June 1, 2025
Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan is honoured to partner with Sask Sport to recognize June as Indigenous History Month.
Across the nation and around the world, Indigenous athletes compete in all levels of sport from grassroots to high-performance and in the process, they gain unique stories.
Follow along with Sask Sport every Friday in June, for stories that honour the rich heritage and athletic achievements of the province’s Indigenous Peoples.
CSCS partners to help in the delivery of a number of programs that are designed to encourage Indigenous participation in sport throughout the year.
Future Leaders Program
The Future Leaders Program aims to build coaching and leadership capacity within Saskatchewan’s Indigenous sport system. Members of local communities and former North American Indigenous Games athletes who have aged out can get involved as coaches and explore sport through another perspective. The program aims to develop, support and mentor individuals so they can become future leaders and coaches in their local communities.
Sign up for the Future Leaders Program and gain access to training for coaches and resources such as the National Coaching Certification Program, first aid, developing toolkits for program, Respect in Sport and various other certifications.
Indigenous Coaches and Officials Program
For the past 16 years the Indigenous Coaches and Officials Program (ICOP) has helped provide training and development opportunities across Saskatchewan for Indigenous Peoples to become engaged more involved in sport as a coach or an official. The program was launched in 2007 and intended to run only until 2009, but became a permanent fixture due to the ongoing demand for training. ICOP participants take part in NCCP Community Sport, Competition and Instruction modules, Aboriginal Coaching Modules, NCCP sport-specific clinics and officials clinics. Today the program remains available free of charge as it is believed that every athlete deserves a quality trained coach.
Indigenous Community Sport Development Grant Program
The Indigenous Community Sport Development Grant Program aims to provide greater sport participation opportunities for Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan, by supporting development and implementation of community sport programs. Eligible communities can access the grant program, which receives additional funding from Sport Canada Aboriginal Participation and the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation. This program is delivered in partnership with the Districts for Sport, Culture and Recreation. To find out more please connect with your local District.
Indigenous Sport Enhancement Program
The Indigenous Sport Enhancement Program is committed to helping raise the performance level of Indigenous athletes in sport and increasing the capacity of Indigenous coaches, officials and volunteers. The program is aimed at developing and preparing athletes for major competitions and multi-sport games, with a focus on the North American Indigenous Games. It is also designed to support year-round, high-intensity individual and sport-specific training programs devoted to skill and fitness development and competition-specific training. Delivered in partnership with Provincial Sport Organizations and Indigenous leaders the program sees more than 3,500 athletes participate in a variety of sport development opportunities.
Indigenous Sport Leadership Council
This volunteer-driven, 12-member committee provides advice and assists the Sask Sport Board of Directors with strategic direction regarding Indigenous engagement and participation in sport throughout Saskatchewan. The council is supported by Sask Sport in partnership with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Métis Nation Saskatchewan.
Tribal Council and First Nations Coordinator Program
The Tribal Council and First Nations Sport, Culture and Recreation Coordinator Program supports grassroots development and quality of life in 74 First Nations communities by increasing access to and participation in sport, culture and recreation activities. It also supports team development for the Tony Cote Summer and Winter Games — annually supporting the participation of approximately 3,500 athletes, coaches and volunteers.
Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program
The Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program is a partnership between the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives, the Canada Games Council and the Coaching Association of Canada. The program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send two coaches of Indigenous ancestry to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles. The program provides an opportunity for the apprentices to gain new skills, as well as bring value and additional perspective to the sports and teams they are a part of.
The Aboriginal Coaching Module was developed to address the need for a national coach training curriculum that reflects the uniqueness of Indigenous culture, values and lifestyles. The program provides resources to individuals that lead Indigenous peoples at any capacity in sport and recreation, making coaching through an Aboriginal lens an accessible skill.
Sask Sport’s ‘Every Child Matters’ shirt
In 2023, Sask Sport partnered with a local Indigenous artist from the sport community on a custom orange shirt. The Indigenous-produced shirt is being offered at cost for the sport community to wear in the spirit, unity and commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.