Number 91 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action reads:

We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the… [Arctic Winter Games] …to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.

Learn how the Host Society of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games is responding to this Call to Action through community engagement, celebration of Yukon First Nations, and education in this SIRC blog.

When an estimated 2,000 participants arrive in Whitehorse next March, they’ll be welcomed to the Traditional Territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, two of 11 self-governing First Nations in the Yukon. In today’s SIRC blog, learn about the steps the 2020 Arctic Winter Games Host Society is taking to ensure First Nations engagement is a priority.

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 the only jurisdiction in Canada with 11 self-governing First Nations, so it was important for the Host Society of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) to demonstrate leadership by acknowledging reconciliation as a goal of the Games.

The Host Society made First Nations engagement a priority during their initial meetings, creating a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in September of 2018. The RAP is led by the Community Engagement and Protocol Division, developed in consultation with Yukon First Nations and supported by senior management at the Host Society.

Key elements of the plan include:

• Ensuring Yukon First Nations are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating;
• Recognizing, respecting and celebrating Yukon First Nation languages, cultures and traditions; and
• Educating staff, Host Society members, and participants about Yukon First Nations history.

Memorandum of Understanding

As part of the RAP, a historic Memorandum of Understanding was reached between the 2020 AWG, the AWG International Committee, and Yukon First Nations in April of this year. The MOU was signed by the two Whitehorse First Nations, the Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, as well as the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

It was the first time that an MOU had been developed between Yukon First Nations and an Arctic Winter Games Host Society, and the MOU speaks specifically to Number 91 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action (2015):

We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the… [Arctic Winter Games] …to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events;

The MOU aspires to: afford Yukon First Nations youth, elders and communities the opportunity to volunteer for the Games; recognize and celebrate Yukon First Nations languages, cultures and traditions; and create the opportunity for Yukon First Nations Elders to function as advisors for all youth at Games-time.

Celebrating First Nations Culture

The RAP committee has been heavily involved in the creation of important marketing pieces for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games, such as the theme song and mascot.

The final theme song, titled From the North, is a collaboration between artists from across the Circumpolar North. Written and produced by Yukon musician Daniel Ashley, the song features throat singing by Rita Claire Mike-Murphy and Kathleen Merritt from Nunavut, as well as Tlingit vocals composed by Blake Lepine and performed by the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers.

A contest was held among Yukon youth to determine the mascot for the 2020 AWG. Dozens of illustrations were submitted, and when it came to selecting the winner, First Nations history and cultural values were taken into consideration. Bringing recognition to traditional languages, our official mascot, who will be unveiled in the fall, is named Däch’äw – the Southern Tutchone word for porcupine.

Yukon metalworks artist Brian Walker and his son Justin, a Kwanlin Dün First Nation member, were recently chosen to build the Cauldron for the 2020 AWG. The Cauldron will be created out of copper, a material that goes back at least 1,500 years in the Yukon’s history. Specifically, there are traditions and stories about copper that are important for Yukon First Nations and they plan to reflect that in their final piece.

Education

As part of the RAP, the 2020 AWG committed to educating staff, members of the Host Society, participants and volunteers on the importance of the plan and the history of First Nations people in the Yukon and the North. 

Members of the Host Society participated in the KARIOS Blanket Exercise, offered through the Yukon Government. The Blanket Exercise covers over 500 years of First Nations history in a one-and-a-half-hour participatory workshop, followed by a debriefing session in which participants have the opportunity to discuss the experience as a group. A second Blanket Exercise will be offered in the fall Mission 2 meetings for the International Committee and representatives from the nine participating contingents.

Host Society staff also completed a one-day Yukon First Nations 101 course through Yukon College this summer, and conversations about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #91 (see above) will be added to the participants handbook. Additional educational opportunities will continue to be explored leading up to the AWG.

What’s next in the series?

Hosting a multi-sport Games of any size requires a large workforce. An estimated 1,800 volunteers will be needed for the 2020 Games, and with a population of just 35,000 in the entire Yukon Territory, it takes some out of the box thinking to reach volunteer goals. We’ll explore some of those ideas, including major employer leave policies, in October!

The 2020 Arctic Winter Games will be hosted by Whitehorse, Yukon March 15-21, 2020. Follow the action leading up to and during the Games on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The first Arctic Winter Games was hosted in 1970 engaging 500 athletes from Alaska, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. In March of 2020, an estimated 2,000 athletes from across the Circumpolar North will be in Whitehorse, Yukon as the Games mark their 50^th anniversary. Learn more about the Games and its role in athlete development in a new blog series about the Games.

The Government of Canada recently announced investments to expand the use of sport and physical activity programming as a means to improve social development in Indigenous communities. The application process for projects designed to improve health, improve education, reduce at-risk behaviour, and improve employability, is now open. The deadline for applications is July 19, 2019.

This is the first blog in a series leading up to the 2020 Arctic Winter Games that will be hosted by Whitehorse, YT March 15-21, 2020. Subsequent blogs will focus on the logistical challenges of hosting in a smaller centre, engaging remote northern and First Nations communities, and the incorporation of Circumpolar culture.

Living in the North certainly brings unique challenges, and for athletes who grow up far from larger centres, the opportunities at home can be limited. With a population base of just 36,000 in the entire Yukon Territory as an example, local youth can’t always find strong and engaging competition.

That challenge was evident in 1967, when the first Canada Winter Games were held in Quebec City. Teams from the Yukon and Northwest Territories were struggling to keep up with their provincial counterparts. After witnessing some of the lopsided scores, Yukon financial advisor Cal Miller came up with what he would later refer to in media interviews as “the best idea since the invention of 7-Up”.

Miller suggested that the Circumpolar North create their own Winter Games, where athletes could experience a similar level of competition among their peers. Two years later, the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) were born and the Arctic Winter Games Corporation, later changed to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, was formed to oversee the Games.

The first AWG were held in Yellowknife, NT in 1970, engaging 500 athletes from Alaska, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. In March of 2020, an estimated 2,000 participants from nine contingents will be in Whitehorse as the Games mark their 50^th anniversary. Participants now come from Greenland, Nunavik (northern Quebec), Northern Alberta, Sápmi (Norway, Sweden, Finland) and Yamal (Russia), as well as Alaska, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.

Held every two years, the AWG feature 21 sports in four categories: traditional sports, Nordic sports, indoor sports, and ice sports. Traditional sports are highlighted through Arctic Sports and Dene Games, some of the most popular events for spectators. Arctic Sports consists of several feats of athletic strength and endurance such as the Alaskan high kick, kneel jump, airplane, head pull and knuckle hop. Dene Games events include finger pull, snowsnake, hand games and pole push. Both the Arctic Sports and Dene Games are intertwined with traditional and cultural values. Nordic, indoor and ice sports include more mainstream sports such as basketball, curling, cross-country skiing, hockey and snowboarding.

The AWG have become a significant part of northern sport development over the past 50 years, and they have produced some formidable athletes. Six northern athletes who represented Canada in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games competed in the Arctic Winter Games on their way to the world’s biggest athletic stage, including Dahria Beatty (cross-country skiing), Brendan Green (Biathlon), Knute Johnsgaard (cross-country skiing), Kevin Koe (curling), Graeme Killick (cross-country skiing), and Emily Nishikawa (cross-country skiing).

Former NHL player Jordin Tootoo (NU) and NBA player Carlos Boozer (AK) are also AWG alumni. Yukon Olympian Jeane Lassen, who was an Athlete Mentor in PyeongChang 2018 and competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, attended two AWG as an athlete. She’s now the Ambassador for Whitehorse 2020.

But perhaps most importantly, the Arctic Winter Games offer residents in the Circumpolar North a chance for cultural exchange and social interaction. Cultural programming at the AWG includes participants from all contingents who come together to learn from one another and demonstrate their unique artistic talents.

The vision for 2020 puts emphasis on First Nations culture and community inclusion. A historic Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the 2020 AWG Host Society and Yukon First Nations committing to meaningful engagement in the celebration of sport, culture, languages and traditions. A statement of welcome will be posted in Pride House that speaks to inclusion and acceptance of all participants, similar to that used at the 2019 Canada Games.

What began as an idea to level the playing field for northern youth has turned into an international multi-sport Games that continues to provide an extraordinary social and economic impact on the region.

Of course, hosting a multi-sport Games in the Circumpolar North can be logistically complicated. Imagine trying to get 1,800 mattresses shipped 2,100 kilometres up the highway to a northern remote community. We’ll explore the ways communities address those challenges in subsequent posts – follow SIRC’s Daily News Hub to stay up to date on postings!

The 2020 Arctic Winter Games will be hosted by Whitehorse, Yukon March 15-21, 2020. Follow the action leading up to and during the Games on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Today, in recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, SIRC kicks off a new blog series about the Arctic Winter Games which will be hosted in Whitehorse, Yukon March 15-21, 2020. Today’s post focuses on the initial development of the Games, which will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in 2020. Subsequent posts will explore various aspects of the Games, from its role in celebrating Indigenous culture and in northern sport development, to the logistics of hosting in a northern remote community.

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 celebrations due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. Sport and physical activity is often an important part of these celebrations. Central to the belief system and worldview of many Indigenous communities across Canada is a whole-health approach that encompasses spiritual, mental, physical and emotional health. It is this belief system that intertwines sport and culture for Indigenous people, and the blurs the lines that separate sport, culture and physical activity in many non-Indigenous communities – just ask a powwow dancer, a lacrosse player, or a paddler participating in Tribal Canoe Journey.

The engagement of Indigenous peoples as participants and leaders has been identified as a priority by many organizations in Canada’s sport and physical activity system. For some, growing interest has been fueled by a commitment to equity, or by good business sense given Indigenous people are the fastest growing population group in Canada. For others, it’s been the findings and Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that have sparked action.

Sport and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement mandated to inform all Canadians about Indian Residential Schools and document the truth of survivors, families, communities and anyone affected by the residential school experience. The process of reconciliation is designed to repair the damaged relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. The process builds on Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which sets a minimum standard for the survival, dignity and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. In 2015, the TRC released 94 Calls to Action to advance Canadian reconciliation, intended to mobilize all levels of government, organizations, and individuals to make tangible changes in Canadian society.

There are five Calls to Action centred on sport and reconciliation:

87. Provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.
88. Ensure long-term athlete development and growth and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games.
89. Amend physical activity and sport legislation so that policies are inclusive of Aboriginal people.
90. Ensure national sports policy, programs and initiatives are inclusive and establish:
    • stable funding and access reflecting diversity of Aboriginal culture and traditional sport activities,
    • an elite athlete development program,
    • programs for coaches, trainers and officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples, and
    • anti-racism awareness and training programs.
91. Call upon the officials and host countries of international sport events to ensure Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participation.

Building relationships with Indigenous Peoples

The following tips can help non-Indigenous organizations build strong relationships with Indigenous communities:

• Educate yourself about the issues, and advocate training for all staff and volunteers – e.g., the Kairos blanket exercise is an interactive learning experience about the history of Indigenous people in Canada described by many as “eye opening”.
• Examine organizational policies to remove any discriminatory practices and proactively support inclusion.
• Partner with Indigenous organizations, within and outside of sport, to gain expertise and build respectful linkages.
• Make decisions with the community to avoid decision-making based on assumptions and stereotypes – communities have diverse needs, interests and experiences.
• Take part in the local Indigenous community to build organizational and personal relationships – join in solstice celebrations, or search out Indigenous Friendship Centres located in many urban centres.

Recommended Resources

– Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

– Aboriginal Sport Circle – Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal Sport

– Coaching Association of Canada’s Aboriginal Coaching Modules

– Motivate Canada’s Gen7 Program

– North American Indigenous Games Council and Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games  

About the Author – Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. She was CEO of the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Host Society, and was involved with the establishment of the provincial sport body for Indigenous people in Ontario. Marcia lends her knowledge and understanding of the Indigenous sport and physical activity landscape to volunteer positions at the community and federal levels. She is a mother to three daughters.