Athletes to make city biggest reserve in country

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They will be coming from the mountains, the seas and the desert valleys. They will be coming from every province and territory in Canada and from many of the United States.

They are the athletes who will be participating in the 1993 North American Indigenous Games to be held here July 8-15.

"For one week Prince Albert will be the largest reserve in Canada," said Eugene Arcand, games chairman at a May press conference. A total of 4,500 athletes are expected along with 1,500 coaches and officials and an estimated 2,400 spectators.

Arcand is a vice chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nation. He handles urban issues - sports, recreation and culture, youth, and women's issues, as well as sharing the gaming portfolio with Chief Roland Crowe.

The tall, calm, smiling vice chief was born and brought up in Muskeg Lake, approximately 100 km southwest of Prince Albert. Until his election to FSIN, Arcand worked for the Prince Albert Indian-Metis Friendship Centre where his work with youth in sports made him the ideal chairman of the upcoming Games.

"Our hosting these games wasn't just my idea," Arcand said. "I was the head coach of Team Saskatchewan at the 1990 Indian Games in Edmonton. Where, by the way, Team Saskatchewan finished first overall."

Arcand said he got together with key people involved in the Edmonton Games, especially those associated with Team Saskatchewan, who wanted to continue the legacy of 1990.

"And since I inherited the sports folio, I was one of those who took the matter of Saskatchewan hosting the games to the Indian leadership.

"And here we are," he said.