Rodeo Finals (1976 to 1982), by invitation.

He also worked for a number of Native and non-Native rodeo associations.

Goodstriker overcame many hardships in his short, but memorable 59-year life, including the loss of a kneecap after being diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was only 10 years old. The handicap never slowed Goodstriker in his love of sports, photography and life.

Goodstriker was an award-winning photojournalist.

He was instrumental in the organization of the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, the Alberta Native Hockey Council, the Native Golf Association of Alberta, and helped organize the Indian Sports Olympics.

He enjoyed and promoted hockey, golf and boxing.

He coached and managed the Kainai Chiefs (1960-1980) who won several provincial titles.

Goodstriker was honored as Sportsman of the Year, received an Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta award, and advised the Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta).

His work was truly recognized in October1996 when he was inducted into the Canadian Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame.

Goodstriker had a book published that was filled with the faces of Elders from the Blood Reserve. Stories from Our Elders showcased Goodstriker's talents.

"He was a very caring man. He went out of his way to help people, like rodeo participants. He paid some of their fees. He helped out teams that were short on cash," said Laurie Tailfeathers of the Blood Reserve.