Kitsumkalum is putting in a bid to host four sports in the 2012 North American Indigenous Sport Championships.
Lorna Brown is working with the Kitsumkalum band on the bid to host the basketball, soccer, canoeing and archery championships here, which would bring in approximately 1,586 coaches and athletes into the community that summer.
While Kitsumkalum would be the host community, Brown is hoping to partner with Terrace, Kitimat, and Northwest Community College for help with facilities and opening ceremonies.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to build on relationships between First Nations people and non-First Nations people, and .... a positive event that will tie our whole region together,” she said told Terrace city council Jan. 10.
This would also be a great way to encourage young people to live healthy lifestyles and prevent drug and alcohol use in youth, she said.
The sport championship is for youth 20 years of age and under for sports like badminton, baseball, golf, lacrosse, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.
Communities are able to bid on one or several sports, and the deadline for application is January 31, 2011. The host locations are selected through a competitive application process.