It is the biggest basketball tournament in British Columbia and it is coming to Nisga鈥檃 territory in 2024.

The Junior All-Native Basketball Tournament will bring an estimated 80 teams in four divisions to venues in Terrace from March 18-22 next year.

Nanaimo hosted this year鈥檚 tournament on Snuneymuxw territory from March 19-24. There were more than 1,200 young Indigenous athletes on 91 teams from 100 different nations who played 188 games.

The four divisions include boys and girls in under-17 and under-13 categories.

The tournament is separate from the exceptionally popular All Native Tournament played annually in Prince Rupert which draws in excess of 4,000 people to the north coast city for a week every February and is one of the biggest annual Indigenous cultural events in North America.

In 2023, The Laxgalts鈥檃p (Greenville) Noosik won the U17 boys title, Bella Coola (Nuxalk) won the U17 girls championship, the Vancouver Island Sea Wolves won the U13 boys division and the Cowichan Surge won the U13 girls title.

鈥淭o the athletes, your training and will to compete is a tremendous accomplishment. You are carrying the teachings and hope of our Ancestors,鈥� said Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse.

Editor鈥檚 note: A previous version of this story mistakenly said there would also be venues in Kitimat.

Editor Tag