13 - Donate Time to Coach Indigenous Sports Teams in Your COmmunity
This series of blog posts is inspired by the list 21 Things You Can Do to Change the World created by Bob Joseph in his book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. Focusing on actionable steps, these blog posts will take each step and provide links, contacts, and suggestion lists.
Scroll through all of our 21 Things posts here.
The next action we are highlighting is Donate time to coach Indigenous sports teams in your community.
Indigenous peoples in Canada have a long and proud athletic history, reaching the highest levels of every major sport both domestically and internationally. There are many notable Indigenous athletes, such as Montreal Canadiens superstar goalie Carey Price, but few famous coaches. As part of a sports organization, coaches are just as important as athletes in fostering a healthy environment and interest in the sport.
As noted in a previous blog post, there are significant barriers for Indigenous people to participate in sports, either informal or organized, due to a lack of equipment and adequate playing spaces or barriers to larger programs due to the fees and travel necessary to participate. One of these barriers is in coaching. Coaches are often more than that to their athletes, serving as role models, mentors, and informal parents to their athletes. The meaningful, lasting influence that coaches can have, especially on youth, help make the case for supporting Indigenous coaching even stronger – good coaches are an essential part of any strong, lasting sports program.
Indigenous coaching has several meanings, whether it be increased representation through Indigenous men and women becoming involved through coaching in their own communities or awareness around Indigenous history and reconciliation when coaching. At its core, Indigenous coaching involves a respect for and knowledge of Indigenous history and culture, increased Indigenous inclusivity in sports, and new approaches to coaching. There are various certification programs for non-Indigenous coaches to learn about these values and engage in best practices for coaching Indigenous sports.
Below are several resources for how to get involved in Indigenous sports, both in coaching and supporting or learning about Indigenous athletes and sport.
The Indigenous Sports, Physical Activity, and Recreation Council (ISPARC) is British Columbia’s largest Indigenous recreational sports organization, working to support and improve the health of BC’s Indigenous communities through participation in sports and other activities. Founded in 2007, ISPARC supports both recreational and competitive sports, such as hockey, wrestling, and swimming, for participants of all ages. It is the main sports organization for Indigenous and Metis peoples in BC and has fostered connections with communities across the province. https://isparc.ca/
Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) is a nationwide organization aiming to support the health and wellbeing of Canada’s Indigenous peoples through sports and recreation. They have created a guide and program for involving Aboriginal/Indigenous people in the coaching process. Learn more and view the guide’s modules above. https://www.aboriginalsportcircle.ca/coaches-support
ISPARC: Like ASC, ISPARC has an online course and guide for coaching. ISPARC has several modules for sports and recreation practitioners, Indigenous or not. Click the link above to learn more. https://isparc.ca/performance-sport/coaching-certification-leadership-training/
The Lil’wat First Nation, located north of Pemberton, has a recreation department dedicated to supporting recreational activities for all community members. They strive to support these activities as a way to ensure the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the community. Visit the link above to learn more. https://lilwat.ca/citizenservices/commdev/recreation/
Vancouver’s Musqueam First Nation: Similarly to the Lil’wat Nation, Vancouver’s Musqueam First Nation has a department dedicated to supporting sports and recreation in their community. They also have a community recreation centre for members. Learn more at the link above. https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/departments/community-services/recreation/
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame: Recently, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame developed an online resource about 14 Indigenous Hall of Famers to raise awareness around and educate about Indigenous athletes in Canada. Visit the link above to view the online exhibit and learn about some of Canada’s Indigenous sports heroes. https://indigenousheroes.ca/
Sports are a part of the Canadian government’s efforts towards Truth and Reconciliation, explicitly outlined in the TRC’s Calls to Action 87-91. The federal government is keeping track of how they are responding to the calls, including some provisions related to coaching. Learn more at the link above. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524505883755/1557512006268
These blog posts are designed to be a starting point to help people toward the path of reconciliation and allyship. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and research. Want to learn more? Check out the Indigenous Relations Academy, which has books, training, and resources. You can also purchase 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act here.