Nisga'a Nation hosts women's varsity basketball tournament

The Nisga'a Nation has invited four women's varsity basketball teams to a weekend-long tournament on its territory.

Games are happening in the villages of Gitlaxt'aamiks, Laxgalts'ap, and Gingolx, which are about 100 kilometres north of Terrace, B.C.

The tournament is providing an opportunity for a cultural exchange between Nisga'a citizens who live in the villages, and the coaches and players who are coming in to compete.

Chester Munroe, the Nisga'a sports and recreation director, said it's important that youth, especially girls, see high-level women's basketball in action.

"People are pretty excited, like this is the first time ever that varsity basketball is coming to our nation," he said.

Western Canadian teams attend

Teams playing in the Clash of the Clans tournament are coming from UBC-Okanagan, Regina University, and Alberta's Mount Royal and MacEwan universities. Each team will represent one of Nisga'a's four clans: Laxsgiik (Eagle), Laxgibuu (Wolf), Ganada (Raven) and Gisk'aast (Killerwhale).

"We want to make it known that we are here and we are able to host these kinds of events," Munroe said.

Munroe said he hopes the tournament grows in future years.

He also hopes the tournament will help university players learn about the nation, and a bit of theNisga'a language.

In addition to the tournament games, there's a basketball training camp taught by the university team coaches for locals. Munroe said people between the ages of three and40 were expected to attend.

Alan Nutini, one of the tournament organizers, said the varsity players also provided workshops to local youth. On Friday, before the games, the athletes visitedNisga'a schools, where they spent time playing basketball and building relationships.

School workshops

Nutini runs youth basketball camps for Nisga'a Nation youth in the summertime. The Wild Camps emphasise the importance of life skills in addition to athletic skills. The tournament builds on that mandate.

Ahead of the athletes visit, Nutini said they asked the schools what messages they hoped the athletes could impart to the kids.

"So the players talked a little bit about listening and learning to be part of a team and what it takes to do that, and the commitment," he said.

The tournament, which takes place in the days leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,includes an opening and a closing ceremony hosted by the nation.

"These [university] athletes can go back and share their experiences," Nutini said.

"It was fun to see yesterday you've got little kids playing [basketball] on the floor with these countless [varsity] players working around them and shooting, he said, adding everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Munroe said he hopes the athletes leave feeling connected and wanting to return.

"We stand proud of who we are as Nisga'a people and we want them to know that our nation is always open. We are here to host you in any way possible, whether it's through a visit playing basketball or taking a tour [of our territory]."