Riders and Cameco visit northern schools
The Grey Cup doesn’t often travel to the far north of Saskatchewan. But over four days, it did more than make an appearance. It opened conversations, sparked pride and created moments of connection in classrooms, gymnasiums and community halls across northern Saskatchewan.
Cameco and the Saskatchewan Roughriders partnered on a northern education tour that brought Riders all star offensive lineman Jacob Brammer, tight end Albert Awachie and the Grey Cup to communities with long standing ties to both the team and the company. Stops included Buffalo Narrows, Ile a la Crosse, Patuanak, Beauval, Pinehouse and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities of Air Ronge and La Ronge.
At every stop, students gathered to hear from the players, ask questions and see the championship trophy up close. While the tour was designed as a thank you to northern communities, it quickly became a shared experience, marked by warmth, generosity and pride.
Connecting with students
The tour began in Buffalo Narrows, where students greeted the group with enthusiasm. Brammer and Awachie spoke about the importance of reading, supporting one another and maintaining strong mental health. Their message focused on perseverance, teamwork and making positive choices.
From Buffalo Narrows the group travelled to Ile a la Crosse, where students once again filled classrooms and gymnasiums to meet the Riders players and see the Grey Cup.
The visit to St. Louis School in Patuanak included one of the tour’s most meaningful moments. Members of the touring group received handcrafted beadwork created by local artists. Brammer and Awachie were presented with pendants, one turtle and one cardinal, symbols with cultural significance in the region.
Both players immediately put the pendants on and thanked the artists who created them. They also shared their excitement about wearing the gifts during this season’s planned kisiskâciwan Game, noting how meaningful the gesture was to them.
Community pride on display
The tour then moved to Beauval, where community members gathered at Valley View School for an evening meet and greet. The Grey Cup quickly became the centre of attention as students, families and local residents lined up for photos with the championship trophy.
“We’re excited to have the Saskatchewan Roughriders participate in a meet and greet here,” said Hayden Alcrow, Community and School Recreation Coordinator at Valley View School. “Me personally, I’m a big Roughriders fan and the whole community is excited to have them here.”
Seeing the Grey Cup in Beauval showed that the trophy belongs to the entire province, including northern communities.
“Honestly, it’s huge,” Alcrow said. “It shows the team mentality the Roughriders have, coming out and sharing the trophy with everyone in the province. Bringing the Grey Cup here to Beauval is pretty big. I know me and one other colleague are huge football fans, so we’re pretty stoked.”
A meaningful welcome in the north
The tour continued to Pinehouse, where students once again engaged in conversations about reading, teamwork and supporting one another.
The final visits took place in the Lac La Ronge region, including Air Ronge and La Ronge. Elders and community members welcomed the group with warmth and generosity that reflected the strong cultural traditions of the north.
Two longtime Riders fans shared their pride in memorable ways. One wore a beautifully crafted Riders ribbon skirt. Another displayed a hand-beaded Riders purse that blended traditional artistry with football fandom.
The Grey Cup travelled with the group to nearly every stop on the tour, creating moments of excitement for students and community members of all ages.
The touring group included Cameco Manager of Environment and Indigenous Engagement Anne Gent, Grey Cup handler Cody Kunstleben, a Cameco videographer and the two Riders players.
By the end of the journey, one thing was clear. The pride northern communities have for the Riders runs deep, and visits like this strengthen the connections between the team, Cameco and the communities that support them.