Congratulations

Some more fantastic news for our Hustler Zone. Our zone coordinator, Rhonda Tuomi, was selected to be part of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Coach Program for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 15th to 23rd, 2023.

The Aboriginal Sports Circle (ASC), NAIG Host Society, NAIG Council, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sports Bodies (PTASB).Furthermore, apprenticeship programs can be used to attract and support underrepresented populations in coaching, such as female and Aboriginal coaches. The program provides up to two Aboriginal coaches from each Province and Territory the opportunity to develop their coaching skills through to the delivery of the NAIG.

• Build coaching capacity within Indigenous communities
• Provide Indigenous apprentice coaches with domestic multi-sport games exposure
• Provide Indigenous apprentice coaches with professional development and learning opportunities to prepare them for high level coaching and ensure an increase in their level of NCCP ion to a minimum of Competition – Development, Trained. (Apprentices complete training within 12 months following the Games)
• Expose Indigenous apprentice coaches to elite/high performance coaches; and
• Ensure Indigenous apprentice coaches are prepared to handle a meaningful role during the NAIG experience

Rhonda is a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation which is located near Marcelin, SK. She is super excited to represent her community at NAIG next year. She has been involved with softball for many years, as she played the sport herself growing up in her hometown of Annaheim. She is Community Softball Trained, Aboriginal Module Trained and is actively involved as Coach in the Aboriginal Summer Games 2022, which are being held here in Saskatoon next week. Rhonda has held many positions on the zone executive board throughout both her daughters softball years. As she looks forward to next summers plans, she will still be helping out the zone get ready for next season as well. Congratulations, Rhonda.