Beyond sports: USask Athletics fostering Indigenous inclusion and empowerment
In 2018, the Saskatoon Residential School Survivor Circle supported the request of the Huskie Cross Country team’s desire to race in orange singlets in honour of Residential School Survivors and the thousands of children who never made it home. This tradition continues today and has evolved to include all visiting athletes choosing to wear orange…
Blossom where you’re planted: Mental health considerations for Indigenous sport participants
Highlights: The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation took place on September 30, 2021. This day honours the survivors of the residential school system, their families and their communities. Reflecting on truth and reconciliation in Canadian sport, this article explores mental health considerations for Indigenous sport participants. SIRC sat down with Sharon Anne Firth,…
Cultural relevancy and positive youth development: Exploring the sport and physical activity experiences of indigenous youth in Canada
Project summary The purpose of the study was to gain insight into how positive youth development (PYD) through sport and physical activity is understood for Indigenous youth in western, central, and eastern urban communities in Canada. The following research questions were addressed: 1) What meaning do the outcomes related to PYD in sport and physical…
Reconciliation as a Social Legacy of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games
This is the second blog in a series leading up to the 2020 Arctic Winter Games that will be hosted by Whitehorse, YT March 15-21, 2020. Check out the first blog, about the development of the Games. Watch for the next blog, focused on volunteer recruitment and retention, in October. The Yukon leads the way as…
Thinking about Reconciliation on National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated annually since 1996. It is intended as a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. National Indigenous Peoples Day coincides with the summer solstice, a time when many Indigenous communities have…
The 2017 North American Indigenous Games
The 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) will be hosted by Toronto from July 16-23, with venues across the Greater Toronto Area. This will be the 10th NAIG to be staged, the first having taken place in 1990. Travelling from across Canada and the United States, over 5000 Indigenous athletes aged 13-19 will compete in…