Regina gearing up for summer games

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When the 2005 Canada Summer Games open on Aug. 6, it will mark a series of firsts.

It will be the first time the summer games will be held in Regina and the first time that Aboriginal groups will be heavily involved behind the scenes to make the event a success.

If games organizers are successful in their recruiting, as many as 10 per cent of the volunteers who'll become the backbone of the two-week event will be of First Nations or Metis background.

Organizers are targeting southeastern Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community for volunteers at the games. Those volunteers will be called on to assist in many roles-from shuttling athletes to and from athletic events and handling security to writing press releases and cleaning up the venues.

About 200 of those volunteers are expected to come from Gordon First Nation. In early April, Chief Glenn Pratt signed an agreement with Canada Games organizers to have members of the Punnichy-area reserve volunteer at the event.

"This is the first time that Aboriginal peoples have been fully entrenched in the planning of the Canada Games program," said Lyle Daniels, assistant vice-president of Aboriginal services at the 2005 Canada Games, who is also chair of the Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Aboriginal culture will also be showcased during the games. Sixteen tipis are to be erected as venues where Aboriginal people will be demonstrating many traditional activities, from Metis sash-making, to bannock making, to beadwork. A stage will also be set up on which dancers, singers and other performers will showcase their talents.

The Canada Games promise to be a turning point in sports organization for Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community, Daniels said.

"When a child is taking part in sports, he or she is one less child that's on the streets, or is alone, or is taking drugs or is considering suicide. Sport is an important way to provide character and self-respect to our young people, and by taking part in these games as volunteers, we can learn how to organize at a higher level, as our young athletes proceed to higher levels of competition."