Local Chiefs dropping the puck during opening ceremonies at Winterfest. (Image Credit: Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs/ Facebook)

By Alyssa Rudolph

LOCAL SPORTS

Red Pheasant Cree Nation celebrates success at fourth annual Winterfest

Feb 19, 2026 | 3:22 PM

Red Pheasant Cree Nation’s Chief is highlighting a job well done after a weekend of sporting events.

For three days, athletes gathered at the First Nation to participate in the fourth annual Winterfest. During the tournament, 16 hockey teams, 20 volleyball teams, and 20 basketball teams from First Nations in western Canada competed.

Chief Cody Benson said it was a successful event that continues to grow over the years.  

Chief Cody Benson during the opening ceremony of Winterfest. (Image Credit: Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs/ Facebook)

“It was a really good turnout. We had more people than we expected. There was a lot of good mixture of older people and younger people,” he said.  

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Winterfest is a unique event due to it being hosted by just the one community, which Benson said helps bring everyone together.

“It’s giving the kids that are coming up that opportunity to showcase their abilities in the sports that they may choose,” he said. 

Red Pheasant athletes placed second in the hockey portion of the tournament; that’s something the Chief enjoyed watching the most.  

The hockey team representing Red Pheasant Cree Nation. (Image Credit: Red Pheasant Communications/ Facebook)

“It’s very exciting to see our athletes able to participate at that level. We just want to continue to invest in our youth so that someday we can have all championship teams in all three divisions,” he said.  

Along with watching home teams play in the tournaments, he was able to cheer on other Saskatchewan First Nations. One event in particular stood out to Benson: a hockey game between athletes from Moosomin First Nation and Saulteaux First Nation.  

“It was good to see them. They have two young teams, and they have a lot of potential for someday being the champions at Winterfest,” he said. 

It is typical to see the same teams showing up to the event each year. However, this year the tournament saw two new teams join from Cross Lake in Manitoba and Pelican Narrows from northern Saskatchewan.  

Benson recognized the efforts of staff, volunteers, and athletes who helped the event run smoothly. 

Team placements 

For the hockey portion of the tournament, Sandy Lake First Nation placed first, Red Pheasant Cree Nation came in second, Pelican Narrows was third, and Canoe Lake placed fourth.  

In co-ed volleyball, Thunderchild First Nation placed first, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was second, Moosomin First Nation placed third, and Onion Lake Cree Nation came fourth.  

For basketball, Thunderchild First Nation was first, Kainai First Nation from southern Alberta placed second, Whitefish Lake First Nation from northern Alberta came in third, and Tsuut’ina Nation from southern Alberta was fourth.  

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alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com