The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous communities across the country in their efforts to be strong and healthy. The transformative power of sport plays an essential role in achieving these goals. The government recognizes that, for many Indigenous communities, barriers still exist that prevent them from realizing the benefits of sport programs.
Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced the launch of a funding opportunity under the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities program. Through the program's third stream, $3.75 million is currently available* for projects serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people across the country in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
This program supports Indigenous people in being more active and healthier and connects participants with culturally relevant physical activity. Funded projects are Indigenous designed and led, and address community-identified social development goals that focus on physical and mental health, suicide prevention, sexual trafficking awareness and prevention, safe and healthy relationships, and sexual positivity (2SLGBTQI+).
Since the program's 2019 launch, hundreds of Indigenous communities have benefited from funded projects across the country and the positive impacts continue to grow.
*Uniquely for fiscal year 2023-24, $1.25 million will be made available to the 13 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs), as recognized by the Aboriginal Sport Circle, to continue and/or implement programming for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+. The remaining $2.5 million is available in an open call to all eligible organizations.
