More than 200 Indigenous athletes from across the province will display their talents in Brock University’s Ian Beddis Gymnasium from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 at the Ontario Native Basketball Invitational (ONBI).

The celebration of sport, culture and community is being co-hosted by the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre at Brock, the Niagara Regional Native Centre, and Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario.

ONBI brings together teams from across Ontario to compete in a friendly, yet competitive, invitational tournament. Youth ages 11 to 19 travel with their teams and family members to compete and have fun.

In addition to the games, participants and spectators can enjoy a vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Indigenous food by D’Jmaawin Catering from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Free parking is available on campus in Lots 1, 2 and 3.

With support from Digital Humanities Project Coordinator Jeremy Leipert, Hadiya’dagénhahs has organized break out rooms with activities to support players and their siblings throughout the day, including video games developed by Brock students and movies.

Hadiya’dagénhahs is also providing recruitment swag to the registered athletes and will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for student-led tours in TH 145 near the Market Hall Starbucks.

The ONBI builds confidence, creates friendships and strengthens communities while creating opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in competitive sport with their peers. The ONBI is also an identifier for participation in the North American Indigenous Games.