Nicole Cardinal never played in the Junior All-Native Basketball Tournament (JANT). Growing up in East Vancouver, far from her Stellat'en and Wet'suwet'en roots in Northern BC, Cardinal said there wasn't a team that brought together urban Indigenous girls from diverse Nations.
That's why accepting the tournament ball to open the 50th anniversary of JANT was so special to her.
Known as Aunty Nicki, Cardinal has managed the Vancity Nation Basketball Club since 2019, when her daughter started competing in JANT. This year, Vancity Nation had the honour of hosting the tournament in partnership with Vancouver Bandits Basketball, Bandits Community Foundation and Kwantlen First Nation.
That milestone was marked by the ceremonial passing of the official tournament ball from last year's host to this year's, a moment Cardinal said carried deep meaning for her.
“I didn't anticipate it to be so overwhelming when I got the ball," she said. “It is significant. It's the spirit. There is a living spirit within this basketball. There is a living spirit within these youth and parents."
The 2026 tournament drew a record 1,856 First Nations youth from 129 teams, representing more than 100 communities across BC. Nearly 10,000 fans flowed in and out of the Langley Events Centre and surrounding secondary schools during Spring Break.
First Nations Health Authority was a proud sponsor of this milestone year.
“We wanted to put a big spotlight on the tournament and the youth," said Dylan Kular, president of the Vancouver Bandits and co-chair of the 2026 JANT. “That's why you see the live broadcast on the video board. You have the PA announcer. You have the media on the baselines. You have performers at half time. We're trying to bring the whole show."
Pregame of the U17 Boys Division finals
New champs, old champs, new teams
On the court, the tournament delivered both traditions and firsts.
At'maakw, from the Nuxalk Nation community of Bella Coola, continued their dynasty by capturing their fifth consecutive U17 girls championship. Prince Rupert Ts'ap claimed the U17 boys title, their first JANT championship.
For some teams, the tournament brings glory. For others, heartbreak. But for all, lessons to bring back home.
“Basketball is good for the soul," said Malakai Beaubien-Day, coach of the Witset Wisey U17 boys team, the first Wet'suwet'en team to ever compete at JANT.
Witset opened their first game with a win before losing their next two, ending their tournament early. The Nations that beat them have decades of JANT experience, passing down that knowledge to the next generation. For Beaubien-Day, he said he hopes this year was the start of a basketball culture that can be passed down in Witset.
“That's definitely the big goal. It's important because it keeps kids off vapes and parties. I know the importance of it. I never vaped or partied at all," Beaubien-Day shared. “I don't do it for the fame. I just love basketball. I love my community. I knew we needed this eventually and I was happy to start it."
Malakai Beaubien-Day (right) with his younger brother Nethenion Beaubien-Day
Ceremonial ball heads north in 2027
Several communities sent teams to JANT for the first time this year, including First Nations in and around Prince George, which will host the tournament in 2027.
For Nicole Cardinal, whose Yinka Dene and Wet'suwet'en roots were represented in the tournament for the first time, bringing the ceremonial ball north will be a full-circle moment.
“I get to bring the tournament ball back to my homelands," she said, with tears welling in her eyes. “The first thing my daughter said was, 'our family can come cheer for us.'".
Cardinal says she hopes this milestone event has inspired northern communities to prepare for 2027.
“It's going to be amazing to be able to go back to where I come from. I'm hoping and praying, to all the folks up north, get your teams ready because it's a sport for everybody."
