Sahtu team fundraises way to Beaufort Delta slopitch tournament
They had been wanting to play a tournament match for years. The dream became a reality last week.
The standings show Team Sahtu Natse, meaning "Sahtu strong," in third place behind Ocean Girls and Rebecca’s Rowdy Roses at the women's regional slopitch tournament held in Inuvik from July 5-7.
They don't show the effort that went into Sahtu Natse's trip, which some of the team say was the first Sahtu showing at a tournament like this for more than a decade.
"Before Covid we were trying to get a team to come here, and then that didn't come to fruition," said Laurel McDonald, one of Sahtu Natse's players, ahead of the weekend.
"Last year we were going to try to come here, but it was just too expensive.
"We just decided to try it out for this year and succeeded in getting enough money to be able to make the trip."
The team of 17 members includes coaches Trevor Smith and Jackie McDonald. The majority of the players come from Norman Wells, while some are Sahtu beneficiaries living in the Beaufort Delta.
The remaining players are Jasmine Plumber, Jenna McDonald, Amber Lynn Irish, Erin Goose, Chavaughn Blake, Cyre Yukon, Valene Kenny, Joleen Hanthorn, Kayleigh Storr, Kelcy McDonald, Kyra McDonald, Natasha Kulikowski, Stacey Karmark-Christie and Nicole McDonald.
Coming to the tournament was no easy task. According to McDonald, it was a hot topic in a Facebook Messenger group for years until her cousin decided to "revitalize the chat again – then we got it going."
The team fundraised the money needed for flights, accommodation and other travel expenses, with help from corporate donations and raffles. Sponsor North-Wright Airways helped fly the team to Inuvik.
McDonald's last tournament was in 2018, when she joined an Inuvik-based team. She said this was the first time in 11 years that a Sahtu team had registered to play in the tournament.
"The biggest cost is getting here, right?" McDonald said. "So being able to get those fundraising activities going and getting that supported, being able to get those corporate donations to go toward the expenses as well, to get us to the tournaments."
If things go to plan, the team might expand its horizons further.
"It's our first time putting this team together, so we're just going to see how we're going to do," she said.
Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio
