Aboriginal Resources
Below are links to a variety of resources to help learn more about the long history of Aboriginal sport and the achievements of Aboriginal athletes. The important messages in these stories and resources provide a valuable message for all students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike.
Four Host First Nations Society:
Vancouver’s successful bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is bringing the world’s premier sporting event to the traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, known as the Four Host First Nations. The Four Host Nations will be using the 2010 Winter Games to promote First Nations culture and to take advantage of the social, sport, cultural and economic opportunities and legacies that will arise as a result of the Games.
VANOC: Find Your Passion in Sport:
The Find Your Passion in Sport poster series features up-and-coming Aboriginal athlete role models from across Canada (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), and is part of a campaign to encourage participation in sport among Aboriginal youth. Printable posters of the six Aboriginal athletes are available, along with three lesson starters designed by Aboriginal educators that can be used in conjunction with the posters.
Canadian Olympic Committee’s Aboriginal Olympian Stories: (free registration required)
Get inspired by the stories of 4 Aboriginal Olympians, each with a valuable message for students. Each story includes lesson ideas for teachers and is available in English, French, Mohawk, Cree and Hul’qumi’num.
- Waneek Horn-Miller: Self-Respect
- Alwyn Morris: Leadership
- Angela Chalmers: Excellence
- Tom Longboat: Perseverance
BC Hall of Fame: Aboriginal Sport lesson plans: (free registration required)
The BC Sports Hall of Fame has created two lessons featuring Aboriginal sport and athletes.
- Running, and the balance between sport, culture, society, spirituality and emotions, featuring Angela Chalmers.
- Physical fitness with traditional Aboriginal games, featuring the 1936 North Shore Indians lacrosse team.
2010 Legacies: Aboriginal Youth Sport Challenge
The Aboriginal Youth Sports Challenge brings Aboriginal youth together for a day of inspiration, competition and fun. The Challenge consists of two parts: Aboriginal Talent ID and SportFit™. High-performance athletes can participate in the Aboriginal Talent ID to learn what it takes to be a top athlete, and everyone can participate in SportFit™, which matches a youth’s personal preferences and physical attributes with suitable summer and winter sports.
2010 Legacies: BC Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund
Created in 2002, the BC Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund (AYSLF) has three grant programs to support BC Aboriginal youth who are pursuing a future in sport and recreation.
- Community Grants
- Post-Secondary Scholarship
- High-Performance Athlete Assistance Grant
The Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund also helps fund the First Nations Snowboard Team, which is using sport to create a legacy of healthy, physically active youth who strive for personal excellence.
BC Ministry of Education’s Aboriginal Learning Resources
This site includes several useful resources for teachers looking to add Aboriginal content to lessons in a variety of subjects.
- Shared Learnings: Integrating BC Aboriginal Content K-10
- Aboriginal Curriculum Integration (ACI) Project
- Planning Guide and Framework - Development of Aboriginal Learning Resources
Aboriginal Sport Circle
The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) is Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport, which brings together the interests of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. Established in 1995, the ASC was created through a national consensus-building process, in response to the need for more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Aboriginal peoples.
North American Indigenous Games:
At the North American Indigenous Games, thousands of Aboriginal athletes compete in 16 different events, making the NAIG the largest event of its kind. In addition to the sporting events, cultural activities associated with the Games include artwork, entertainment and spiritual activity among the athletes and attendees. The Games were last held in 2008 in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia and the next Games will take place in 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mini North American Indigenous Games
On October 5, 2007, the Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project (ACIP) team organized and held a mini North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) at George Bonner Middle School in the Cowichan Valley. The objective of the event was to raise the profile and awareness of the NAIG in a middle school setting. Other objectives of the mini NAIG concept included promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles among students, taking the opportunity to share and celebrate local Aboriginal culture and promoting the mini NAIG as an active learning unit.
