Source: University of Manitoba
http://myuminfo.umanitoba.ca/index.asp?sec=209&too=100&dat=10/28/2006&sta=3&wee=4&eve=8&npa=11557 BISON SPORTS GETS THEIR OWN HERDOctober 23, 2006 A partnership between the University of Manitoba Bison Women’s Basketball Team and the Skownan First Nation will be celebrated Monday with the launch of Running with the Bison, a unique initiative based on friendship and bison. "We’re hoping one day the Skownan students will come to the University of Manitoba," says Pam Danis, Bison Women’s Basketball coach. "You cannot succeed without an education, and ultimately, sports can help you do this by enticing you to stay in school." The team, which has a bison as their mascot, started community outreach this past summer on the First Nation, which included a basketball camp and a retreat after learning the Skownan community had taken part in a project to introduce a herd of wood bison onto their land. On Monday that herd will become the official herd of the University of Manitoba Bison Women’s Basketball Team. "It’s a natural connection between the two communities," says Danis. "It’s a spiritual symbol and a source of pride for us, so, ‘running with the bison’ just made sense on the court and in the community." Career Trek is also a project partner, with students from Skownan First Nation in their program, which provides educational programming for young people with perceived barriers to entering post-secondary education. The reception will be held at the Concourse Lounge, University College, University of Manitoba on Monday, October 23, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. For more information call Chris Zuk, Bison Sports Information Officer, University of Manitoba, (204) 474-7492. For more information, contact:
Chris Rutkowski
Media Relations Coordinator
Public Affairs
rutkows@ms.umanitoba.ca
Phone: (204) 474-9514
Fax: (204) 474-7631
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