Team Meadow Lake does it again and again

Page 6

Meadow Lake Tribal Council athletes piled up the points to give their team its third straight overall title at the 2000 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games, held this year in Saskatoon.

Eugene Arcand, the games manager, had little trouble describing how he felt the games turned out.

"An overwhelming success," said Arcand on the final day. "In all ways. Organizationally, culturally, in terms of emotionally . . . it's just been a great event."

The four days of competition started April 24. Competitive events at various levels in volleyball, hockey, broomball, badminton, and indoor soccer attracted teams representing tribal councils from all parts of the province. As well, the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre powwow ran for the first two days of the games at Saskatchewan Place.

The crowds on hand at all of the events added to the overall success of the games.

"It's been huge," said Arcand of the attendance. "All the venues have been full. Our special events have all turned out okay. Great attendance, probably the best ever."

One of those events was an elite boxing card on the evening of April 26 at Saskatchewan Place, which featured Saskatchewan First Nation boxer and Olympic hopeful Jesse Laframbroise, as well as other professional boxers.

A video dance was held the same evening for the athletes at Centennial Auditorium. Most of the athletes attended the dance, except for the ones who would be competing in the gold-medal hockey games at Saskatchewan Place the next day.

Once all the competitions were over, the main trophies were handed out and, for the third straight year, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council walked away with the overall team trophy with 309 points. Second spot went to Prince Albert Grand Council with 265 points. Third went to Battleford with 231, fourth to Saskatoon with 201 points, fifth was a tie between the Agency Chiefs and the File Hills Qu'Appelle with 190. Yorkton finished seventh, then Touchwood, then Onion Lake. South East Treaty Four took the final spot.

The most improved team trophy went to the Battlefords, who improved from fifth place to third in a period of one year. The games will be held in Prince Albert next year.