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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 this chapter which stood out to me was hearing about how colonial sports play a major role in indigenous cultural assimilation. The Carlisle residential school in Pennsylvania had a successful football team, although the coach used the sport to instill Americanized values amongst the indigenous players, stating that “we don’t want to hold onto anything Indian”. Reading this made me feel quite frustrated, as the notion that success can only be achieved through adopting a colonial lifestyle is obviously false and rooted in white supremacy.
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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).
| The Indian Act, was a law passed by the Canadian government in 1876 which outlined a plan for cultural assimilation of Indigenous peoples into colonial society. The Indian Act saw the continuation of many policies harmful to Indigenous culture, such as government funded residential schools with mandatory attendance for Indigenous children of a certain age range.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, February 19). Indian act. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Act 
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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)
| Appropriation and adaptation of Indigenous physical activities were undertaken by European settlers, during which settlers engaged in traditional Indigenous exercises like lacrosse, hunting, and snow-shoeing. This effort on the part of settlers was taken to displace the cultural history of Indigenous peoples, and establish colonies with new European adaptations of Indigenous traditions. This diminishes the impact that Indigenous peoples have traditionally held over their native lands, and enforces the idea that colonial powers are the rightful inhabitants of Indigenous land.
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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.
| As a child, I had freedom to participate in virtually any sport or activity I wished. I understand that many children did not have this experience, especially Indigenous children who were subjected to the residential school system. Using sport to push an agenda of cultural assimilation is inherently wrong, as it robs children of the chance to participate in activities which are sacred to their family history. In my childhood, I never had this issue as any sport my parents or grandparents played, I was also invited to participate in.
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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.
| This video showcases how sport has the power to bring people together, provide relief from oppressive circumstances, and overall act as a type of medicine for the body and mind. For residential school survivors, participating in sports like hockey and lacrosse allowed for bonds to form between Indigenous children, and ensured the maintenance of some aspects of Indigenous culture and language. One of the residential school survivors even mentioned that sports had a therapeutic effect on their mental wellbeing during this difficult time. Many of the children and grandchildren of these survivors agree with the therapeutic value of sports stating that they get a sense of pride representing their heritage through many different sports.
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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”?
| Horn-Miller acknowledges that the Canadian government has made an effort to promote Indigenous involvement in Canadian sports, but this effort is somewhat in vain given the pre-existing barriers impeding involvement. As Horn-Miller points out, many Indigenous communities are not very accessible due to remote locations where some reservations have been established. This makes it difficult for Indigenous youth to gain access to the facilities needed to train for professional sports. This highlights the pre-existing power structures that exist in Canada, as the descendants of European settlers generally have access to much more resources than Indigenous peoples. In addition, the common general trauma experienced by Indigenous youth makes participation challenging as it may detract from motivation to get involved in sports. Overall, the point I believe Horn-Miller is making is that the government needs to understand the full scope of colonial impacts on Indigenous society, and address the root problems rather than throwing money at the issue. |
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 image shows 2 Indigenous boys playing hockey along a frozen pond. This image feels comforting but also highlights some of Canada’s dark past. While European settlers may be credited with the invention of hockey, it was likely adapted from traditional Indigenous sports. I feel this image showcases some of the cultural assimilation that occurred in our past as we see Indigenous people wearing original 6 hockey jerseys that represent the beginning of Westernization and commodification of the game.
Reference: Markdavidnorman, says:, J. B., Says:, M., & says:, J. P. (2018, May 7). Canadian Aboriginal Peoples and hockey: A complex and conflicted history. Hockey in Society / Hockey dans la société. https://hockeyinsociety.com/2012/03/20/canadian-aboriginals-and-hockey-a-complex-and-conflicted-history-part-1/
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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.
