The All Native Basketball Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 7 to 13 in Prince Rupert, B.C., has been&nbsp;

 for the first time in its 61-year history because of COVID-19 concerns.

Established in 1960, the sporting event&nbsp;sees dozens of men's and women's teams from across British Columbia and parts of Alaska compete for a week every year&nbsp;in the North Coast community.&nbsp;

Tournament chair Peter Haugan said he and his fellow committee members made the decision on Dec. 17 to call off the competition, knowing the pandemic situation is unlikely to improve significantly in the intervening months.

"That's disappointing," Haugan said. "We always wanted to be able to host the event, but the numbers [of COVID cases] and everything else [mean] that you're not going to be allowed to be playing right now."

'Our voices are being silenced': Athletes speak out about media ban at All Native Basketball Tournament

Indigenous basketball players are speaking out after a First Nations community tournament banned most media outlets from covering any negative aspects the games.

Vanessa Parnell is pictured in her basketball outfit in Vancouver, British Columbia on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. 

ALL NATIONS VANESSA PARNELL

Vanessa Parnell, who has played in the All Native Basketball Tournament for almost five years, says Indigenous players feel their voices are being censored by tournament organizers.

Because of the coronavirus, many gyms in Prince Rupert and its&nbsp;outlying communities have been closed, and no spaces are available for athletes to practise.&nbsp;

Haugan said no tickets have&nbsp;been sold and no venue was booked for the cancelled event, so no losses have been incurred for the organizers.

Peter Haugan is the chair of the All Native Basketball Tournament Committee. He is a non-Indigenous man who has been on the committee for several years. He told the CBC that he does not think politics should be a part of the games.

 Peter Haugan

Despite sponsorship from various sources, he said&nbsp;the tournament will still need&nbsp;$36,000 to make the 2022 event possible.

"We have to get creative and try to figure out how to get some money," Haugan said.

The All Native Basketball Tournament has been held at Prince Rupert Civic Centre&nbsp;every year for five decades.

Women on the court: How the All Native Basketball Tournament went from no female teams to 14

Roberta Edzerza broke the gender barrier at the All Native Basketball Tournament in 1992. More than two decades later, she's still competing in the women's division she helped create.

Roberta Edzerza (left), with sister Judy Carlick-Pearson, is still competing at the All Native Basketball Tournament in Prince Rupert, B.C. more than two decades after she broke the gender barrier at the tournament. 

Roberta Edzerza and Judy Carlick-Pearson

Sisters Roberta Edzerza, left, and Judy Carlick-Pearson are still competing on the court more than two decades after staring in the first women's All Native Basketball Tournament competition. 

The All Native Basketball Tournament, scheduled for February 2021, has been cancelled.

B.C.'s All Native Basketball Tournament cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns

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