Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
Sask Sport is committed to Truth and Reconciliation through education, understanding and sharing. As an organization, we will provide ongoing program support and training that aim to advance Indigenous athletes, coaches and volunteers, as well as work in partnership with Indigenous communities to build relationships through shared experiences. Relationships in communities guide our programs and resources to create welcoming and inclusive environments across the province.
Founded on the traditional lands of the Cree, Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nakota and Saulteaux peoples, and homeland of the Métis. Our programs and resources in the province reach lands covered by Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. Our work in these Treaties will strive to be reconciliatory by focusing on where we can contribute to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, particularly Calls to Action numbers 87-91, specific to sport.
Our efforts in Truth and Reconciliation extend internally with employee-driven and employee-focused learning opportunities and events, which is an important part of our company values.
We collectively understand our responsibility to meaningfully address Reconciliation and the Calls to Action. Our actions include:
Recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 to honour the survivors of residential schools and acknowledge the lasting harm and pain that these schools brought to Indigenous children, their families and communities. An orange shirt was designed by local Indigenous volunteer and artist that are available to the broader community to wear in support.
(TRC Calls to Action 80)
Ensure diverse representation and talents are recruited to the organization
Ensure diverse representation and talents are recruited to the organization. We recognize that recruiting, hiring and retaining Indigenous employees adds critical competencies to the organization and lends lived experience that helps to enhance our programming and services.
(TRC Calls to Action 85i)
Celebrate achievements at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards
Celebrate achievements at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and recognize Indigenous leaders and changemakers for National Indigenous History Month.
(TRC Calls to Action 87)
Support the capacity of the North American Indigenous Games
Support the capacity of the North American Indigenous Games coaches to deliver advanced training and provide financial and consultative support to ensure long-term athlete development and growth.
(TRC Calls to Action 88)
Create and implement funding opportunities and programs
Create and implement funding opportunities and programs using our connection to community to ensure that our work and efforts best serve the population of Saskatchewan. We work to create meaningful connections and relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations to provide equitable, accessible and culturally relevant programs and services for Indigenous children, youth and families.
(TRC Calls to Action 89)
Provide funding for elite athlete development
Provide funding for elite athlete development through the Next Generation Indigenous Athlete Assistance and Indigenous Sport Enhancement Program grants.
(TRC Calls to Action 90ii)
Deliver Aboriginal Coaching Modules
Deliver Aboriginal Coaching Modules as a professional development training tool for coaches and leaders to add cultural relevance and new ideologies to the coach’s toolbox.
(TRC Calls to Action 90iii)
Provide opportunities to participate in educational training to build knowledge and awareness of Truth and Reconciliation
Provide opportunities to participate in educational training to build knowledge and awareness of Truth and Reconciliation. On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Sask Sport employees participate in community events to build relationships and gain awareness of the needs of Indigenous communities. We believe that to work respectively with Indigenous Nations, our employees need to be aware of the impact that colonial policies and practices continue to have on Indigenous children, youth and families.
(TRC Calls to Action 92iii)
Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
As we continue to grow and learn, we will maintain our commitment to listening, engaging and serving the needs of Indigenous communities. We have highlighted above some of the things we have been doing lately; it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all our actions guided by the TRC Calls to Action. For further information, please visit the Indigenous Sport Timeline.
80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
85i. Continuing to provide leadership in programming and organizational culture that reflects the diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives of Aboriginal peoples.
87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.
88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.
89. 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.
90. We call upon the federal government to ensure that national sports policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not limited to, establishing:
i. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples.
ii. An elite athlete development program for Aboriginal athletes.
iii. Programs for coaches, trainers, and sports officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples. iv. Anti-racism awareness and training programs
92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.
iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Quicklinks:
Sask Sport is committed to Truth and Reconciliation through education, understanding and sharing. As an organization, we will provide ongoing program support and training that aim to advance Indigenous athletes, coaches and volunteers, as well as work in partnership with Indigenous communities to build relationships through shared experiences. Relationships in communities guide our programs and resources to create welcoming and inclusive environments across the province.
Founded on the traditional lands of the Cree, Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nakota and Saulteaux peoples, and homeland of the Métis. Our programs and resources in the province reach lands covered by Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. Our work in these Treaties will strive to be reconciliatory by focusing on where we can contribute to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, particularly Calls to Action numbers 87-91, specific to sport.
Our efforts in Truth and Reconciliation extend internally with employee-driven and employee-focused learning opportunities and events, which is an important part of our company values.
We collectively understand our responsibility to meaningfully address Reconciliation and the Calls to Action. Our actions include:
Recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 to honour the survivors of residential schools and acknowledge the lasting harm and pain that these schools brought to Indigenous children, their families and communities. An orange shirt was designed by local Indigenous volunteer and artist that are available to the broader community to wear in support.
(TRC Calls to Action 80)
Ensure diverse representation and talents are recruited to the organization. We recognize that recruiting, hiring and retaining Indigenous employees adds critical competencies to the organization and lends lived experience that helps to enhance our programming and services.
(TRC Calls to Action 85i)
Celebrate achievements at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and recognize Indigenous leaders and changemakers for National Indigenous History Month.
(TRC Calls to Action 87)
Support the capacity of the North American Indigenous Games coaches to deliver advanced training and provide financial and consultative support to ensure long-term athlete development and growth.
(TRC Calls to Action 88)
Create and implement funding opportunities and programs using our connection to community to ensure that our work and efforts best serve the population of Saskatchewan. We work to create meaningful connections and relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations to provide equitable, accessible and culturally relevant programs and services for Indigenous children, youth and families.
(TRC Calls to Action 89)
Provide funding for elite athlete development through the Next Generation Indigenous Athlete Assistance and Indigenous Sport Enhancement Program grants.
(TRC Calls to Action 90ii)
Deliver Aboriginal Coaching Modules as a professional development training tool for coaches and leaders to add cultural relevance and new ideologies to the coach’s toolbox.
(TRC Calls to Action 90iii)
Provide opportunities to participate in educational training to build knowledge and awareness of Truth and Reconciliation. On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Sask Sport employees participate in community events to build relationships and gain awareness of the needs of Indigenous communities. We believe that to work respectively with Indigenous Nations, our employees need to be aware of the impact that colonial policies and practices continue to have on Indigenous children, youth and families.
(TRC Calls to Action 92iii)
As we continue to grow and learn, we will maintain our commitment to listening, engaging and serving the needs of Indigenous communities. We have highlighted above some of the things we have been doing lately; it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all our actions guided by the TRC Calls to Action. For further information, please visit the Indigenous Sport Timeline.
80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
85i. Continuing to provide leadership in programming and organizational culture that reflects the diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives of Aboriginal peoples.
87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.
88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.
89. 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.
90. We call upon the federal government to ensure that national sports policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not limited to, establishing:
i. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples.
ii. An elite athlete development program for Aboriginal athletes.
iii. Programs for coaches, trainers, and sports officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples. iv. Anti-racism awareness and training programs
92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.
iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Quicklinks: