Darnell Calder.JPG

Two young Nisga'a made the cut for Team B.C.'s Under 16 Boys Basketball squad in the North American Indigenous Games and the mothers of both of the young men give a similar account of their sons' love of the game.

"My son has been playing basketball since grade 3; it has always been his passion to play basketball", says Trina Calder, mother of Darnell Leon James Calder who lives in Prince Rupert and is originally from the Nisga'a Village of Gingolx.

A similar story can be told of 16 year old Braeden K.E. McKay who currently lives in Vancouver and is from the Nisga'a Village of Laxgalts'ap.  "Braeden has a deep passion for the game of basketball.  Ever since he started playing he has been training very hard", says Braeden's mother Vanessa McKay-Stephens.

Darnell started off playing with the Prince Rupert Minor Basketball Association, and joined school teams along the way.  This past year Darnell had a very successful school year with the Jr. Rainmakers and has also played the past two seasons with the Friendship House Jr. Boys basketball team, the same team that has played in the annual All Native Basketball Tournament in 2013 and 2014.

Braeden currently attends Burnaby Central High school where last year he made the starting 5 in which he plays defensive guard and ball carrier.  He has also secured a spot on the Burnaby Central Sr. Boys team starting this September.  Braeden has also represented the Vancity 17 & Under boys team at the last two Junior All Native Basketball tournaments.  Earlier this year, the Vancity boys were top contenders in the Kamloops Junior All Native where they made it to the finals coming through the backdoor and placing 2nd out of 20 plus boy's teams.

Both boys participated in Team B.C. regional basketball camps in October 2013 and were promoted to phase two of the try outs in Langley, B.C. where they would compete against other hopefuls from across the province in December 2013.  The boys will meet the remainder of their team at Shawnigan Lake, B.C.  for a one week training camp prior to their departure to competition at the games in Regina, Saskatchewan from July 20 - 27, 2014.

"With a great deal of fundraising and help from family, friends and tremendous sponsorship from NLG (Sports & Recreation Fund), Darnell will be able to attend the Games," said Trina.  "It is a prestigious honour for Darnell to be a member of a provincial team competing at a North American competition and representing our Nisga'a Nation" the proud mother concluded.

"Braeden is a very active community volunteer in our lil' big city of Ts'amiks" says mother Vanessa. "After finishing highschool his plan is to attend college and play college ball and keep playing from there."

Darnell is in the Laxsgiik (Eagle) tribe from Wilps Sgan'isim Sim'oogit and is the son of Trina Calder.

Braeden is in the Laxgibuu (Wolf) tribe from Wilps Duuk' and is the son of Vanessa McKay-Stephens and Lawrence Stephens, Sr.

Thanks to Darnell and Braeden's parents for the submission of their information and photos.

Congratulations young men, and play hard!