Siksika hosts championships

For the first time in its 27 year history, the National Indian Athletic Association is bringing its men's and ladies' basketball championship north of the border.

The annual championship is being hosted by the Siksika Nation of the Blackfoot Federation. The event will be held in Calgary from April 17 to 21.

"There's good response from the surrounding communities, the Native communities. They're all pretty excited about it," said tournament director Faron McMaster.

The roster for this year's championship will be made up of 24 men's and 24 ladies' teams. McMaster expects of those teams, 10 men's teams and 10 ladies' teams will be from Canada. In past years, when the event was held in the U.S., Canada's contingent has been much smaller, with about four teams participating.

During this year's event, the first Canadian team to compete in the NIAA championship will be honored. That team took part in the first ever NIAA championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1972.

Games will be played at the Jack Simpson Gym at University of Calgary, as well as at surrounding schools.

For more information about the basketball championship, call Faron McMaster at 403-734-5394 , or e-mail to theplex@telusplanet.net, or visit the event web site at http://www.siksikanation.com/niaa.