The City of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc are pleased to announce that our community has been selected to host the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships May 5–10.
The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships is an annual event that provides a forum for elite Indigenous hockey players from across Canada and attracts male and female provincial and territorial teams. As a national championship established by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships showcases under-18 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis hockey players competing for the Turtle Island Cup in separate competitions. The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships is a unique national event that fosters cultural unity and pride.
The event will take place over six days in May 2025. The successful bid was supported by the Kamloops Sports Council, Tourism Kamloops, Thompson Valley Charters, BC Hockey, the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council as well as the host communities of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.
As a major partner in this event, the Kamloops Sports Council has successfully secured a $80,000 Major Sport Event Hosting grant and a $22,200 BC Fairs Festivals and Events Fund grant from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
“As the proud host of the upcoming National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, we are honored to welcome elite Indigenous hockey players from across Canada to our city. This event not only showcases exceptional talent but also celebrates cultural unity and pride,” said Tkwenem7íple7 Justin Gottfriedson, acting Kúkpi7, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.
“As Canada’s Tournament Capital, the City of Kamloops is excited to host this elite, under-18 Indigenous hockey competition,” said Councillor Bill Sarai, Deputy Mayor, City of Kamloops. “This tournament highlights our relationship with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, whose unceded ancestral lands we occupy, alongside our dedicated community partners and volunteers. Welcoming Indigenous athletes, coaches, and families from diverse communities, we aim to amplify Indigenous voices and the beauty of the local Secwépemc culture and the culture of every athlete at the games.”
“Congratulations to the City of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Nation for being selected to host the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These championships are a great opportunity to bring benefits to the region by attracting visitors, fostering job creation and boosting revenue for local businesses. I also commend the celebration of Indigenous culture as a prominent feature of these games. Truth and Reconciliation is at the heart of our government’s work and a priority in BC’s sport sector.”
British Columbia has hosted the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships twice, 2004 in Prince George and 2017 in the Cowichan Valley. The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council oversees Team BC’s participation in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, a program that has experienced much success over the last decade. The men’s team has received medals in the last ten consecutive years (three gold, one silver, and six bronze), and the women’s team won bronze in 2022 and 2024.
“We are very excited for the City of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to be hosting this prestigious national championship. Kamloops will provide the perfect backdrop for the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and through the strong partnership between the city and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc participants and spectators will experience a unique blend of elite competition and culture,” said Rick Brant, Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council Chief Executive Officer. “For Team BC, it will be a special opportunity to compete for a national title in front of a home crowd”.
“Kamloops is proud to have world-class facilities that can support this championship event. Our community has a proven track record of providing an exceptional athlete experience, and we are honoured to be selected as the host community for 2025,” said Dušan Magdolen, the City’s Culture Service and Events Manager.
“The Kamloops Sports Council is extremely excited to partner with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops to host the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship. We believe with the region’s rich culture and Kamloops’ tournament hosting history this will be an exceptional event,” said Duncan Olthuis, Executive Director of the Kamloops Sports Council.
“We are thrilled to welcome the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships to Kamloops. Hosting this event is a proud moment for our city, reflecting our passion for sports and our dedication to cultural inclusivity. We invite all participants and visitors to experience the unique energy and spirit of Kamloops during this exciting event.” said Lisa White, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Kamloops.
The 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships event was recently held in Grand Prairie, Alberta, and involved eight male and eight female under-18 hockey teams from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Team Atlantic, and Team Eastern Door and the North demonstrating their passion and dedication to their sport.
