88 Days Until the North American Indigenous Games
550 Indigenous Athletes from Across Ontario Set to Compete
Ontario is marking 88 days until the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) begin on July 16th in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), with 550 athletes from across the province set to compete.
Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport was at Nathan Phillips Square today to mark the occasion and provide well-wishes to all the athletes who will participate. This day is significant because it aligns with the 88th call to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which recognizes the Games as an important way to support Indigenous athlete development and recreation in Canada.
NAIG is one of the largest sporting and cultural gatherings of Indigenous people in the world. During the Games, which run from July 16 – 23, the GTHA will welcome over 5,000 Indigenous athletes aged 13 to 19 from Canada and the United States to compete in 14 sports, such as canoeing, basketball and wrestling.
The Games provide Indigenous athletes, coaches, and officials with the opportunity to participate in organized sport, develop their skills, and pursue excellence in their sport. The province is providing support for the Games and for Ontario athletes, including recruitment events, training camps, Team Ontario uniforms and travel subsidies for athletes who live in Ontario’s northern communities.
Hosting athletic competitions and investing in the development of amateur athletes is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- This will be the first time Ontario has hosted the Games since they began in 1990 in Edmonton, Alberta.
- Ontario’s support for NAIG is administered through Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario, and includes $285,000 to support Indigenous athletes and $3.5 million to successfully deliver the games.
- Ontario is supporting other initiatives to help improve sport and recreation opportunities for Indigenous children and youth. This includes providing $3.3 million to the Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness to offer new opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in sport at all levels and $ 1.3 million for the Community Aboriginal Reaction Activator (CARA) program to provide quality, community-based recreation, sport and physical activity programs to Indigenous children and youth.
- Since 2014, the number of Indigenous communities participating in CARA has increased from 15 to 27 communities.
- Athletes will compete at venues in Ajax, Cookstown, Hagersville, Hamilton, Ohsweken, Toronto and Welland.
- The games are expected to attract 10,000 visitors to the GTHA and generate $35 million for the local economy.
Additional Resources
- Find out more about the North American Indigenous Games, including how you can volunteer.
- Game ON – the Ontario Government’s Sport Plan
- Join the conversation online with #Team88.
Quotes
“Ontario is excited to support the many talented athletes in the Indigenous community that will soon inspire youth across Canada. One of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action is to provide opportunities for Indigenous youth to progress through their chosen sport, including by participating in the North American Indigenous Games. These Games will give young athletes the chance to test their skills in an international sporting event and empower them to continue their journey in sport.”
“The 2017 Games this summer will showcase the achievements of Indigenous athletes from Ontario and North America, and the communities they represent. We are proud to be supporting young athletes competing at NAIG2017 and beyond, which is part of our work with First Nations, Métis and Inuit to advance reconciliation. Go Team Ontario!”
“With the generous support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario has been able, to date, to hold some 60 tryout camps across Ontario where over 1,350 indigenous athletes have participated in the selection process for Aboriginal Team Ontario that will be representing the province at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games. ASWCO is excited that Ontario will be able to field a competitive team representative of Indigenous communities from all regions of the province at this important Indigenous sport and cultural event and celebration.”
David Marc Laliberte
