Seeking Host Communities for 2024/25 BC Indigenous Provincial Athlete Development Camps
I·SPARC is seeking host community/organization partners: Interested First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, Friendship Centres, and Indigenous organizations are invited to apply to be a host community for any of the events within the series of BC Indigenous Athlete Development Camps for the 2024/25 season. The Provincial Camps series for 2024/25 will consist of a 1 or 2-day camp for each of the following sports: Archery, Artic Sports*, Athletics (Track & Field), Badminton, Basketball, Canoe / Kayak, Golf, Lacrosse (Box), Rifle [...]
The Indigenous Active Communities Grants Launches
BLOG POST As of May 22, 2024, the Indigenous Active Communities Grants is officially open. The grant provides resources to First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, and Aboriginal Friendship Centres in British Columbia to create or expand physical activity, sport, and recreation opportunities in their communities. The program is supported by the Province of British Columbia, BC Healthy Living Alliance and I·SPARC. The purpose of the Indigenous Active Communities Grants is to: Support Indigenous people of all ages and abilities [...]
Team BC Captures Bronze Medals at the 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
NEWS RELEASE Treaty 8 Territory / Grande Prairie, Alberta (May 20, 2024) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) congratulates Team BC on winning bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s divisions at the 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). The 21st annual NAHC took place on Treaty 8 territory in Grande Prairie, Alberta, from May 6-11, 2024. Team BC Men’s finished first in their division after an undefeated preliminary round, recording four victories against Ontario, [...]
Application Process Open for I·SPARC Board Positions
May 15, 2024 As a volunteer directed society, the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is seeking three individuals who possess an assortment of business skill sets to serve on its board. The three new Directors will fill the following positions: One individual who is a citizen or member of a British Columbia First Nation Community One individual who is a citizens of the Métis Nation of British Columbia One individual who is associated with [...]
I·SPARC Honours the Recipients of the Regional 2023 Premier’s Awards
NEWS RELEASE Regional Recipients Announced for Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (May 14, 2024) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the regional recipients of the 2023 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. I·SPARC, in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, launched the regional nomination process in late 2023, receiving nominations from each of I·SPARC’s six regions (Fraser, [...]
City of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to Host the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
From City of Kamloops' website- Release Date: May 13, 2024 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 [...]
2027 North American Indigenous Games Updates & Appointment
2027 North American Indigenous Games Age Categories and Trial Sport The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council is pleased to announce the following age categories and trial sport for the 2027 NAIG in Calgary, Alberta: Age Categories U18 (2009 or later) & U15 (2012 or later) Trial Sport Arctic Sports In November 2023, the NAIG Council hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the traditional land of the Morongo Tribe in California. During the AGM, there was a facilitated discussion [...]
viaSport – Indigenous Youth Sport Legacy Fund
The Indigenous Youth Sport Legacy Fund was created to assist amateur athletes of Indigenous ancestry, including athletes with a disability or disabilities, in their pursuit of excellence in sport. The grant seeks to relieve some of the financial costs associated with high performance sport, including registration, travel, equipment, and coaching expenses. Grants are awarded to athletes competing in any sport, with priority given to athletes participating on provincial teams, national teams, and/or in any regional, provincial, or national tournaments [...]
Host a Sport Camp in your Community
Throughout the year, I·SPARC receives many requests to bring camps and sports across British Columbia. This is your chance to make it happen! I·SPARC invites First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, Friendship Centres and other not-for-profit Indigenous organizations to request to host Youth Sport Development Camps, Coaching Certification Courses, and/or Officials Training Sessions in their community/Centre. Take that step to make these camps or clinics a reality! Come together and submit applications that can best serve your community! CLICK HERE [...]
BC Sports Hall of Fame Opens the Door to World’s First Fully Immersive Digital Indigenous Sport Gallery
Help us open the door for the next generation of Indigenous athletes & coaches with a state of the art virtual reality experience Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Sport Gallery at the BC Sports Hall of Fame is the largest known permanent gallery in the world dedicated to Indigenous sport and with the unveiling of one of the most comprehensive digitization projects in sports history, it can now be experienced through virtual reality by visitors from across British Columbia and [...]
Team BC Announces Rosters for 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
NEWS RELEASE Team BC Announces Rosters for 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (April 11, 2024) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) is pleased to announce the players and volunteer personnel who will represent British Columbia in the 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). The NAHC will be hosted on Treaty 8 territory in Grande Prairie, Alberta from May 5-11th, 2024. This marks the first time the championships [...]
Indigenous Food-Related Wellness Advisory
The Distictions-based Food Wellness Tools project is a collaboration between the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, & Recreation Council (I·SPARC), Health Canada, the BC Ministry of Health, and Sa̱nala Planning. This program seeks to connect with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across British Columbia to explore what food wellness tools would be most effective in supporting their families and communities, considering the geographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the territories. Funding has been provided to initiate a multi-year province-wide engagement [...]