UNITY--Once again, the Unity Composite High School senior girls’ volleyball team and their coach, teacher Vicki Orobko, used their home tournament as an opportunity not just to play some volleyball but also to advance truth and reconciliation.
With the 12-team tournament held Sept. 22 and 23, just before the National Week for Truth and Reconciliation began, there were many orange shirts in evidence at the school throughout the weekend.
A slideshow recognizing various aspects of Indigenous culture was presented at a school assembly Friday afternoon, and to all visiting teams and spectators Saturday afternoon. As part of As part of the introduction to the slideshow, a member of the Unity team stated, “We know that we have been consumers of racism but we’ll work hard to not be producers of it.”
Several visiting teams contributed slides to the presentation, with a couple of girls from those teams then speaking to their specific slide on the Saturday.
The girls, from Treaty Territories Six and Four, gave information from their home area about Indigenous success, whether historical or current. Coach Orobko, on behalf of the UCHS team, spoke about Chief Poundmaker and about the business, Treaty 6ix Apparel.
Kerrobert told the group about Newo Wellness, an Indigenous-run business, Plenty about buffalo jumps near their community, and Kindersley about the Blackfoot tribe and a buffalo rubbing stone. The Rosetown Royals acknowledged the Cree knowledge keepers and elders who help educate students in the Sunwest School Division, while the Outlook Blues talked about the blanket exercise and their local Red River cart building workshop.
The Clavet team introduced Awasis Boutique, a mothers’ and children’s clothing line based in Saskatoon, started by a Métis/Filipino woman originally from Clavet. The Macklin girls honoured Fred Sasakamoose, the first NHL player with treaty status.
Maple Creek informed everyone about the Battle of Little Big Puck, held for 40 years. The “battle” is a hockey game between members of the Nekeneet First Nation and members of the local rodeo association. RCMP members serve as referees.
The Bert Fox Bisons, from Fort Qu’Appelle, had a personal connection to First Nations volleyball player Rosetta Cyr, a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and of Team Saskatchewan. Cyr has coached some of the Bisons in club volleyball.
After the weekend, Orobko said, “The ceremony Saturday with contributions from the teams was amazing. The teams proudly highlighted meaningful people, events and businesses from their Treaty areas. Every person who attended made that weekend what it was. The SHSAA believe in education through sports. Sports are a great opportunity to build belonging.”
Posted promises part of player's action
Every player attending the tournament was given a cutout of an orange shirt and asked to write a promise on it. Following the slideshow, the students from 12 different communities in Saskatchewan put their written promises up on the gym walls. These orange shirts stayed on display in the gym for the week, and will remain there throughout this weekend for the senior boys’ tournament.
Examples of these promises are: “I promise to respect all people, on and off the court;” “I promise to call out racism when I see it;” “I promise to respect all nations along with their beliefs and values;” and “I promise to respect the land we all share.”
Before the volleyball games resumed Saturday – to eventually crown the Bert Fox Community High School Bisons gold medallists, Macklin Sabres silver and UCHS bronze – a serving competition was held. Each team selected one player who had to successfully serve to six positions on the opposing court in as little time as possible.
When the Bert Fox Bisons and Ministikwan Lake Warriors tied at 35 seconds, a full-body version of rock, paper, scissors determined the winner. With rock beating scissors, Ministikwan Lake got the prize, a box of Cake Mama by Chelsea Fawell cupcakes to enjoy. Serving for McLurg High School, Wilkie’s Cheyanne Cey was in third place at 36 seconds.
In a coin toss draw, Brooke Bannerman of McLurg won a Treaty 6ix Apparel sweatshirt.
More to tournament than volleyball games
The previous day one player from each team selected was to form two teams to play a fun game. Those teams were coached by UCHS alumni Ashlyn Greenwald, Kristina Hansen, Addison Rewerts and Gracen Rewerts.
This was the third year the UCHS senior girls’ team has hosted a tournament with a truth and reconciliation theme. A brief ceremony was held in 2021 and the Unity girls made orange scrunchies for all players to wear.
With special guests, including Elder Sylvia Weenie in attendance in 2022, the Treaty 6 and Métis Nation flags were hung in the gym. The Unity girls made kokum bows for each girl attending the tournament, and were happy to see them being worn afterwards at other tournaments during the season.
This year, all visiting players were presented with wrist lanyards made by UCHS players and Coach Orobko.
Orobko summed up by saying, “Treaty 6ix Apparel was featured by our team. These statements from their website sum up our purpose with this tournament: ‘Reconciliation starts with understanding and giving time for all stories to be shared. Everyone is on their own journey of understanding history.
“‘If you were born, living, or came to Treaty 6, you are a part of Treaty 6, and you benefit from the treaty. The Spirit & intent of the treaties was to share the land in peace & harmony. We are all Treaty People.’”
UCHS senior gir's volleyball continues to build on their truth and reconiciliaiton efforts each year. Indigenous culture recognized at UCHS flag raising - SaskToday.ca
