Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/68073
JUNE 2012 • PAGE 23 With faces flushed red from exertion and sweat dripping from their brows, two lines of young people are being put through their pac- es in a basketball fitness drill – "foot fire" – led by coach Jordan at the North End Recreation Centre on Dufferin Avenue and Sinclair Street. Mixed in with the rapid patter of sneak- er clad feet on the hardwood floor, and the coach's shouted instructions, sound of basketballs being bounced by indi- viduals shooting hoops at the gymnasium's other end. Welcome to Anishinabe Pride basketball – a community based basketball club designed to develop fundamental skills, sportsmanship and general fitness to youth living in the North End and surrounding area, notes Jackie An- derson, program manager of Pride. On this particular Saturday evening in late May, Anderson and her husband, Marty Boulanger, who's a coach in the program, are running a skills development camp for youth based in the North End. This free program, which began on January 7 and ends June 16, is divided into two groups and times slots and consists of ages seven to nine (7:00 pm-8:00 pm), and ages 10-12 at 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm. "It is through basketball that Pride can reach many youth within the community and develop them to be positive role models and leaders," says Anderson afterwards to a visit- ing reporter during an interview with a few oth- er participants in the recreation centre's lobby. She notes that there are about 160 youth, ages four to 20, involved in Pride. One young Aboriginal basketball player, Ocean, 15, a willowy 5'7'' grade nine student at General Wolfe School, mentions that she's been playing with Pride since last year. "You get to meet a lot of young people who are gifted players," she says, adding that she also plays on her school's basketball squad. "They're really good. They help me a lot and are proud to be who they are. They make me happy. I try to come out every week to Pride. It's made me a better basketball player." Pride basketball began seven years ago, notes Anderson. "We had a group of Aboriginal inner city youth that were at a higher development in basketball skills," she says. is the hollow Pride Basketball BY MARTIN ZEILIG cause to play in a competitive high perfor- mance sport there's often a huge cost involved, which can be a barrier to many families. "Our girls lost every league game that sea- son," adds Anderson, pointing out that Anishi- nabe Pride has a northern chapter now – OCN has started to run weekly kids basketball de- velopment kids camps for the kids that live in The Pas. "They were competitive. But, they faced a lot of things as 12-14 year old girls. Racism was huge. When we first started, our girls would be called some pretty inappropriate things by the other teams. The whole gym would be packed with parents and friends from the other teams. At that time, we got support from Shaugnessy Park School. So, that's where we practised. But, we played all around the city." Then, in their second season the Pride girls' team went undefeated and won the league championship. "If it wasn't for Pride, many of the kids wouldn't be engaged in sports at all," stresses Anderson. "Our coaches use their own gas and ve- "They played in the city wide District League (run by the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association). But, unfortunately, there weren't enough kids in the North End to form a team in this league. So, they were combined with the Central League." Then, a year later the WMBA folded the Central League, and renamed it the Rising Stars League, explains Anderson. Now, any coach could formulate a high per- formance team for boys and girls, respectively, ages 12-17, from all over the city, she says. "The five inner city youth that Marty and I knew had no high performance team at that time; and we wanted to engage our kids," con- tinues Anderson. "These were the only Aboriginal youth from across the city (playing in the WMBA). We felt a lot of discrimination. And, we felt these kids couldn't go down a level in basketball. So, Marty and I pulled together some people in the community, both Aboriginal and non Aborigi- nal, and received some financial support." That support was crucial, she says, be- PUT A LITTLE SPRING IN YOUR METROPOLITAN • GENERAL DENTISTRY • PREVENTATIVE • FULL AND PARTIAL DENTURES • RESTORATIVE • Open a new account • Apply for credit • Use your cards DENTAL GROUP Phone (204) 942-8531 Serving the Aboriginal Community for Over 50 Years Boyd Medical Centre 711-388 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3C OC8 A little credit and financial preparation can go a long way in helping you get a jump on planning for the new season! YOU CAN BANK ON US NORTHERN FINANCIAL SERVICES Apply in-store or call 1-866-963-2477 SHOPPING Back row – l to r: Isabella, Melvin, Ocean, Marty, Jackie, Bishop Front row – l to r: Christian, Ralph, Amelia, Alyssa, Chester hicles to transport kids to games. Our program wouldn't be where it's at without the coaches giving their time to the kids." For further information, call the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council at 925-5757; email: prideball@live.ca