For the first time ever, B.C. golfers who identify as Inuit, Metis or First Nation will compete against each other at the inaugural Indigenous Golf Championship.
And a Vancouver Island woman is front-and-centre in making it happen.
Scheduled for the May 26 weekend, the tournament will take place at the Osoyoos Indian Band-owned NkB次元官网网址橫ip Canyon Desert Golf Course.
A total of 128 men, women and youth will compete in an event that promises to be competitive and fun.
B次元官网网址淎s a competitive golfer and Indigenous woman, I am looking very much forward to the blending of competition and reconciliation at the same event,B次元官网网址� said Christina Spence Proteau, a Port Alberni golfer and chair of the organizing committee. Proteau will also be golfing in the tournament.
B次元官网网址淚 am proud to be working where our event will promote Indigenous engagement in competitive golf,B次元官网网址� she said.
The championship had been a dream of former chair of BC Golf, TB次元官网网址檈sotsB次元官网网址檈n (Patrick Kelly).
B次元官网网址淚t will provide an exciting opportunity for Indigenous golfers to walk together in the joy of sport, camaraderie, and oh yes, a bit of spirited competition,B次元官网网址� he said.
For Spence Proteau, the tournament represents a chance to step up in her role as a British Columbia Golf board member, as well as to speak up about her personal heritage. Spence Proteau has Indigenous history on her late fatherB次元官网网址檚 side of the family.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 proud of that,B次元官网网址� she said.
Spence Proteau competed at the North American Indigenous Games for Team BC in 1997, when she was in middle school. B次元官网网址淚 used to compete in the (Nuu-chah-nulth) Tlu-piich Games in fast pitch,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an important piece of my heritage on my fatherB次元官网网址檚 side.B次元官网网址�
She hasnB次元官网网址檛 always spoken publicly about it as her golf career has taken off.
B次元官网网址淕olf is one of those sports that can be kind of elitist,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淭he great thing about golf is the golf course has no idea who you are or where youB次元官网网址檙e from. Whoever is best, wins.B次元官网网址�
She recalled competing in a Canadian championship one year and an article was written about an Indigenous golfer. She realized B次元官网网址渢his is something people need to know.B次元官网网址�
The youth division will serve as final qualifying event for golfers who are vying to represent B.C. at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games set in Halifax, Nova Scotia in July. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 exciting to have that youth component involved and grow the game in an area where there has been under-representation,B次元官网网址� Spence Proteau said.
The tournament will begin with an official practice round on May 26 before the 36-hole event kicks off on the Saturday. Champions will be crowned in men and womenB次元官网网址檚 gross, men and womenB次元官网网址檚 net Stableford and a youth (under 19) division.
B次元官网网址淲e feel extremely honoured and proud to be the first in B.C. to host such a prestigious event as the Indigenous Championship British Columbia. We are hopeful that this event will provide many great memorable moments for all who participate, whether they compete, organize or volunteer,B次元官网网址� said Dave George, NkB次元官网网址橫ip general manager and Osoyoos Band member.
Last year, Golf Ontario hosted their inaugural Indigenous Golf Championship and will host their second championship later this summer. The Ontario and B.C. events will each qualify golfers to compete in a national event to take place in late 2023 at Bear Mountain Resort in Langford.
Golfers can register until April 28. For more information, visit .
B次元官网网址� With files from Susie Quinn, Alberni Valley B次元官网网址
