Indigenous Success Stories: Inuit

The 2021 Canada Games Host Society – is excited to announce the historic signing of a memorandum of understanding with a newly formed Indigenous Partnership Council (IPC) that will aim to reinforce the presence and engagement of Indigenous communities in the events leading up to and during the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games. The IPC will be comprised of representatives from local, provincial and national Indigenous communities and groups including”

• Six Nations of the Grand River,
• Niagara Regional Native Friendship Centre
• Fort Erie Friendship Centre
• The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation,
• Metis Nation of Ontario,
• NPAAMB, Inuit and
• Brock University.

In collaboration with the 2021 Canada Games Host Society, the IPC’s vision will be to build a legacy for an inspiring, unifying and transformative 2021 Canada Summer Games by sharing the diverse cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples. Their mission will be to co-welcome and educate the athletes, their families, guests, the larger Niagara community, and viewers nationwide on the original peoples and their beautiful ways of life by sharing their distinct cultures, traditions, songs, dances, and craftsmanship to create a unique cross-cultural experience for all at the 2021 Canada Games in Niagara.

In order to achieve that, the IPC will play an important role in the Games’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Niagara Place, the 13-for-13 Cultural Festival, and the celebrations surrounding the reintroduction of the Indigenous game of lacrosse to the Canada Games.

Inaugural “Gathering” at the University of Manitoba explored ways to achieve the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s nine Calls to Action related to sport (#87 – #91) and education (#62 – #65) that will support the development of culturally relevant sport, recreation, and physical education systems.
The forum identified a variety of core issues related to sport and recreation at the Indigenous level, and recommendations on how to move forward:

• Indigenous youth face far too many barriers in accessing adequate sport and recreation programs in their communities
• the crucial need for sport and recreation champions in the Indigenous community.
• need to re-design long-standing sport and recreation funding and organizational structures to incorporate Indigenous values and ethics.