It’s been three years since they were last held, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Saskatchewan’s festival of First Nations sports and culture is returning this week.

Formerly known as the Saskatchewan First Nations Games, more than 4,000 athletes from across the province will take part in seven different sports in the 2022 Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games. The James Smith Cree Nation organized and is the host for the multi-sport event, being held Monday through Saturday throughout Saskatoon and at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

Antoine “Tony” Cote started the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games in 1974. The name was changed to honour him for doing so in 2017 and he passed away in July, 2019. About 500 Indigenous athletes competed when the first summer games took place 48 years ago. He said that at the time, he noticed that many First Nations youth under 20 were excluded by non-Indigenous sports team and he wanted to change that.

hortly after the Games inception in 1974, Winter Games were added and held in alternate years with the Summer Games. The 2022 Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games will have Official Opening Ceremonies on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Competition begins Monday with softball at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation Sports Grounds, golf at Dakota Dunes and athletics, or track and field, at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

On Thursday, archery begins at Whitecap Dakota First Nation Sports Grounds, canoe/kayak at Pike Lake, soccer at the SaskTel Sports Centre, Umea pitches and Whitecap Dakota First Nation plus beach volleyball at the SaskTel Sports Centre with all competition ending on Saturday. Following is Les Lazaruk’s full interview with Korey Diehl, Games Manager for the 2022 Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games…..