All-Native Basketball champs cry foul over LNG sponsors

Reigning champs fear they could be kicked out of tournament for public anti-LNG stance

A champion Haida sports team is crying foul over liquefied natural gas (LNG) sponsorship of the All Native Basketball Tournament. And the Skidegate Saints fear they'll be turfed from play for pushing their anti-LNG message.

But it's a risk Saint's point guard Desi Collinson is willing to take.

"[LNG sponsorship] is tarnishing our sacred tournament," said Desi Collinson, a frequent tournament MVP and co-captain of the reigning four-time champion Saints. 

Collinson says his team considered pulling out of the tournament entirely. But the defending champions decided to compete after consulting Haida elders.

"We're gonna make it more than a basketball tournament and spread information and educate people," Collinson told CBC.

The Skidegate Saints team will defend their All Native title at next week's tournament while pressing their anti-LNG message. (Facebook)

Off the court, the Saints plan to wear anti-LNG T-shirts and hand out anti-LNG pamphlets and buttons to the hundreds of indigenous players from coastal B.C. and Alaska and the thousands of fans in the stands.

• Full CBC coverage:  B.C.LNG

But tournament organizers say they'll stop that full court press. 

"No one's going to be doing that kind of stuff here," countered Peter Haugen, board president for the All Native Basketball Tournament.  "Someone can do whatever they want outside the building but inside the gymnasium and the arena ... we've always stopped it. We're a basketball tournament, right? We're not a political venue." 

"So many teams and First Nations are against these [LNG] companies and tankers coming through our waters," says Collinson. "It takes certain people to stand up and say no,"

'LNG is going to take away from our culture'

This year, more than half the tournament's top sponsors are LNG companies, proposing major liquified natural gas projects while investing in gas fracking in northern B.C. 

Some coastal First Nations are partners in LNG development or have signed benefit agreements. But B.C.'s LNG plans have also sparked opposition over concerns about upstream gas fracking and  the construction of LNG facilities in sensitive coastal habitats. 

Skidegate Saints point guard Desi Collinson [right] protesting against oil pipelines on the basketball court, with David Suzuki, at an earlier game. (Facebook)

"I'm concerned about how these mega -projects come in to our beautiful, pristine coast. It's gonna be a takeover. I 'm concerned about the coast, about my home," said Collinson. "LNG is gonna take away from our culture: how we eat, how we harvest on the ocean."

'They don't have to worry about the bloody politics'

"All these chiefs and people elected to band council have to deal politics their whole year," said Haugen. "This is one week where they don't have to worry about the bloody politics and just enjoy the games."

Collinson disagreed, stating the tournament started as a way to get around the ban on potlatches.

"The tournament was created basically on politics," he said  "We came together to share culture and friendship."

Haugen also points out that while the Haida team may oppose LNG,  the tournament is taking place on Tsimshian territory, where chiefs have approved LNG projects.

"They can say what they want on Haida territory, but this is Tsimshian territory. The Tsimshian have all signed on to LNG."

A spokesman for Pacific NorthWest LNG says his company was invited by the organizers of the Prince Rupert tournament to continue a sponsorship they've maintained since 2013.

"This year, Pacific NorthWest LNG requested that our corporate branding not be displayed on any materials associated with the tournament — despite our contribution," said company spokesman Spencer Sproule.

"We wanted the Prince Rupert All Native Basketball Tournament to be about the players, coaches and families that look forward to this tournament every year and not on the opinions of some regarding our project."

Haugen says no decisions have been made about how to deal with the Saints' political plans.

The tournament starts Sunday in Prince Rupert, B.C.

With files from George Baker