Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the Amateur Athletic Union are teaming up to host the First Nations Competitive Games November 2. The Games will include softball and baseball and are open to all enrolled citizens of Oklahoma tribes.
Participants must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe in Oklahoma, 12-15 years old and a member of AAU. Athletes are asked to RSVO for the tournaments by Oct. 11 to Tracy Peltier at tpeltier@potawatomi.org or 405-275-3121 ext. 1454. Registration for AAU will be conducted onsite the morning of the event.
“We are excited to host the First Nations Competitive Games so that we can showcase the tremendous Native American talent we have in our state,” said Linda Capps, Vice-Chairman, Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “We look forward to building our relationship with AAU and encouraging native youth to be active and learn the value of playing as a team.”
AAU registration will begin at 8 a.m. at FireLake Ball Fields and cost $16 per individual. Participants can register as a team or as an individual. Each event will make teams based on availability and age groups. All events will begin at 9 a.m.
“Youth will participate in good, positive games, learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship and will be helping themselves stay physically fit while doing so,” said Tracy Peltier, AAU First Nations Representative.
Admission to First Nations Competitive Games is free. The $16 fee is for one year membership and includes AAU sports accident coverage on all games played outside of school during that active membership.
“We hope to use this partnership to reach out to our Native American families to give their children the opportunity to participate in games where they might not be able to afford or have the resources available to do so,” added Peltier. “We believe that sportsmanship and teamwork, along with the importance of our youth to stay physically fit, is a value learned in this participation.”
Trophies and participation medals, based on availability, will be awarded for each event.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. Find out more about the AAU by visiting http://aausports.org/.