Deh Cho fights to place at traditional games
Annual traditional games championship sees Fort Simpson, Fort Providence students soar
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 9, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Students from Fort Providence's Deh Gah School, Fort Simpson's Bompas Elementary School and Fort Liard's Echo Dene School went up against traditional games players from across the territory, eking out the odd win during championships at the end of February.
Deh Gah School's Marina Walker placed second overall in the female wrist hang competition during the traditional games championship in Yellowknife on Feb. 25. Walker scored a distance of 296 feet. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo
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From Bompas, Cadence Erasmus took second place in snow snake female, throwing a distance of 59 feet and falling short of placing first by just one inch.
Erasmus and classmate Jaicee Tsetso also placed in stick pull, with Tsetso taking first and Erasmus coming in third in their group.
Deh Gah School's Marina Walker put up a strong showing in the female wrist hang, taking second place overall with a distance of 296 feet.
That would have been a new record for the territory had it not been for William McDonald School's Gillian Furniss, who held on for 401 feet and one inch, claiming the top spot.
Bompas sent seven participants and two coaches in total. Tsetso said she was happy to place first in stick pull, which she described as her favourite traditional sport.
"It was pretty easy, and it was a good experience. I met a lot of new people," she said, adding the experience lived up to her expectations.
"I really wanted to go to the games so I could compete against different athletes."
Erasmus said her favourite part of the tournament was playing in the handgame tournament.
"I like playing. It's a lot of fun," she said.
"The hardest part was going up against Gameti."
This was Erasmus' second time to the games, and she said she plans to attend again next year.
"I like seeing all my cousins, and I want to meet new people," she said.
Brittany Kendo, who didn't place but played in all the games, agreed that handgames was the best part of the championships.
Kendo captained the Bompas team against East Three School from Inuvik, going up against her cousin in the process who was captaining East Three's team.
"The captains had to go up against each other, and the winner's team went first," she explained, adding she won her game.
Bompas' game against East Three School came in the loser's bracket, with Bompas winning that and two subsequent games before losing to Gameti.
