Left to right: Brittany Olson, Amarys Mitsuing, Easton Mitsuing, and McKenna Fineblanket. (Facebook/Brittany Olson)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Making Mom Proud

Sask. sisters win at First Nations Spelling Bee, qualify for National Championship

Mar 21, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Two sisters will be representing Saskatchewan at the Spelling Bee National Championships.

The Saskatchewan First Nations Spelling Bee was held in Saskatoon last week with over 150 students from 21 different communities taking part. This includes Birch Narrows, James Smith, Muskeg Lake, Pelican Lake, Canoe Lake, Montreal Lake, Muskoday, and Buffalo River.

McKenna Fineblanket ended up winning the intermediate category, for those aged 12 to 14, while her sister Amarys Mitsuing won the primary category which includes those between the ages of six and eight.

Their mother Brittany Olson, who also happens to be one of the competition co-organizers, joked with paNOW it’s become too hard for her to help her daughters practice.

“There are some words in there that are quite tricky,” she laughed. “After that, I said you were kind of on your own.”

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While this was Amarys’ first time at the Spelling Bee, it was actually the second time that McKenna has won. Back in 2017, she won in the primary category which allowed her the chance to compete at Nationals, eventually coming in third.

“She actually made history at that time because she was the first First Nations kid to place in the National Spelling Bee,” Olson said.

It was bittersweet for the family as this will be McKenna’s last time competing at the First Nations Spelling Bee. However, it most likely won’t be the last time she makes an appearance as she’ll continue to have family compete for years to come including her younger sister.

Speaking of Amarys, Olson explained she was surprised she was able to win. Not because she didn’t believe she could be a good speller, but just because of her personality.

“You get her in front of people and she kind of shuts down, she gets so nervous.”

Olson added she’s super proud of her for getting out of her comfort zone.

McKenna and Amarys will now compete in the National Spelling Bee taking place in Toronto on May 28.

Joining the sisters will be Kelry Campbell who won the junior category which includes students aged nine to 11. Olson also joked that she knows Kelry quite well since she’s her friend’s daughter.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow