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William Mantla's team from Behchoko won Fort Simpson's handgames tournament. The team members include, Peter Quitte, from left, Darcy Mantla, Andrew Adzin, Lloyd Flunky, William Mantla, Louie Flunky, Lawrence Jr. Mantla, Zachery Apples and Edward Quitte. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo |
Traditional gathering revived
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 1, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Liidlii Kue First Nation held its first traditional spring gathering from June 21 to 23. The gathering is something band members wanted to hold as part of a movement to revitalize traditions, said Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Minnie Letcher.
In the past, when everybody worked a trapline, people gathered in Fort Simpson twice a year. In the spring, they feasted and danced and celebrated surviving the winter and honoured the people who didn't, said Letcher. In the fall, before they went out on their traplines, they celebrated seeing each other one last time.
A gathering like this hasn't been held in Fort Simpson in approximately 50 years, she said. The First Nation tied the first day of the gathering to Aboriginal Day. Events throughout the day included a canoe race, Dene games, a community feast, musical performances and a tea and drum dance.
The men's handgames tournament also began on Aboriginal Day. Fourteen teams from NWT communities including Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Behchoko and Fort Smith competed in the tournament along with teams from Assumption, Alta., and Ross River, Yukon. It was the first major handgames tournament held in the village.
Tournament games lasted over three days. On Sunday, Kelvin Kotchilea's team from Behchoko played Joe Pastion's team from Assumption in the third-place game. Kotchilea's team won the first set, but Pastion won the next two, advancing them into the finals.
In the finals, the Assumption team faced William Mantla's team from Behchoko that had gone undefeated throughout the tournament in four games. As a result, the Behchoko team only had to win one match to take the whole tournament.
Spectators watched with bated breath as sticks moved between the two teams until the Behchoko team let out a cheer, having won the tournament and $10,000 in prize money.
"It was really nice," Mantla said about the tournament.
There were lots of good players at the event including teams from Wrigley, he said. Mantla said his team benefited from having elder Louie Flunky, an experienced handgames player, as a shooter for the first two days. Mantla and Andrew Adzin shared the shooting responsibilities on Sunday.
The tournament was fantastic, said Jerry Antoine, who played on Jim Antoine's Fort Simpson team.
"It wasn't just about money, it was about having fun," he said.
Antoine said the whole gathering was incredible because it brought together many communities. It was great to see so many young people involved in the tournament and in the organization of the gathering, he said.
"People are so willing to volunteer, to help out," said Antoine.
Liidlii Kue First Nation plans to make the spring gathering an annual event. The First Nation is also planning a fall gathering that, instead of celebrating trappers and families returning to the land, will focus on youth who are preparing to go back to school, said Letcher.
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