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These are difficult stories. We bear witness in this chapter to the role of sport in furthering the settler colonial projects throughout Turtle Island. Here are some supports to access in the community and from a distance:
First Peoples House of Learning Cultural Support & Counselling
Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwag Services Circle (Counselling & Healing Services for Indigenous Women & their Families) – 1-800-663-2696
Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre (705) 775-0387
Peterborough Community Counselling Resource Centre: (705) 742-4258
Hope for Wellness – Indigenous help line (online chat also available) – 1-855-242-3310
LGBT Youthline: askus@youthline.ca or text (647)694-4275
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line – 1-866-925-4419
Talk4Healing (a culturally-grounded helpline for Indigenous women):1-855-5544-HEAL
Section One: History
A) The Residential School System
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
We are asked to honour these stories with open hearts and open minds.
Which part of the chapter stood out to you? What were your feelings as you read it? (50 words)
| The part of the chapter that stood out to me was the sports section. In residential schools, European sports like soccer were forced to try to diminish Indian culture in children, yet children found a way to use sports to enhance their identity. This section stood out to me as I had never thought about using sports to maintain their identity rather than lose it. I was very surprised to read that sports were enhanced to attempt to lose aboriginal identity; I did not know that leisure activities such as sports were being used against children to attack their identity. I was happy to read that children were enhancing their identity rather than letting it fade away by playing European sports. |
B) Keywords
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
Briefly define (point form is fine) one of the keywords in the padlet (may be one that you added yourself).
| The Indian Act, developed by the Canadian federal government in 1876, outlines how the government treats Indigenous status. The law also outlines how to treat Indigenous identity aswell as the land and enhance an Indigenous culture for individuals that were stripped away in the past due to residential schools and other traumas. This was done to ensure that Indigenous culture was handled and treated with fairness. |
C) Settler Colonialism
Exercise 3: Complete the Activities
Exercise 4: Notebook Prompt
Although we have discussed in this module how the colonial project sought to suppress Indigenous cultures, it is important to note that it also appropriates and adapts Indigenous cultures and “body movement practices” (75) as part of a larger endeavour to “make settlers Indigenous” (75).
What does this look like? (write 2 or 3 sentences)
| Indigenous culture was taken over by settlers and used as their own. This looks like taking over the land which belongs to Indigenous culture but still using the name that was discovered by Indigenous cultures. Instead of completely removing indigenous culture, it was used by settlers in the wrong ways. Clothing by Indigenous was taken and used by settlers, which also meant taking their culture away. Culture is so important to everyone as it shapes values, beliefs, and a sense of belonging to everyone’s identity. |
D) The Colonial Archive
Exercise 5: Complete the Activities
Section Two: Reconciliation
A) Reconciliation?
Exercise 6: Activity and Notebook Prompt
Visit the story called “The Skate” for an in-depth exploration of sport in the residential school system. At the bottom of the page you will see four questions to which you may respond by tweet, facebook message, or email:
How much freedom did you have to play as a child?
What values do we learn from different sports and games?
When residential staff took photos, what impression did they try to create?
Answer one of these questions (drawing on what you have learned in section one of this module or prior reading) and record it in your Notebook.
2) What values do we learn from different sports and games?
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B) Redefining Sport
B) Sport as Medicine
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
Make note of the many ways sport is considered medicine by the people interviewed in this video.
| Sports were considered a helping hand; they helped individuals go through hard times as they were doing what they really enjoyed. Sports provided elements to people that benefited them in many ways. Sports were a gift, which many people thought of as medicine, a gift to participate in and a gift to help them emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Being able to participate in sports is a gift to everyone. Sports are used to cope with many people’s problems and used as a safe space to guide them through hard times |
C) Sport For development
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
What does Waneek Horn-Miller mean when she says that the government is “trying but still approaching Indigenous sport development in a very colonial way”?
| There have been many changes to how the government responds to Indigenous cultures over the recent years, but it is not in a beneficial way that is putting Indigenous views at the top priority. Waneek Horn-Miller notes in the video that the government needs to find a way to work with them to understand how the people will work together. By Waneek stating the government is still approaching Indigenous sports in a colonial way, it means the government is still applying a very Westernized framework when it comes to Indigenous sports. Without applying a true, full Indigenous framework, western frameworks on sports restrict the true Indigenous identity. |
Exercise 8: Padlet Prompt
Add an image or brief comment reflecting some of “binding cultural symbols that constitute Canadian hockey discourse in Canada.” Record your responses in your Notebook as well.
This picture captured a moment in Canadian history that will never be forgotten. This was the moment that Canada won the cup in the Four Nations playoff series. Canada was against the United States and won. Although it was a hokey game, it meant so much more than just a puck on the ice. We have faced many difficulties since Donald Trump became the president, and this hockey game solidified our country. Canada is one big country that is ready to take anything on as a team. This moment shows that Canada does not stand alone and that we are a nation.
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Section Three: Decolonization
Please see the major assignment for this half of the term in the final section of this chapter.
Longer Promot (5%)
Reading the TRC’s 94 calls to action, I decided to pick number 89 which is, we call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples (Government of Canada, 2022)..
TRC 89 outlines that there should be funding given to Indigenous communities to keep physical activity at the centre of their well-being. This must be taken seriously as physical activity is a right, and no individual should be excluded from it. Governments need to fund community-based sports programs that are beneficial to Indigenous peoples’ cultural needs, which may not be obtained through mainstream sports. Although the call to action has been published and acted upon, there is still lots of work to be done to create an inclusive sports system for Indigenous peoples that prioritizes physical activity and well-being.
It has been acknowledged that this progress will take many years, communicating with the Indigenous peoples in Canada, along with the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ACS). The Canadian government has set out funding to help the ASC to promote physical activity that will be beneficial. Since April 2022, the ASC has outlined that with the help of the Canadian government funding, culturally appropriate engagement in physical activity will be put in place that focuses on the best cultural interests for Indigenous peoples (Government of Canada, 2022). Along with funding, active participation and listening can be more beneficial than funding, with advocacy Indigenous peoples rights can be helpful to creating equality. Instead of the TRC just focusing within Canada, it is beneficial that it goes national to help individuals who could benefit from physical activity that focuses on cultural engagement and more.
