Regina high school hosts reconciliation volleyball tournament

Campbell Collegiate welcomed more than just athletes to their school this weekend.

The school is hosting its annual reconciliation-in-sport volleyball tournament. Its been hosting a late-September tournament for years, but it wasn’t until 2021 when the school saw an opportunity to do something more.

“In the past, the Campbell Invitational Tournament operated solely as a competitive venue, now we see it as more than a competitive venue but an opportunity for athletes to make that pledge towards reconciliation,” said Jolene Sentes, the tournament chair.

The tournament invites 26 volleyball teams to participate with a special acknowledgement to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 89th call to action:

“We call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples.”

Sentes acknowledged the concerns some Indigenous athletes might have, especially when their schools and sports teams are dominantly non-Indigenous.

“Giving the opportunity for Indigenous students to feel that success, to have those opportunities to compete at an elite level, even to just be involved gives them the opportunity to break some of those barriers and systemic tragedies that have happened within their cultures and their nations for a very long time,” she said.

The opening ceremony featured a drumming and dance performance from Standing Buffalo First Nation. Sentes said it was important to include these performers.

“In order for us to truly and authentically include Indigenous people, we have to envelop and overlap what sport is with the cultures and traditions that have been a part of their nations for a very long time,” Sentes said.

AJ Redman performs in front of a packed crowd at Campbell. @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/Nif13kbanh

— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) September 29, 2023

Jordan Parisian is the Indigenous advocate at Campbell, and has also been a coach for years. He said he’s proud of the school, adding that this weekend is an important one for Indigenous athletes.

“We want to highlight those athletes to make sure they are welcomed and there’s no barriers or hoops they need to jump through, and just make sure they are able to participate with no restraints,” he said.

As a former athlete himself, he talked about having many opportunities to play sports growing up. Although he has many fond memories, he also acknowledged the many challenges he faced which are still present today.

Parisian said sports taught him not only leadership, independence and accountability, but also to be patient and use self control when facing racism.

Justine Tootoosis (left), Chleo Redman (middle) and Campbell’s ownTartan Layla (right) performing a jingle dance during the opening ceremony. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Now, as a coach, he said he strives to create a safe environment for all of his students.

Parisian said there’s still a lot of things people don’t understand about Indigenous peoples.

“I think the more we can expose our beautiful culture with the non-Indigenous population, the more comfortable they’re going to be and more interested and more questions they can ask. The more we ask questions, the more we can break down those walls and barriers for all,” said Parisian.

He said this can be a somber weekend, but healing is also done though laughter and celebration.

“Humour and laughter is medicine. Sport is also healing as well. It’s hard to just think about the negatives. The only way to move forward in reconciliation is forward. We need to acknowledge and observe the atrocities that happened in our country, but also to move forward and walk together through sport, I think, unites us all,” said Parisian.

He is Campbell’s first Indigenous advocate, and said he’s been really busy with students in his office almost every period.

“My goal is to ensure their basic needs are met; they’re fed and loved and that they can succeed and graduate,” he said.

The representation from Indigenous students this weekend is an integral piece of reconciliation, said Parisian.