The Nisga'a Nation is readying themselves for a flurry of high-level basketball.
The first ever Clash of Clans basketball tournament will be coming to the northern B.C. Indigenous community, as they welcome four University women's basketball teams, including the UBC Okanagan Heat.
Heat head coach Bobby Mitchell told Black Press Media that he is finally excited to see the experience come to fruition, after four years in the making.
"Tom (Huisman, the school's athletic director) and myself, we were approached with this idea for a tournament four years ago, but because of COVID, and the travel involved it fell through numerous times until this year," said Mitchell. "It is a pretty amazing opportunity."
The tournament will pit the Heat up against the Regina Cougars, MacEwan Griffins and Mount Royal Cougars for pre-season basketball prior to the beginning of the Canada West season. Games will played Sept 27- 29 in communities within Nsga'a, such as Laxgalts'ap, New Aiyansh and Gingolx.
"We talked a lot about things being bigger than basketball and I think this is an opportunity to live that," Mitchell said. "For us, the basketball is the second part of what we are doing as we get the opportunity to be in classrooms in some of the communities."
Mitchell explained that the players will be split into three groups and put into K- Grade 6 classrooms, where they will share their life experiences and stories, while also listening and hearing the kids perspectives on their lives.
"It is not just a trip for basketball, it is a trip to learn more about their culture," added Heat third-year guard Lily Pink.
"It sounds like they are excited to teach us the language up there," said Mitchell. "Myself and the other U Sports coaches will also be holding a clinic for some of the players up there, who range in age from kids to adults."
The tournament will be extra special for sophomore Tennyson McCarthy, who is Metis.
"My mom comes from the Red River Nation " said the Lake Country product. "So, I am excited to connect more with my culture on the basketball side as I know they love basketball. We are going to try to be good stewards of the land and respect them and their culture."
The games will feature opening ceremonies, with each team representing a clan - the Heat will be the Killer Whale clan.
"I am grateful for the opportunity, as we are all going to learn stuff and it is going to feel a little bit different from your regular pre-season games," Mitchell said. "There is going to be, I assume, a big crowd as well, with full gyms which should be really exciting."
Mitchell explained that there is an academic piece involved as well, with UBC Okanagan Indigenous professors on hand to help guide some of the Indigenous members into pursuing a post-secondary career, which Mitchell is hoping to "contribute to that message a little bit."
Heat open up their pre-season with a game against the MacEwan Griffins on Friday, Sept. 27 in Gingolx, followed by the Mount Royal Couagars on Saturday in Laxgalts'ap and finishing up with the Regina Cougars on Sunday in New Aiyansh.
Fourth year sniper Lauren Foullong 鈥� who tied a Canada West record for most threes in a game last year (with nine) 鈥� is equally excited for the experience, but is also keeping her mind on the court.
"I am excited to see where this team takes us, it has only been a few weeks of practice so far, but we came to win."
