Team Woodland at the 2019 Tony Cote Summer Games opening ceremony. (Tammy Cook-Searson/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

First Nations

Team Woodland sends largest contingent ever to Tony Cote Summer Games

Jul 15, 2019 | 2:08 PM

The largest contingent of athletes ever to represent Team Woodland are competing at the 2019 Tony Cote Summer Games.

The Games began Sunday on Flying Dust First Nation with an opening ceremony, which included 430 athletes from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Montreal Lake Cree Nation and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. According to Team Woodland Coordinator Tami McKenzie, that’s the most athletes the three bands have ever brought to such an event.

“There are 13 tribal councils and each of them bring 300 to 400 athletes,” she said. “It’s huge. There’s about 3,000 athletes.”

In all, there are eight sports open for competition at the Games including athletics, archery, canoeing, cycling, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball. McKenzie expects Team Woodland will excel in athletics, softball, soccer and canoeing, adding they won every canoe race in 2017. The last time Team Woodland was declared the overall winner of the Summer Games was in 2015.

Cross-country running and volleyball are two sports expected to begin today and the Games are scheduled to end July 19. There have been some changes to the point system compared to previous years, but McKenzie believes Team Woodland will still preform well.

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“We’re a pretty good all-around team,” she said. “Good luck to all the athletes and play hard.”

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is at the Games. (Tammy Cook-Searson/Facebook)

This year marks the second time Flying Dust First Nation has hosted the Games with the first time in 2003. Flying Dust Chief Jeremy Norman stated it was a pleasure to welcome everyone to his community, adding they plan on offering the best facilities, venues and services.

“In many ways there is no greater contribution that we can make than to help Saskatchewan’s First Nation youth to strive to be their best through fair and honest competition,” he said. “Having hosted many events previously we know that success can only be achieved through the countless hours and sacrifices made by our volunteers.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno