Women leap for gold

Page R10

Team Alberta has top ambassadors as well as winning long jumpers in the senior women's class.

Angie Littlechild from Hobbema leapt into the gold with a 4.16-metre jump while Donna Paskemin, also from Hobbema, took the bronze with a 3.8-metre jump.

Crystal Cantre from Team Saskatchewan walked away with the silver medal for logging a 4.14-metre long jump.

Littlechild is a veteran of the games, having been on Alberta's gold-medal volleyball team at the Edmonton games in 1989. The 17-year-old student got active in sports at 10 and maintained a high athletic profile throughout school.

Teammate Paskemin, a Grade 5 teacher at Miyo Wahkohtowin Education Authority in Hobbema, has been involved in sports since Grade 6, but only started training seriously for track and field two months ago. She also took the silver in both the 100-and 200-metre races.

While winning lends a special rush to the occasion, Paskemin and Littlechild were enthusiastic about this year's Indigenous Games.

"The opening ceremonies were like the real thing, like the Olympics," said Littlechild.

Paskemin agreed the games did a lot to boost self-confidence. The teacher is no stranger to Prince Albert, having been raised on Sweet Grass Reserve, in western Saskatchewan.

"Myself and four of my sisters used to come here to play fastball and volleyball. We kicked butt. It was always fun coming here."