This summer was one for the books for our 15U boys. Thanks to a $2,500 grant from Jumpstart, we were able to take part in the Alberta Indigenous Games — and what an experience it was!

Because of that support, our team didn’t have to worry about financial barriers getting in the way of our success. We had what we needed to focus on basketball, personal growth, and being together as one basketball family.

On the court, the boys worked hard and grew so much. They built confidence, learned to lean on each other, and developed a real sense of community and brotherhood. Their communication and teamwork took big steps forward, and they showed incredible emotional strength — whether it was in tough moments on the court or in their everyday lives. Most importantly, they carried cultural pride, family pride, and provincial pride every time they stepped on the floor.

At AIG, we battled through to the Gold Division, eventually falling in the semifinal to the team that went on to win it all. That game was a turning point — the boys learned about resilience, teamwork under pressure, and how to support each other when things got hard. They bounced back strong, winning the bronze medal and finishing 3rd place out of 16 teams in our age group. Right after, they were already talking about bringing the gold home to Saskatchewan next year!

While that medal was a proud moment, the real win was seeing these young athletes grow as players and as young men. Families traveled many miles in support, the boys encouraged each other, and we all left Edmonton with full hearts.

From our players, coaches, and families — thank you Jumpstart for believing in our youth and giving them the chance to shine. This experience will stay with them forever and was the start of something legendary.