The All Native Basketball Tournament (ANBT) is the biggest annual sporting event in Northern BC; thousands of people travel to Prince Rupert, BC every February to cheer on their home villages.
This year, the 64th annual ANBT is taking place Feb. 10-17, and one of the highlights is the opening ceremonies that takes place on Sunday. ANBT brings people from as “far south as Ahousat on Vancouver Island and to the north to southeast Alaska, Hydaburg, Kake, and Metlakatla,” accoring to the ANBT website.
At this year’s opening ceremonies, the Gitxsan Thunder dance group will be taking the stage.
Leader of the group Vince Jackson (Siimogyet Hasbagwootxw) spoke with CFNR about the preparations of getting ready for their performance and the process to be considered for opening ceremonies.
This multicultural event will bring dancers from several nations and bringing them together in a performance titled “I Believe,” says Jackson.
