Gordon First Nation gearing up for winter games

There will be a number of things about the upcoming Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games that will set them apart from past games, but the most notable will likely be the way the sporting competition will be scheduled.

The usual process for the games is to divide the participating athletes into two groups. The first group comes for the opening ceremonies and competes, then leaves halfway through the games to make room for the second group, which competes, then takes part in the closing ceremonies. But this time around, explained games co-ordinator Joe McNab, all the athletes will attend all seven days of the event.

"Instead of splitting them, we felt the kids could enjoy the whole concept of the games, rather than just two days," he said.

What usually happens, McNab said, is that the need to get all the sporting events for each of the two groups completed within two days means a hurried schedule and competitions held late into the night. "Whereas our games are going to be shut down early in the evening and they'll have their evenings to enjoy other activities," he said.

One of the factors that makes it possible for all the athletes to compete at once is that, although Gordon First Nation is hosting the games, which will run from April 15 to 21,the event itself is being held in Regina. The city, which played host to the Canada Summer Games in August, boasts world-class recreational facilities and ample accommodations for the 2,800 young athletes from across the province who will be competing in the First Nation games.

In order to prepare for hosting the winter games, Gordon First Nation formed a partnership with the 2005 Canada Games that allowed Aboriginal volunteers to receive training during the summer games, gaining skills and experience that would serve them well in their work on the First Nation winter games. The mutually beneficial and historic partnership was made possible through the efforts of Gordon Chief Glen Pratt and the good working relationships he's established with the city of Regina and other organizations and agencies, McNab said.

Gordon has played host to a winter games before and, although those games were held successfully in the community, holding these games in Regina instead just made sense, McNab said.

"Regina has top-notch facilities, a brand new kinesiology building and everything we need in respect to facilities. So the logical choice was to go there because to host them in our community didn't really make sense because of our accommodations."

Athletes will compete in four sports-hockey, broomball, volleyball and badminton, as well as in basketball, which has been included as a demonstration sport.

There will be plenty for the young participants to do when they're not competing, McNab said. Work is underway to develop a cultural component to the games in partnership with Wanuskewin Heritage Park. Organizers are hoping to arrange for members of the Harlem Globetrotters, who are performing in Regina during the games, to come out and visit some of the games venues. A teen dance and round dance are also on the schedule of events.

McNab is optimistic that the 2006 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games will be a success, not just for the participants, but for the spectators as well.

"We anticipate a good turn-out. We think it's going to be user friendly for the kids. And I think it will be well attended with the facilities we're going to be hosting it in."

While plenty of people have already committed to help out during the games, organizers are still looking for more volunteers. Anyone interested in getting involved can call the games office in Regina at 721-0944 or call the Gordon First Nation band office at 835-2232.