Big handgames win for Behchoko
Eight teams share $50,000 in prize money
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, August 15, 2016
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
The Clarence Mackenzie team from Behchoko took the top prize in the third-annual handgames tournament held recently on the Hay River Reserve.
There were big payouts for the top eight teams in the July 30 to Aug. 1 tournament, which featured $50,000 in prize money.
K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) hosted the tournament, which attracted teams from all over the NWT and northern Alberta.
The prize money was distributed to the top eight teams as follows:
- Clarence Mackenzie (Behchoko); $14,000
- Chateh (Assumption, Alta.); $9,000
- Alex Black (Behchoko); $7,200
- Behchoko/Yellowknife; $6,300
- North of 60 (K'atlodeeche First Nation): $5,400
- South of 60 (Trout Lake); $3,600
- Dehcho Rebels (Wrigley); $2,700
- 8 of Us, 1 Sub (Meander River, Alta.); $1,800
Sharon Pekok, the recreation director with KFN, said 28 teams participated in the tournament.
Each team consisted of eight players and an alternate, meaning there were 252 players.
They came from such places as Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Behchoko and the Alberta communities of Meander River and Assumption.
"People come from all over and sometimes they don't have a team so they'll join other teams," said Pekok.
Many of the participants camped out near the arbour, where the competition was held.
Pekok said KFN supplied the campsites to the visitors and also provided food.
She said the event was another success and KFN is already looking forward to next year.
"It's a lot of fun and it's a competition of people's skills," said Pekok of the popularity of the handgames tournament.
It's also a gathering where people can meet up with friends and family, she added. "I think that's a big part of it."
