By Karen Cay

Muskoday’s bid for First Nations games successful

Jul 13, 2011 | 6:14 AM

About 3,000 athletes will gather in Muskoday, Prince Albert and Birch Hills for the 2013 Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games.

It is the largest gathering of First Nations athletes since the 1993 North American Indigenous Games were held in the area.

“We are very excited about this announcement,” said Marvin Sanderson, bid co-ordinator about the recently successful bid.

“We have been working for more than two years creating the proposal for the games and it is very gratifying that we were successful.”

After a lengthy process the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations chose the partnership of Muskoday First Nation, Prince Albert and Birch Hills from a pool of five First Nations bids.

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The 2013 Saskatchewan First Nations Games will bring in the athletes from around the province in four different age categories and cost between $1.4 and $1.6 million dollars.

The Athletes Village and Food Services will be at the Muskoday First Nation with a majority of the athletes camping out on the powwow field.

The reserve will also host canoeing, archery, cross-country running, some of the soccer and softball.

“Something different about our games, is we are using are partners right away with in Prince Albert and Birch Hills to use their sporting facilities. So most of the sporting facilities are built at this time,” Sanderson said.

Birch Hills will host a division of softball, along with junior golf.

Prince Albert will be the epicenter for the majority of soccer and softball competition, as well as track and field and senior golf. The city’s Kinsmen Park will also be the cultural center of the event with demonstrations and entertainment throughout the week of activity.

Traditional ceremonies will be held at the Muskoday Veterans Memorial Park.

This bid represents a great opportunity for all three communities, said Sanderson.

By working together, no one community was required to spend money to build facilities, meaning the savings of significant dollars.

“Our partnerships between Prince Albert and Birch Hills have always been very strong and will be stronger as we look forward to bringing one of the biggest gatherings to Prince Albert and area, since the North American Indigenous Games were hosted in the region in 1993,” Sanderson said.

“I think with the corporate sponsorships and the businesses around Prince Albert and Birch Hills are going to chip in for us and hopefully we won’t lose any money and we put on a great show for the athletes.”

ckay@panow.com