First Nations winter games give SK athletes a chance to shine in Saskatoon

Starting Monday in Saskatoon, 3,000 athletes will meet and compete in seven indoor winter sports, and they represent each of the 74 First Nations communities in the province.

The athletes, grouped into 13 teams representing regions, will participate in broomball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, hockey and curling, during the Tony Cote First Nation Winter Games. 

Host communities Cumberland House, Shoal Lake, and Red Earth will also host a cultural fair outside the city.

More than a game

When competition begins Sunday, Saskatchewan's young Indigenous athletes will have the opportunity to showcase their athletic prowess, but it's about so much more than that, according to the games manager.

"If you look at the leaders, the chiefs and council members and headmen that make up our leadership in Saskatchewan, you'll find a large number of them started off by participating in the First Nations winter and summer games program," said Lyle Daniels.

Daniels himself is a former youth athlete who participated and medalled at the North American Indigenous Games.

It's more than a game and we need to constantly ensure we have these opportunities for our young people.- Lyle Daniels, games manager

"It teaches so much. The benefit of sport is amazing. It's more than a game and we need to constantly ensure we have these opportunities for our young people."

The alternative, according to Daniels, is what he often sees in the media — young people taking a less productive path.

To get to the games, each athlete has to try out for their team, and compete in playoffs.

The summer games allow 4,000 athletes to compete, but the winter games are smaller, since there are no individual sports.

The games are held once a year, alternating the winter and summer competitions.

The games were founded by Chief Tony Cote in 1974 after he and his council found the majority of Indigenous youth were excluded from mainstream teams.