Junior Indigenous basketball players come together at B.C.'s All Native Tournament
CBC
Respect, kindness and family is how Snaw-naw-as Sawbills player Phoenix Sampson describes the 50th annual Junior All Native Basketball Tournament in Langley, B.C., this week.
The six-day tournament kicked off Sunday, with more than 1,800 Indigenous athletes representing over 130 First Nations and urban Indigenous teams from across British Columbia.
"I just love how every nation ... comes," said Sampson.
"It’s a really cool experience."
More than just one of the largest basketball tournaments for Indigenous youth in the province, the event is an opportunity to celebrate culture and community.
Mia Rose Paul with the Maaqtusiis Lady Suns said she has been playing basketball for three years and loves shooting hoops for the fans.
"Makes me feel more confident, just knowing that people like us," said Paul.
Desi Collinson, coach for the Skidegate Saints from Haida Gwaii, said it's heartening to be around so many other coastal First Nations people at one time.
”The experience, and just seeing the coastal people from up and down the coast come together, it's very beautiful," said Collinson.
“The Potlatch ban, you know, didn't allow for three people to gather at one time for us as First Nations, but now look at us right now. There’s over 130 teams here,” he said.
The Potlatch ban was part of the Indian Act from 1885 to 1951, prohibiting First Nations in B.C. to gather together to Potlatch — a gift-giving feast and gathering that marks important life and community events.
“Everybody that you see here, everybody that's here right now, it's just about sharing the culture and sharing each other's differences and similarities, too,” said Collinson.
Leland Poole, playing for Kwadacha, said he’s just happy to be at the tournament and is eager for the chance to win some games.
Kwadacha Nation is in Fort Ware, nearly 1,000 kilometres north of Langley as the crow flies and a 17-hour drive.
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