The National Indigenous Sports Strategy
We have embarked on the development of a National Strategy for Indigenous Sport, Recreation, Physical Activity and Traditional Practice (National Strategy).
Why?
Access to a wide range of sports, recreation and traditional activities and maintenance of a healthy level of physical activity are key to individual physical and mental health as well as community vitality and sustainability. Despite significant investment in recent years, many First Nations, Metis and Inuit continue to face access challenges to mainstream sport, challenges to organizing and participating in Indigenous activities and barriers to physical, emotional and mental health and wellness within their communities. Historically, there has been a notable absence of Indigenous voices in government sport, health and cultural policy, priority setting and investment development, further perpetuating the generational traumas of colonization.
What?
The National Strategy will be Indigenous-led and Canadian-focused. The National Strategy will establish the vision and goals for Indigenous sport and help to:
- Provide direction and guide implementation of systemic changes in Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous sport, recreation, physical activity, cultural, infrastructure and health and wellness sectors
- Create the associated supports and funded infrastructure
- Act as a framework to connect Interested Parties and enable collective action
Who?
The Aboriginal Sport Circle, a national, member-based non-profit organization established to support the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities, is leading the development of this strategy. The strategy will be informed by Indigenous voices across Canada, telling us their stories and providing insight through various means over the next few months.
How?
The journey to a completed strategy is depicted below. Most importantly we need to hear from you.
You can participate by:
- Sending us your stories and memories
- Completing a survey
- Participating in a listening session
- Following us on social media and providing feedback (@indigenousinmotion.ca)
The Journey to the National Strategy
Phase 1: Setting Our Path
Agree, develop, clarify and record how the project will be executed
Phase 2: Building Our Understanding of Today
Extensive engagement to determine the current state of Indigenous sport, physical activity, and recreation in Canada
Phase 3: Designing Our Future
Determine and define the vision and desired future state
Phase 4: Today vs Future
Identify and define the gaps between current state and desired future state
Phase 5: The National Strategy
Develop National Strategy document capturing engagement findings, analysis, and recommendations for effective implementation
When?
The strategy will be developed over the next year. You can look forward to participating as much or as little as possible.
About the ASC
The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC)is the national voice for Indigenous sport, physical activity, recreation, and traditional practices across Canada, bringing together the interests of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and non-status peoples.
We were established in 1995 through a national consensus-building process, in response to the need for more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. This mandate has expanded to include advocacy and programs that include health, nutrition, physical education and wellness.
As a member-based organization, each member Provincial Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body (PTASB) carries the mandate to represent the grassroots interests of the Indigenous peoples in their jurisdiction. It is their collective voice that guides our direction and builds our national priorities.
