Watson boys a triple threat at the games

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The Southeast Treaty 4 squirt boys' softball team had an unusual look at the Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games.

In fact, you might have said you thought you were seeing double or, more accurately, triple when the team came on the field for the first time.

Nathiel, Trenton, and Brendan Watson are five-year-old triplets and members of the Southeast Treaty 4 team. The trio from Ochapowace First Nation was accompanied to the event by their grandmother, Rita Watcheston.

"I still have a hard time telling them apart," Watcheston said. "Just a minute ago, I was calling one Trenton and he turned to me and said 'I am Brandon.' People laugh at me and say I should know how to tell them apart but I simply don't. It is still very tough to do that when they look so much alike."

The boys' parents, Larry Whitehawk and Gina Watson, also have two other children, girls, ten and nine years of age. When the boys were born five years ago, the couple suddenly had three newborns to take care of, in addition to a four-year-old and a five-year-old. But Watcheston was there to lend a much-needed hand.

"I helped out with their care," she said. "Nathiel was only three pounds when he was born and I cared for him at my house until he was six months old. Then his mother asked me if she could have her child back so I gave him back to his mom."

On the fourth day of the games the trio were doing just fine.

"This is their first trip away from home for this long and I didn't know how they would react but everything is fine," Watcheston said. "I phoned home and let everyone know things were going okay and they were having fun."

Watcheston also served as an Elder at the games along with nine others from her area.

"We come along to cheer for them and if there are problems they send the kids to us to deal with them," she said. "They seem to be listening to us ... so far, so good."

For Southeast Treaty 4 softball coach Ken Thomas, having the triplets on the team meant a lot. The boys were originally supposed to play soccer at the games, but the soccer team had more than enough players so the triplets came to the softball team to fill out the roster.

"If it wasn't for the triplets, we probably would not have a team," Thomas said. "I think having them on the team gives the kids an extra incentive. The kids really enjoy it."

The team managed to win only one game during the week, posting a 14-0 drubbing of the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council. The team's two other games included a 3-1 loss to Yorkton Tribal Council and a 9-7 loss to the File Hills-Qu'Appelle Tribal Council.