Broomball tourney a success

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The first Native Women's Broomball Classic 2002 was held at the Fort William First Nation Arena in Thunder Bay, Oct. 11 to 14.

The Waswanipi Northern Stars took an early lead and beat the Moose Factory Islanders 3 - 0 to take the A-side championship. The Northern Stars, the sole Quebec team, showed the Ontario teams the strongest competition they had ever encountered.

B-side champions were the Nibinamik Native Stars. The Fort William Wolverines were runners up. Mishkeegogamang took the C-side championship over the Michikan Lake Starz. All the games were hard fought and there was no shortage of bruises and sprains among players.

The event, organized by the 7th Generation Athletics Circle, was a tremendous success with teams from many communities in Northern Ontario and Quebec attending. The tournament motto reveals how serious the women were about play: "We, First Nations women, support and cheer our men and children to play safe, hard, and have fun while in sporting events. It is our turn to show off our stuff! Let's show leadership, strength, and be role models for healthier living. Let's play broomball!"

Comments from some of the players show just how determined the women were to have a weekend and an event that belonged to them. Barb Fiddler from Bearskin Lake talked about how busy everyone was before coming to Thunder Bay, because they had to get their houses in order before they left. Her team had only been playing for a few weeks, and only in a gym, because there is no arena in her community.

"We've had assistance from lots of people, and some of the men have been supportive," she said. When asked if the women brought their children to the tournament she said, "No. We left them behind. This weekend is for us. We'll be back next year, and we'll be bringing our best players. They are having babies this year."

The team from Fort Hope was very enthusiastic but difficult to interview because they all talked at once. They said this was the first time they had played in such a big tournament. They were toppled by the team from Quebec after a five-year unbeaten record. It was a really good game, they said.

Fort Hope expects to get an arena this winter. The women felt that their participation in this tourney is a good example for young girls.

Girls must be 14 years old for this competition.

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The 14 teams involved in the tournament were the Big Trout Blazers, Team Webequie, Eabametoong Northern Lights, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School Thunder Hawks, Michikan Lake Starz, Cat Lake, Deer Lake Lakers, Mishkeegogamang, Neskantaga Lady Hawks, Nibinamik Native Stars, Muskrat Dam Saints, Moors Factory Islanders, Waswanipi Northern Stars, and Fort William Wolverines.

Event organizer Joanne Mamakeesic said the crowds for the games were very good, and loud. In fact, you could hear the cheering from the back of the parking lot. The women got to play in a new facility as the Fort William First Nation Arena opened only last year.