Sask. camp gives Indigenous girls a chance to play volleyball while incorporating holistic teachings

A new camp for girls in Saskatchewan combines volleyball instruction with holistic Indigenous teachings.

The first North Thunderbird Volleyball Academy, for Indigenous girls in Grade7 to Grade 12,is running July 15 to 19 in Martensville, just outside Saskatoon.

The camp is being put on by North Thunderbird Counselling and Consulting, a therapy organization.

Camp director Charleen Cote said some Indigenous girls don't get the chance to try out for their high school teams because they don't have the equipment or the transportation.North Thunderbird fundraised to providetransportation, nutrition, beverages, and equipment like court shoes and knee pads,to those who needed them for the camp.

"We're providing them with opportunities some of them might not otherwise get," Cote said.

Camp days start witha gratitude circle, and also featuresmudges and group talks.

"They talked about not feeling comfortable playing on teams that are primarily non-Indigenous, so white teams," Cote said. "They said they're very comfortable here and that's exactly what we want to do. We want them to be comfortable and to be able to connect so that they can learn in a safe space."

Cote said they incorporate mental health into the camp, as it's just as important as the physical.

"Sport is actually a great stress release. We have many of our young ladies here who suffer from anxiety and depression. [Sport] is a great way to get the hormones going, the chemicals going in the body for that healthy release." said Cote.

Bernadette Keshanehas three granddaughters in the volleyball camp. She said they are usually the only First Nations player on their sports teams, so she thinks the camp is important.

"When I was growing up, I didn't have as many opportunities to play in this kind of organization, where it's all First Nations. It was always playing inthe mainstream and it was really intimidating when you're the only First Nations," Keshane said.

"When my granddaughters are going to try out for other sporting events, they've experienced some racism, even with coaches and stuff, and it's very difficult."

WATCH |Why a therapy group is offering a volleyball camp to Indigenous girls:

Why a therapy group is offering a volleyball camp to Indigenous girls

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The first North Thunderbird Volleyball Academy, for Indigenous girls in Grade 7 to Grade 12, is running July 15 to 19 in Martensville, just outside Saskatoon.

Keshane said her granddaughters werehaving a lot of fun at the camp.

"I think it's very important for them to feel comfortable because it helps their mental health, and a lot of times they feel like they don't want to do it anymore because of what they face," she said."Being here, it's very positive and helps their self esteem."

Grade 8 Oskyah Bruno started playing volleyball in 2022. She wanted to attend this camp to learn more skills.

She said she likes that the camp had all Indigenous girls.

"Usually when there are more non-Indigenous kids, it's not good," said Bruno, "They give you dirty looks."

She hopes to continue volleyballand go out for the team when she returns to school in the fall.

Cote said North Thunderbird has bigger plans for future camps.

"Our goal next year is to continue with the volleyball camps, but we want to get bigger. We want to incorporate basketball, potentially lacrosse. But we would like to take some young ladies down to California to go and learn to surf," Cote said.

"We would like them to really experience something different, so they know that there's something beyond Saskatoon."