It has the potential to be one of the largest aboriginal events in Saskatchewan history. The 2011 Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games will be held at Thunderchild First Nation and begin Saturday.
The games will begin with six sports and conclude Thursday. There will be opening and closing ceremonies, an athletes' village and many other features to enjoy along with the best young First Nations athletes in the province.
As many as 4,500 aboriginal youth from across Saskatchewan ranging from 10 to 17 could compete in the games along with 200 mission staff members, 60 officials, 400 volunteers, 20 dignitaries and thousands of fans and supporters.
Money and hours of work were put into upgrading facilities at Thunderchild First Nation and it appears the board and committees are ready to get things started.
The sports featured this year at Thunderchild First Nation will be archery, athletics, soccer and softball. Canoeing will take place at South Bay and the Mervin Golf Course will host the young golfers.
The games kickoff with the opening ceremonies Saturday at 7 p.m. at the high school.
Archery will begin with the cub category Sunday and conclude Monday.
The older category, the cadets, will take aim Wednesday and Thursday.
Four age divisions of track and field athletes will compete Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Canoeing for the two age groups will include 1,000, 3,000 and 6,000m races starting Tuesday and concluding Thursday.
Two of the four golfing age categories will begin Monday and wrap up the Texas Scramble format Tuesday. The younger age categories will hit the links Wednesday and Thursday.
The squirt, peewee and bantam soccer teams will participate Sunday to Tuesday with the midget division running Tuesday to Thursday.
Softball will run Sunday through Thursday in several communities.
In total 13 different tribal councils will be represented with Agency Chiefs Tribal Council, Battlefords Agency Tribal Council, Battlefords Tribal Council, Beardy's First Nation, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Thunderchild/Onion Lake, Prince Albert Grand Council, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Southeast Treaty 4 Tribal Council, Touchwood Agency Tribal Council, Woodland and Yorkton Tribal Council competing.
