4 Chapter Four: Decolonizing Sport
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)
| What stood out to me was how the libraries in the schools were used to encourage reading and learning, especially in the winter months. It made me think about how important it is to have access to books and how they can provide both entertainment and education, even in difficult times. Another part that caught my attention was how the schools created newsletters and publications, like The Guide and Northern Lights, which allowed students to express themselves and stay connected with the community. It was interesting to see how this created a sense of belonging and gave them a voice, even in such restrictive environments.
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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).
| Settler colonialism is a type of colonization where people from another place settle permanently on land that is already inhabited by Indigenous people. This process often leads to the displacement, marginalization, or forced assimilation of Indigenous communities. The focus of settler colonialism is to take control of land, resources, and establish a new society that dominates the Indigenous population, often erasing or destroying their cultures and ways of life in the process.
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C) Settler Colonialism
Exercise 3: Complete the Activities
In contrast with colonialism, in settler colonialism, settlers form deep attachments to the land*.
- Settler colonialism often grows out of colonialism.( TRUE)
What is the role of sport in settler colonial projects?
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Controlling the bodies of indigenous peoples
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Appropriating the body cultures of Indigenous peoples.
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)
| This statement highlights how colonialism not only tried to suppress Indigenous cultures but also took elements of those cultures, such as “body movement practices,” and used them in ways that benefited the settler agenda. This process is described as a way to “make settlers Indigenous,” essentially adapting Indigenous practices to suit colonial interests while erasing the true cultural origins. |
D) The Colonial Archive
Exercise 5: Complete the Activities
- Most photos were taken for official reporting reasons and therefore “connote meanings tied to church and state objectives” .
- Images curated to suggest “a sheltered and productive school environment” that was “efficient, well-managed, and orderly” created a false familiarity for readers who are invited to superimpose their own educational experiences onto what they see”.
- Widely circulating generic images convey a sense that faces are interchangeable and erase individual Indigenous identities.
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.
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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.
| In this video, sport is repeatedly described as a form of medicine in various ways:
Healing and Emotional Release: For individuals like Aiden Baker, lacrosse is not just a sport but a form of therapy. It is seen as a way to cope with emotional, spiritual, and personal battles, offering a positive outlet for challenges faced in life. Connection to Ancestry and Identity: Lacrosse is portrayed as a traditional and culturally significant activity that connects people to their heritage. Aiden mentions that lacrosse is a “medicine game” for their people, a gift from the Creator, which serves as a source of pride and cultural identity. Resilience and Healing: Chief Robert Joseph refers to sports as a means of dealing with the trauma caused by residential schools. He suggests that sports help Indigenous people overcome negativity and work towards healing and well-being, moving forward without the weight of historical trauma. Physical and Mental Well-being: The interviewees emphasize the physical benefits of sports, with participants mentioning how sports helped them throughout their lives, from childhood to adulthood, providing both a physical release and a mental reprieve. Empowerment and Confidence: The sports experiences shared by others, including basketball, track, and softball, reveal how involvement in sports provided empowerment and pride, helping them feel strong and connected to their community. Community and Reconciliation: The idea of sport as a means of fostering unity and reconciliation is also highlighted. Through sport, young people can come together, build relationships, and contribute to the broader process of reconciliation by working together as equals, promoting cultural understanding and shared experiences.
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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”?
| When Waneek Horn-Miller says that the government is “trying but still approaching Indigenous sport development in a very colonial way,” she is expressing that while there may be efforts to improve Indigenous participation in sports, these efforts are often shaped by a colonial mindset. This means that the government’s approach may be top-down and not fully aligned with Indigenous peoples’ needs, values, or ways of organizing and developing sports. Rather than working directly with Indigenous communities to create solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable, the government’s actions may reflect outdated or imposed systems that don’t respect Indigenous knowledge, traditions, or leadership in sports. Horn-Miller is advocating for a shift towards a more collaborative and respectful approach that empowers Indigenous communities to lead the way in sports development. |
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.
| Hockey is a huge part of Canadian culture, and there are certain things that make it feel truly Canadian, like playing on outdoor rinks in winter, dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup, and proudly wearing the maple leaf on a jersey. Whether its kids playing on frozen ponds or Canada’s big Olympic wins, hockey brings people together and represents national pride.
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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.
