It was a successful week for White Bear First Nations youth who participated in the 2016 Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games, which was hosted by Onion Lake Cree Nation between March 27 and April 1 at Lloydminster. The youth competed against 12 other teams from across Saskatchewan.
A total of 52 youth from White Bear helped to round out a team which also included youth from Ochapowace First Nations to form the South East Treaty Four Tribal Council team; this they do for both the winter and summer games as they’re held.
White Bear athletes competed in badminton, volleyball, basketball, and hockey, although the competition also hosted curling, table tennis, and broom ball.
“It was a great experience for them,” Lee Seaton, games coordinator, explained. “All of our teams were very well represented and all of the athletes had a lot of fun. There are a lot of good athletes from White Bear and from other tribal councils, and it’s exciting to see the up and coming athletes.”
Gina Joyea and Desmond Littlechief trained 35 badminton athletes within the 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U competitions. They began preparing the athletes for the games in January of this year. A total of 29 of these athletes competed at the Winter Games in Lloydminster.
“All tried very hard,” Tanya Littlechief, White Bear councillor, explained. “We had five badminton teams make it to the semi finals: 12U girls doubles Shelaine Pinacie and Dalilah Littlechief, 14U girls doubles Breeanne Peepeech and Ashawnti Littlechief, 14U singles Ashawnti Little Chief, 16U girls doubles Chloe Sunkawaste and Angel Akachuck, and the 16U mixed doubles Tyrell Littlechief and Angel Akachuck.”
“In the end the badminton team’s 16U mixed managed to battle for the gold, however, they got silver, which made us very proud!”
“Not only did our badminton team do well we also had our 14U, 16U, and 18U female volleyball make it to their semi finals.”
The 14U girls were coached by Diette Kinistino and Isaac Kinistino of White Bear. They made it to the bronze medal match but after a tough battle lost out. The 16U team also put up a good fight throughout the weekend earning a bronze medal, while the 18U female volleyball team put in a solid and impressive showing at the competition going undefeated throughout to earn gold. White Bear players helping the team to the win included Summer Longie, Schuyler Longie, Carlie Standingready, Chantrel Laracetre, Shantel Taypotat, and Autumn Kakakaway.
Both the basketball teams and hockey teams put in solid efforts, but did not make it to the semi-finals.
“Our basketball team was winless, but they tried hard and gave it their all, they had a lot of fun,” Seaton explained. “Our midgets in hockey were also winless and the other teams – bantam and peewee – made playoffs, but didn’t make the playoff rounds.
Ensuring a successful trip were also everyone behind the scenes including the volunteer chaperones of approximately 20 and the games coordinator, Seaton, who organized on behalf of White Bear Sports, Culture, and Recreation.
“A huge shout out to the chaperones, coaches, and trainers, and of course, our coordinator, Lee Seaton,” Littlechief said.
Next up for the athletes of White Bear First Nation is preparation for training at the North American Indigenous Games 2017 to be held in Toronto.
