3. Policy Statements

The following statements apply to the policies and programs of Sport Canada.

3.1 Enhanced Participation

Sport Canada is committed to involving a significantly higher proportion of Aboriginal Peoples in quality sport activities at all levels and in all forms of participation. This work will be guided by the belief that:

  1. Aboriginal Peoples must have equitable access to programs, services, resources and infrastructure to fully participate in the Canadian sport system and to increase opportunities for Aboriginal Peoples participation in sport;

  2. Programs, services and resources must recognize the unique needs of all Aboriginal populations, including youth, girls and women and persons with a disability;

  3. Activities involving Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples and uniquely Aboriginal activities can both play a positive role in enhancing the sport participation of Aboriginal Peoples. It may be more appropriate for Aboriginal athletes, coaches and officials to be enrolled in programs specifically intended for Aboriginal Peoples for skill, social, cultural and/or sport development reasons;

  4. The NAIG, the Arctic Winter Games, and other similar events provide competitive opportunities for Aboriginal athletes in an environment that reflects Aboriginal cultures, values and lifestyles. They offer Aboriginal Peoples an opportunity to share their cultural values with the broader Canadian public and internationally. Participation in these Games enhances the development and delivery of sport programs to Aboriginal Peoples from the community to national levels;

  5. Increasing the participation of Aboriginal youth in all forms of sport will help them address social and economic challenges and provide constructive and optimistic prospects for their development.

3.2 Enhanced Excellence

Sport Canada will strive to create an environment that welcomes an increasing number of qualified Aboriginal athletes, coaches and officials who reach National Sport Organization national team or high performance levels. This work will be guided by the belief that:

  1. Access to, and support for, quality and meaningful training, developmental and competitive opportunities are essential for the continued success and development of Aboriginal athletes, coaches and officials.

3.3 Enhanced Capacity

Sport Canada will strive to enhance the capacity of individuals, communities and organizations in support of Aboriginal sport in Canada. This work will be guided by the belief that:

  1. The needs of Aboriginal Peoples in sport must be identified, promoted and supported in policies and programs that are developed in consultation with the Aboriginal sport community;

  2. Aboriginal communities need appropriate facilities and resources to provide quality, sustained, and culturally appropriate sport programs to their members;

  3. There is a need to increase the number and the capacity of Aboriginal leaders (i.e., coaches, officials, administrators, and volunteers) to strengthen sport within Aboriginal communities and to provide athletes and sport leaders as role models for youth;

  4. Coaching and coaching development are important for the continued growth of Aboriginal Peoples' participation in sport. It is crucial that current and potential coaches of Aboriginal athletes have equitable access to programs and resources to help develop and perfect their skills. Aboriginal coaching materials positively contribute to enhancing coaching in Canadian sport;

  5. Research, data collection and progress evaluation are essential to increasing participation and excellence in sport for Aboriginal Peoples;

  6. All levels of program delivery must be culturally sensitive, flexible and adaptive to the diverse needs of Aboriginal populations.

3.4 Enhanced Interaction

Sport Canada will strive to develop and strengthen cooperation and collaboration in sport amongst governments, Aboriginal Peoples, sport organizations and interested stakeholders. This work will be guided by the belief that:

  1. Enhancing Aboriginal Peoples' participation in sport can make significant contributions to advancing the Government of Canada's objectives. Building stronger relations with other federal departments to identify and collectively address shared objectives through sport will maximize results;
  2. Enhancing Aboriginal Peoples' participation in sport can make significant contributions to advancing the objectives of Provincial/Territorial and Aboriginal governments. Stronger relations among all Federal and Provincial/Territorial government departments and Aboriginal governments in support of Aboriginal Peoples' participation in sport will maximize individual efforts to the benefit of Aboriginal Peoples;
  3. National Sport Organizations, Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations, Multisport Service Organizations and governments can play a key leadership role in developing new and stronger partnerships and programs with the Aboriginal sport community and other stakeholders to increase the participation of Aboriginal Peoples in sport;
  4. ## Supporting the full participation of Aboriginal Peoples in sport demonstrates Canada's values, celebrates Canadian culture, and exhibits to the world our commitment to human rights.

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