The Government of Canada supports the creation of a Commonwealth lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Sport Declaration on Truth, Reconciliation and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples.
Today, Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport, on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced funding of $70,000 to Commonwealth Sport Canada. The funding announced today will provide Commonwealth Sport Canada with the funds it requires to support the Commonwealth Indigenous Sport Declaration Working Group in the development and creation of the declaration.
This announcement was made as part of the Victoria Forum 2022 "Bridging Divides: Turf, Truth and Trust." Sport and its ability to bring people together despite their differences was featured in a plenary session at this annual Forum, which aims to engage in constructive conversation to determine how to bridge divides in our society.
The declaration seeks to harness the power of sport, the Games, and the Commonwealth Sport Movement to address historical and current issues of truth and reconciliation. It builds on partnerships with community leaders in Australia and Canada and the work successfully delivered at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Indigenous Sport Declaration Working Group, with support from Commonwealth Sport Canada, is consulting with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and domestic and international sport organizations to craft the declaration. It will include a statement of commitment from all parties and define clear actions that will be undertaken.
