WHITE BEAR FIRST NATIONS - When Talen Pinacie-Littlechief was seven years old, she began to play softball. At the time she did not know what the future would bring for her.
Pinacie-Littlechief is now 16 years old, and she has done some great things with her dedication to ball.
Raised on the White Bear First Nations (WBFN), she attends school in Carlyle at the Gordon F. Kells High School.
Through her younger years, she played softball for the White Bear Cubs and in Carlyle. In recent years, she has qualified to play for teams down south.
Pinacie-Littlechief had a very busy season in 2023.
It began with her joining with her White Bear peers Akeria Lonechild, Flaire BigEagle, Alexus Souix John and Kimowan Pinacie, playing for a Regina traveling team called RBI Softball.
They attended their first tournament in Pheonix. The team played six games but fell short in the finals.
From there Pinacie-Littlechief tried out for Team Sask, and was selected to attend the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax with Souix John and Shaleesa Fox.
This event was the largest multi-sport and cultural event to be held in Atlantic Canada. Representing Saskatchewan and the WBFN, the play players took home a bronze medal.
Callie Standingready, Brooklyn LaValle, Jayden Whitebear, Brody Pasap, Gemma McKay and Owyn Shia, all from WBFN, also took part in NAIG in varies sports.
In August 2023, Pinacie-Littlechief attended the Alberta Indigenous Games (AIG) in Edmonton as a catcher with her travel team and they took home gold.
Soon after this, she tried out for the John Queen鈥檚 Fastpitch (JQFP) and the 222鈥檚 Fastpitch Inc. teams and both teams selected her.
For two years, Pinacie-Littlechief tried out for the 222鈥檚 and she decided to join this elite team as the catcher.
Her training began with the team, practising twice a month, mostly in Saskatoon for a big tournament in Sacramento, Calif. This highly skilled team competed in a tournament from Nov. 9-21, 2023.
Their first competition, called the M and M Classic, had 17 teams entered, but this did not intimidate the young 222's, as they would prevail with the gold medal.
The Turkey Bash Toys 4 Tots was the next tournament and it too had 17 teams. These squads were all of high-quality players and offered great competition.
According to Talen's mother Tanya Littlechief, the girls played hard but, in the end, they lost out by one run and received the silver.
Pinacie-Littlechief had her last practice on March 3 at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon, and this will conclude winter ball for now.
鈥淣ever give up with your dedication, determination or setting goals,鈥� said Pinacie-Littlechief. 鈥淧ractise no matter how tough things get, do not give up."
She is thankful for her coaches, parents, family and her home community of the WBFN, who have supported her and made this possible for all the youths.
Pinacie-Littlechief is excited to see what the future will bring for her in ball, a sport she continues to love.
