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 Gitlax̱t'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.

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 the Nisga'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 and 40 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 visited Nisga'a schools, where they spent time playing basketball and building relationships.

Nutini runs youth basketball