Winter games in the red -Booming participation doesn't lead to financial solvency

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The fourth annual Treaty Seven Games may well be the last. Although the most successful ever in terms of participation, the games are facing a financial deficit of approximately $5,000.

"We're still calculating the costs," says Mike Bruised Head, executive director of the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society in Lethbridge and president of The Treaty Seven Recreation Association.

"We budgeted $24,000 for the games, and we'll come close to that. But we haven't been able to raise the funds we had hoped."

The association received $6,000 from the Alberta Sports Council, which is less than $4 per athlete. More than 1,500 athletes, from the Blood, Peigan, Sarcee and Siksika reserves, as well as from Calgary and Lethbridge, took part in the five-day event held last month in Lethbridge.

Approximately $13,000 was raised in entry fees and from individual and corporate donations. However, Bruised Head said the association didn't get as much financial co-operation from the Lethbridge community or southern Alberta as anticipated.

"The Mayor gave us his verbal support," he said. "But we certainly didn't get much in donations or funding. They lowered the cost of a few of the venues, but that was about it."

Adding to the problem was the increased cost of holding the games in the city where rental fees for venues were costly. Previous winter games have been held on area reserves and charged minimal fees.

"We had to pay for the officials and equipment, posters, medals, T-shirts, travel postage and advertising," Bruised Head said.

"In reality, most of the cost of the games is being absorbed by the athletes themselves, even though many can't afford to participate."

The three hosting Friendship Centres - Lethbridge, Calgary and Pincher Creek - were supportive in donating the time and effort of their staff and volunteers. Recent government cutbacks to their budgets made financial donations almost impossible.

"We've totally burnt out," Bruised Head adds.

"We only got the games five months ago and we've been working on overtime to get them organized. But it's the finances that dictate the games and they're just not there."

The Treaty Seven Recreation Association, which serves a key role in organizing sports clinics and tournaments between different bands, may itself be in danger.

"We should be getting far grater support from the province, through the Sports Council. They have to understand that the money spent here is well spent," said Bruised Head.

The tight financial situation will probably restrict the association to hosting only the few events it can afford next year. As well, the 'Uniting the Nations' Powwow, held

in conjunction with the games, will likely be down-sized.

This year athletes competed in hockey, basketball, boxing, volleyball, badminton, bowling and alpine skiing events. In addition, a special rodeo event was held in Standoff on the Blood Reserve.