Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games educate young athletes

Culture played a vibrant role during the 2009 Saskatchewan First Nation Summer
Games as Onion Lake First Nation played host to over 4000 athletes aged 10-17
and 500 volunteers, who came from all over Saskatchewan to represent their
communities, reserves and tribal councils. The young athletes vied for medals in
mainstream sports including track and field, golf, softball, and soccer.
Traditional sports, including canoeing, archery, hand ball and stick games were
also re-introduced by Onion Lake at the 2009 Summer Games.
It was a powerful reminder for First Nations youth of "who they are and where they came from", said Grant Whitstone, Chair of the 2009 Summer Games.
The traditional games and sports events also brought home the fact, according to Whitstone, that culture and a healthy lifestyle must go hand-in-hand in the quest for wellness in body, mind and soul.
The Saskatchewan First Nation Summer and Winter Games were originally introduced in 1974 to develop more participation among First Nation youth in mainstream and traditional sports, to promote a greater awareness of positive healthy lifestyles and boost local community involvement.
"Youth participation in their home communities through sports and team
activities has also been shown to improve classroom achievement and overall
academic success," said Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, who contributed
$250,000 to the 2009 Summer Games.
The Games opened Sunday August 9th with the passing of the sacred ceremonial lance, carried by a team from Red Pheasant First Nation, host of the Summer Games in 2008. The runners left Red Pheasant the previous week and arrived, just in time, for the official opening ceremonies held Sunday evening at Onion Lake's new Heritage Park Powwow
Arbor.
Traditional dancers, drums and an impressive parade of 4000 young
athletes helped to kick off the opening ceremonies for the five day, multiple
venue competitions held at the Heritage Park, Chief Taylor School, Eagleview
High School, OLFN, and at the Lloydminster Golf and Country Club and Kinsmen Soccer Fields, City of Lloydminster and on the Knights of Columbus Beach at Sandy Beach Regional Park, Saskatchewan.
13 Communities and Tribal Councils
attended the Summer Games including Agency Chiefs Tribal Council (ACTC),
Battleford Agency Tribal (BATC)
Battleford Tribal Council (BTC), Beardys,
File Hills Qu'appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC), Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC), Team Onion Lake (OLCN)
Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), Southeast Treaty 4 Tribal Council (SET4TC), Touchwood Agency Tribal Council (TATC),
Team Woodland (Team Woodland) and the Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC)
On August 13, The Honorable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Assembly of Nations Chief Shawn Atleo attended the closing ceremonies of the 2009 Saskatchewan First Nation Summer
Games.
"Our government recognizes that strong youth lead to strong
communities," said Minister Strahl. "That is why we are proud to invest in events such as these games where youth learn important values and life skills."
The Eagle Staff carriers and members of the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council, led the procession in the closing ceremonies. The Agency Chief's Team took home the highest number of gold, silver and bronze medals and the title of allover champions for the second year in a row, with 969 points.
In 2011, the sacred ceremonial lance will be carried by a team of runners from Onion Lake First Nation to Thunderchild First Nation, Saskatchewan. "We are very proud to have been chosen as the host First Nation for the 2011 Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games," said Thunderchild Chief Dale Awasis.