(FEB 17)
Limited-edition canoe plaque to be given to boxers at US Olympic
Team Trials
February 16, 2012 - Spokane, WA – The Kalispel Tribe of Indians
is honored to create the historic award USA Boxing will present
each weight class champion at the US Olympic Team Trials for
Women‟s Boxing. The Tribe is proud to participate in recognizing
these athletes as they move forward to represent the United
States in London as women's boxing makes its Olympic debut.The Tribe has
also commissioned a similar limited-edition commemorative award
to be given to each of the 24 women competing in the inaugural
Olympic Team Trials in recognition of their trailblazing status.
The piece features an iron-cast sculpture of the unique Kalispel
sturgeon-nosed canoe mounted on an engraved granite slab.
In a similar fashion to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in
Vancouver BC where First Nations acted as partners and hosts for
the games, the Kalispel Tribe and their Northern Quest Resort
venue wish to continue this welcoming tradition to support and
encourage these athletes.
“We wanted to
offer these athletes who inspire all of us something to inspire
all of them as they begin this competition," explained Kalispel
Tribal Chairman Glen Nenema. "We hope they will cherish this
award as a lasting symbol of the pride and achievement their
dedication and effort has brought them."
Each award is accompanied by a card explaining its significance
to the Tribe. It reads, “Known for centuries as the „River
Paddlers,‟ the Kalispel Tribe of Indians relied on this unique
canoe design to support an often challenging, but always proud,
nomadic lifestyle. Today, we offer it as a symbol of your own
continuing journey with best wishes for health, happiness and
achievement extending well beyond the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
May this limited-edition cast piece remind you of your time with
us wherever life‟s current should carry you next.”
“We honor the spirit and determination that has propelled these
athletes to national prominence,” continued Nenema. “Their
stories are an inspiration to us all.”
The Tribe‟s Northern Quest Resort & Casino was selected as the
venue for the team trials, which act as the qualifier for the
inaugural U.S. Women‟s Olympic Boxing Team. 24 boxers in three
weight classes will compete for a chance to represent the United
States at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.
About
Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Northern Quest Resort & Casino is located 10 minutes west of
downtown Spokane and five minutes from Spokane International
Airport. As the only tribally-owned AAA Four Diamond resort in
the Inland Northwest and one of 27 lodgings in the entire state
to receive this recognition, Northern Quest Resort & Casino
welcomes visitors with a contemporary urban setting and 250
luxurious guest rooms and suites, the upscale Current spa, 14
restaurants and lounges offering everything from burgers to fine
dining, including the AAA Four Diamond restaurant Masselow’s
(one of only six restaurants to receive the prestigious award in
Washington), and true Las Vegas-style gaming and world-class
entertainment. You can even schedule your next event,
professional or personal, with our event and banquet services.
Discover more about Northern Quest Resort & Casino at
www.northernquest.com.
About The
Kalispel Tribe of Indians
Once one of the poorest Native American tribes in the U.S., the
Kalispel Tribe of Indians is now one of the top ten private
employers in the Spokane region. The historically humble and
hospitable tribe operates Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the
region’s premier destination resort. Tribal health and social
service programs, supported by the resort, have increased the
quality and life expectancy for tribal members and surrounding
communities near the tribe’s reservation along the Pend Oreille
River. The tribe maintains a number of other business
enterprises, provides a total of 2,000 jobs, and has donated
over $5 million to regional non-profit.
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