Gatineau, QC – Sport for Life Society and the Aboriginal Sport Circle are proud to launch the Aboriginal Long-Term Participant Development Pathway – a culturally sensitive resource that directly speaks to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report: Calls to Action around sport and physical activity.
The Aboriginal Long-Term Development Pathway is a reference for working with Aboriginal participants in sport and recreation, presents a roadmap for developing sport and physical activity for Aboriginal participants. It outlines the key elements that need to be considered when planning, developing and implementing programs for and with Aboriginal peoples and communities, including a focus on supporting the physical, spiritual, cultural and mental (emotional and intellectual) needs of the individual to maximize their experience in sport and physical activity. It parallels the Long-Term Athlete Development model which Sport for Life launched eleven years ago and which has evolved the sport system to develop stage-appropriate training and development for athletes, with a focus on cradle to grave – beyond the former focus of high performance.
This document is a call to action for all sport and physical activity organizations across Canada to review their programming and to find ways to develop relationships and programming that will facilitate successful experiences for Aboriginal participants to get involved early in their life and develop a desire to be active throughout their lifespan – wherever that pathway may take them within their lifespan. It is an opportunity to bring new participants into programming and to create bridges and intentional relationships between the Aboriginal sport stream and the mainstream sport stream. Sport and recreation have been identified as tools for social development to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
The Aboriginal Long-Term Participant Development Pathway is the culmination of three years of collaborative national consultations, involving more than 70 Aboriginal sport and physical activity leaders from across Canada. It is a resource document that has been led by the Aboriginal peoples that it was developed to support. Sport for Life Society and the Aboriginal Sport Circle greatly appreciate the in-kind and financial support of Sport Canada, a branch of the department of Canadian Heritage; the Cowichan 2008 NAIG Legacy; Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario; the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council in BC; and Alwyn Morris.
The Aboriginal Long-Term Participant Development Pathway can be found here:
http://canadiansportforlife.ca/resources/aboriginal-long-term-participant-development-pathway-1
Sport for Life Society
The Sport for Life Society is recognized as the global experts on the Sport for Life movement, Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), and physical literacy development. The purpose of the Sport for Life movement is to improve the quality of sport and physical literacy in Canada. Sport for Life links sport, education, recreation and health, and aligns community, provincial, and national programming. Sport for Life, with LTAD and physical literacy, represents a paradigm shift in the way Canadians lead and deliver sport and physical activity.
Aboriginal Sport Circle
The Aboriginal Sport Circle is Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport, which brings together the interests of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. Established in 1995, the Aboriginal Sport Circle was created through a national consensus-building process, in response to the need for more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Aboriginal peoples.
For more information contact:
Andrea Carey
Director of Special Projects, Sport for Life Society
andrea@canadiansportforlife.ca
Alwyn Morris
Aboriginal Sport Circle
amorris@morrismohawk.com
