Young basketball players from Kitamaat Village were welcomed home with cheers and a parade on March 24, after the U13 Xa’isla basketball team secured a silver medal at the Spring Basketball Fest in Kelowna.
The tournament, held March 16 to 21, was staged in conjunction with the 2025 Jr All Native Basketball Tournament — a provincial showcase that aims to develop young athletes, foster community pride, and support the growth of basketball across Indigenous communities. Organisers describe the Jr All Native as one of the largest Indigenous youth basketball events in Canada.
Coach Joe Grant said the players had been confident heading into the tournament after putting in two years of effort, but “it all just clicked at the right time.”
The Xa’isla squad entered the event after a strong regular season, playing against top competition in northern B.C. and putting in a series of solid performances that led them to a 7-1 finish in their division.
“I’m very proud,” said Grant.
He noted that the team had not won a single game at the Junior All Native over the past two years, making this year’s result especially meaningful. He said their turnaround came down to the players’ effort and persistence — not coaching.
“This is all them. It’s their hard work and dedication over the last two years,” he said. “The coaching staff gave them guidance when they needed it, but every win, every accomplishment was because of their hard work.”
Grant said the players were still taking it all in. “It’s finally sinking in. They’re very happy and, I guess you could say, emotional.”
According to Grant, the team’s defensive play was the standout feature of their success.
This marks the first championship medal in the boys division for Kitamaat Village since 2008.
