Games are more than sport to organizer

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To event co-ordinator Glen Pratt, the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games are about more than games and medals. For Pratt, the annual winter games are as much about participation, developing opportunities and promoting positive lifestyle choices for Aboriginal youths in the province.

As many as 2,500 athletes are expected to participate in the 1998 Saskatchewan Winter Games on April 12 to 16 in Regina. And if the event goes as planned, all will come away with a greater understanding of how organized sport can be used as a tool to promote positive lifestyle choices within the province's Native community.

The Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games have been held annually in Saskatchewan since 1980. The 1998 games will be hosted by the Touchwood File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council and will be held in Regina for the first time in the event's 19-year history.

"We're encouraging youths to live healthy lifestyles, and encouraging Native communities to promote participation in sports as an alternative to other lifestyles," said Pratt.

"We've come a long way since 1980 . . . there's definitely more opportunities for Native youths to get involved in sports now than there was back then, but there's still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done."

This year's games will feature competition in four medal sports and two demonstration sports.

Medal sports include badminton, volleyball, boys' hockey and girls' broomball. Demonstration sports include men's basketball and women's hockey.

Participants in this year's games will come from 10 different tribal councils in the province and will range in age from about 10 to 17 years old.

The largest sport at the games - hockey - will attract about 100 teams from the novice, atom, pee wee, bantam and midget age groups, said Pratt.

The five-day event will also include leisure activities, entertainment, evening dances and a sports luncheon. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the Regina Agridome and will feature a variety of Native cultural events and First Nations performers.

Besides the athletic competitions, one of the highlights of the event will be a Monday evening MuchMusic Dance Party at the Ag Ex Pavilion and a Tuesday evening awards night which will recognize outstanding achievements of Aboriginal youths.

The Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence will be hosted by the Wicihitowin Foundation and will recognize outstanding youth achievements in sport, culture, recreation and education.

Another highlight of the event will be a special appearance by former NHL coach of the year Ted Nolan and Canadian heavyweight boxing champion George Chuvalo.

Both will be keynote speakers at the event. Nolan will speak at a business luncheon on April 15. Chuvalo will address athletes that evening at the Queensbury Centre.

Organizers are also hoping to have either Sandra Schmirler or Catriona LeMay Doan speak at the event. Both were gold medalists at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano.

The decision to have Nolan and Chuvalo attend as keynote speakers is one that will emphasize the games underlying message that sports is an important tool in a person's development, said Pratt. But beyond that, the messages they bring will contain important lessons about working toward goals, overcoming obstacles and maintaining a positive attitude and avoiding the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Over the years, Chuvalo has had two sons die from heroine overdoses. Another son, also addicted to heroine, shot and killed himself in 1985, and Chuvalo's wife, unable to deal with her grief, overdosed on pills in 1993.

Chuvalo has since become a champion in the battle against drug and alcohol dependency and has spoken to thousands of students and athletes in his ongoing Fight Against Drugs campaign.

"They're not only bringing [stories of] success but they'll also be talking about overcoming obstacles," said Pratt.

Organizers of the 1998 Saskatchewan Indian Winter Games are recruiting volnteers for the event. To express your interest, call 1-888-711-1998.