The All Native Basketball Tournament passes skills to next generation
Global News
The All Native Basketball Tournament, hosted annually in February, provides an opportunity for mentorship, community and sharing skills amongst Indigenous athletes in B.C.
Coach Desi Collinson grew up on the courts at the All Native Basketball Tournament. He’s spent the better part of 20 years both playing and coaching with the Skidegate Saints and says mentorship is one of the best things the tournament provides.
“We’re able to mentor individuals from one step to the next step to the next,” said Collinson. “The tournament brings people together to learn from one another (and) pick up different skills.”
Indigenous athletes from all across B.C. have gathered in Prince Rupert for a week of intense basketball at the All Native — it also provides an opportunity for mentorship, community and sharing skills, showing youth where basketball can take them.
Collinson has been a “public servant” in his community for the last two decades and both basketball and mentorship have contributed to his success – so he wants to make sure he passes that along to the next generation of players.
“Uplifting people, making them feel good and carrying them along the way with us is super important to me,” said Collinson.
“Being able to carry my community with me and us being able to carry each other is (the highlight). I’ve leaned on my community members, they’ve leaned on me – it goes vice versa.”
According to Collinson, the Saints are “a dynasty” – they’ve won intermediate, they’ve won the senior division and he feels like they’re going to be in the finals this year.
The Similkameen women’s players are also a part of that next generation. They’re the first from their community to be at the All Native in a long time.