DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Water and land-based activities were brought together in Fort Providence last week for two fun-filled days for youth.

Fort Providence athletes who are competing at the North American Indigenous Games were presented with their Team NWT jackets during a community feast on July 18. The athletes include Julien Antoine, left, and Nolan Bonnetrouge, who are competing in archery, and Christina Bonnetrouge and Spencer Bonnetrouge, who are competing in badminton. Missing from the ceremony were Lynsey Landry and Elaine Landry for archery and their coaches Edward Landry and Adeline Landry. - photo courtesy of Nicholas Richard

The Fort Providence Fun Swim Meet was held from July 15 to 16. The event attracted eight youth from Fort Liard and approximately 40 from Fort Providence.

"It's been going really well. I'm really happy with our turnout," said Nicholas Richard, the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator, who organized the meet.

The event wasn't a traditional swim meet. Instead of swimming races and competitions, many of the activities were based around the hamlet's newly re-opened pool.

"They've really been using the pool to the full extent," Richard said.

Over the course of the two days, the participants, ranging in age from six to 17, had the opportunity to spend up to 10 hours in the pool. The evenings swims packed 50 people into the pool, Richard said.

The sessions in the pool, when the youth could swim or play however they liked, was Brandon Hardisty's favourite part of the meet. Although the pool was shallower than the one he's used to in Fort Liard, Hardisty still enjoyed it.

"It's fun," he said.

Hardisty also liked the game of tag that was organized in the community hall on Tuesday. A lot of kids joined in, he said.

For Helena Landry, the chance to try archery was the best part of the meet. Landry, who'd only done archery once before, enjoyed shooting at the paper targets. Swimming in the pool was the second best part of the meet, said the Fort Providence youth.

Other activities throughout the two days included soccer, games in the gym, a lot of socializing and a closing community feast with handgames. On July 16, the two volunteers with Play Around the World also led a free-play session.

Youth were given the opportunity to create whatever they liked out of a wide selection of cardboard boxes, heavy-duty tape, magazines and other assorted items. The creations included a fridge, a dollhouse, robot costumes, a barn and a car.

"We're happy that everyone came out," said Richard.

The chaperones from Fort Liard, Ted Matto and Spencer Bonnetrouge who got the facilities ready, and Dora Nadli and Margaret Ann Landry, who did all the cooking, helped make the event a success, he said.

The meet was supported by the hamlet, the Mackenzie Recreation Association and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.