Provide Your Input to Help Create a National Strategy for Sport, Physical Activity, Recreation and Traditional Practices

Before We Begin – Embark on Our Journey and Learn About the National Strategy

How did we get here?

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 is the National Strategy?

The National Strategy will be a tool to help identify and create actions that will help guide change in Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous sport, recreation, physical activity, cultural, infrastructure and health and wellness sectors. . This National Strategy is not a strategic plan for an organization. It is a comprehensive strategy that will help address the opportunities and challenges faced by many First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples impacting their participation in mainstream sports and to organizing and participating in Indigenous activities, as well as barriers to physical, emotional, and mental health and wellness within their communities. It will take the collective action of many organizations and individuals to implement this strategy once developed.     

We want to create a great strategy that will: 

• Articulates a vision for Indigenous sport in Canada- an inspirational but realistic statement that all can understand and relate to 
• Defines the principles/values on which the strategy is based 
• Describes what it will look like when the vision is achieved- expressed in goals 
• Identifies and defines what needs to be put in place and/ or what barriers must be addressed to achieve the vision and goals
• Strategic directions based on an assessment of what it is like now, the insights of Indigenous peoples who participated and the gaps that need to filled between right now and how it is envisioned in the future  

The strategy will also define, at a high level:

• The activities within each strategic direction
• Individuals/ organizations responsible for leading and executing 
• Timelines for completion and relevant milestones 
• The investments in time and money needed to be successful  

Who Is Developing the National Strategy?

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. 

An important part of the National Strategy is hearing from participants across Canada. We hope this will help create a diverse and comprehensive National Strategy that is reflective of many Indigenous peoples’ perspectives. 

A few reminders about your participation in the survey:

• We appreciate and value your detailed and honest input
• We will not share your responses with any other organizations
• We will keep all responses confidential

Thank you in advance for your participation.