Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games Postponed

Victoria, BC (March 25, 2020) – Earlier today, the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council and the NAIG 2020 Host Society announced that the Games, scheduled to be held July 12-18, 2020 in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) have been postponed due to the ongoing situation with the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Halifax 2020 NAIG was set to bring together over 5,000 Indigenous participants from across North America to compete in the multi-sport event and to celebrate cultural heritage on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. During the coming weeks, NAIG Council and the NAIG 2020 Host Society and its funders and partners will be pursuing alternate arrangements for the delivery of the Games in the summer of 2021. Plans include a special concession to ensure that athletes eligible to compete at the Halifax 2020 NAIG remain eligible to participate in the rescheduled Games.

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC), the body that oversees Team BC for the NAIG, supports the decision by the Host Society. While we are all disappointed with the postponement, the health, safety and well-being of our communities and families, along with everyone involved in the Games, is paramount. Moving forward, we will provide updates including plans for Team BC’s preparation and participation once new timelines are determined.

We thank the host communities, volunteers, sport partners, coaches, and managers, who have supported our Team BC selection processes to date. We want to acknowledge and congratulate the athletes who earned their spots on Team BC and to those named to the various Team BC Development Squads. We appreciate your patience as we work to confirm details about the NAIG postponement and its impact on our Team BC program.

Currently, all I·SPARC programs and events have been suspended indefinitely due to health concerns over COVID-19. We continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation and abide by the provincial and federal guidelines. We will continue to provide information and offer ways to bring our communities together virtually in order to stay active via our social media channels. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue training to maintain your physical health and fitness while following the guidelines for social distancing.

“We ask our youth now, more than ever, to remember the creed of the Team BC Soaring Raven,” said I·SPARC Elder and Senior Advisor, Alex Nelson. “It represents strength and determination and is a symbol of the connection and perseverance that our athletes, coaches and families have in their dedication to the NAIG program. We believe!”

Sincerely,