First Nation teenagers going for gold at Winter Games

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Two First Nations teens are looking to chop and kick their way through the competition to win gold in karate at the British Columbia Winter Games in Williams Lake on Feb. 21 to 24.

The games are held every two years and, according to the official B.C. Winter Games Web site, "These games give young, developing athletes the opportunity to improve their skills while learning to deal with the excitement, triumphs and defeats of participating in a major sporting event."

More than 20 events are contested, from traditional winter sports such as hockey, skiing and figure skating to indoor events such as gymnastics, fencing and karate.

Located just west of Chilliwack, the Skwah First Nation will have two of their own at the games. Tony Williams, 15, and James McLemore, 17, of the Skwah Inanzuma Karate Dojo are going to their first Winter Games after tearing through the competition in their qualifying region, which runs from Hope all the way to the White Rock Lake and Langley region. Williams has lived almost his entire life on the reserve, while McLemore has lived on and off the reserve the past few years.

Skwah First Nation has sponsored the teens since they joined the karate club three years ago, providing instructors and lessons and access to various tournaments. Dojo administrative assistant Linda James said the two teens are at the intermediate level of karate and had to face more skilled and experienced opponents to qualify for the games.

"They're, I believe, green (belts), so there's at least four or five levels higher than them that they had to compete against, so they did pretty good," said James.

In addition to the teens representing their reserve at the games, James has a personal interest in the teenagers, considering them extended family and is proud of what they have accomplished so far and what they might accomplish in the future. She said there are a core group of parents and club members that have stuck with the club since it started and have been to various tournaments and competitions, so they feel especially close to any success the teens have had and might have in the future.

"We provided a karate class on reserve about two years ago trying to get the kids refocused," said James. The kids on the reserve were getting into trouble because there wasn't a lot of activities for them to do on the reserve. Consequently the kids were spending a lot of time in Chilliwack. James said she and other parents thought the karate-training club would be one way to get the kids involved and give them something to do in the community that was productive. She added the karate club has given Williams and McLemore a boost to their self-confidence.