Mixed Martial Arts Legend Georges St-Pierre hangs out with the students at the Green Dojo on a trip to North Battleford on Mon., Oct. 7. (Submitted Photo/Ames Leslie)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

GSP in Battlefords

GSP brings ‘powerful’ message to Indigenous youth in the Battlefords

Oct 7, 2024 | 7:08 PM

When it comes to recognizing the numerous inspirational influences in his life, a name comes instantly to mind for Mixed Martial Artist Georges St-Pierre.

“Royce Gracie was the first athlete to win the tournament in the (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and he was smaller than everyone,” he said of the former fighter known for Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial art.

St-Pierre explained that although he looked less intimidating, he dominated the octagon.

“For me, growing up as a kid who was bullied, I see this and it was very inspiring because he was sort of a bullied kid [and was] able to win against his bullies,” he said.

“Even though he was willingly stepping in there.”

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MMA’S Georges St-Pierre speaks a message of hope to Indigenous youth on a trip to North Battleford on Mon., Oct. 7. (Submitted Photo/Ames Leslie)

The now retired mixed martial artist, also known as GSP, made a stop in North Battleford at the Western Development Museum on Monday to bring a positive message to Indigenous youth. He explained his home community of Saint-Isidore is roughly 15 minutes from Kahnawake, a Mohawk Nation, and as he was building up his career, he always had their support.

“I noticed the First Nation, they suffer from similar problems that I had to face growing up, like some family members of mine were alcoholic, in the family there was drug problems,” he said.

“These are the problems that are sort of recurrent in a lot of the communities so, I tried to come here give a message of hope and perseverance and how they can overcome that.”

According to Jordon Weenie, Battlefords Area Tribal Chiefs (BATC) program manager, planning to bring the MMA legend to the Battlefords only happened about a week ago. Weenie said that he was happy with how successful the event was and the message St-Pierre brought the youth was much needed.

“We go through dark times and to have someone be that light, to come here and shine it on us and in such a positive way,” he said.

“That’s what I loved about today.”

Ames Leslie, the mayor of Battleford, said he wasn’t sure the young audience from local First Nations would even know who he was and he was pleasantly surprised over 400 turned out to the event that was replete with grand entry and prayer to open the event.

“They were just focused, you know, the cell phones stayed in the pockets, the kids were listening on every word he said,” Leslie said, noting the meet and greet and signing line ran right out the door.

The two-division UFC champion in welterweight and middleweight said that because of his success in his craft, it was important to give back. The athlete, who officially retired in 2019 after announcing a hiatus six years earlier, has been touring around over the last year and a half on this mission that is dear to him.

MMA’s Georges St-Pierre signs autographs during a trip to North Battleford on Mon., Oct. 7. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I won the lottery in a way that I’m happy. I had my own problem, but I could’ve been way worse,” he said.

“It’s a good thing to me, it makes me see the reality and the reality sometime is not beautiful and I’m happy to do that to try to help them have a better environment.”

According to Weenie, St-Pierre wanted the young people in the rapt audience to hear his own personal story of struggles and the message of anti-bullying.

As Weenie was walking around the museum, he saw joy radiating from the crowd.

“The overall consensus is a lot of smiling faces, a lot of happy kids with their autographs,” he said, noting some even came prepared with DVDs, posters and boxing gloves to be signed.

Weenie said the ultimate lesson was that although children may find themselves in difficult situations, there is always hope and conflict can be resolved peacefully.

“His overall theme, his overall message I think was really powerful.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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