Keeseekoose to host winter games this month

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Young Aboriginal athletes from across Saskatchewan will gather on Keeseekoose First Nation at the end of March to compete in this year's Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games. Over 2,000 athletes are expected to converge on the Keeseekoose area to display their athleticism and battle for the title as the province's best.

"In total there are nine tribal and two independent teams coming to compete," said Henry (Alec) Keshane, Keeseekoose winter games manager.

"We are expecting between 2,000 and 2,500 athletes not including coaches and chaperones," he explained.

Although the winter games are stated as beginning on Friday, March 29, the opening ceremonies will kick things off on Saturday, March 30.

"We are considering the Friday to be a travel and set-up day," said Keshane. "So we are planning the opening ceremonies for the Saturday at the Keeseekoose Arena," he explained.

Following those ceremonies, the competition will officially begin.

"We are dividing the athletes and the various sporting divisions into two different groups," explained Keshane. "The first half of competition will run Saturday to Monday and the second half will go Tuesday to Friday."

Beginning on Saturday, competition in broomball will begin in all divisions for both male and female.

Through the weekend the first half of the volleyball will also be held for the juniors and peewees for both male and female.

Also starting on Saturday will be the novice and midget divisions in the hockey competition.

"We had to divide the competitions into two halves because of the low amount of facilities we have in the area," explained Keshane.

"Overall the games are usually only five days, but because of the lack of facilities we received an extension of two days for the completion of the games," he said.

The neighboring communities of the Cote First Nation and the Town of Kamsack will be contributing their facilities to help Keeseekoose overcome their facility hindrance.

"All the events will be divided among the three arenas and two different schools," stated Keshane.

"Overall the games are being hosted in all three communities," he added.

The second half of competition, which will begin on Tuesday, will see the remaining divisions in volleyball and hockey played out as well as the badminton and female hockey divisions.

"The female hockey is a demonstration sport for the second year around," said Keshane.

"It is an up and coming sport which is growing very fast in our communities," he explained.

This year's Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games will conclude on Friday, April 5 with closing ceremonies planned to take place after the midget hockey final, at the Keeseekoose Arena.

Now, with the arrival of thousands of athletes, family members and supporters just around the corner, Keshane and his planning committee are making the final preparations.

"We only have about 10 percent of the planning left," said Keshane.

"And part of that planning includes accessing enough volunteers to help run the events," he said.

Keshane estimates that they will need approximately 200 volunteers to help make their turn at hosting the winter games a success.