TITLE:Support for the establishment of an Indigenous Lacrosse Association (ILA)

SUBJECT:Sports and Recreation

MOVED BY:Chief Ron Sam, Songhees First Nation, BC

SECONDED BY:Chief Ava Hill, Six Nations of the Grand River, ON

WHEREAS:

A.The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) states:

i.Article 24 (2): Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right.

ii.Article 31 (1): Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional expressions, as well as the manifestations of their science, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicine, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control and protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional culture expressions.

iii.Article 31 (2): In conjunction with indigenous peoples, States shall take effective measures to recognize and protect the exercise of these rights.

B.The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #90, under Sports and Recreation, calls upon the federal government to ensure national sports policies, programs and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal people including but not limited to establishing: in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to community sports programs that reflect diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples.

C.Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination and by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and their economic, social and cultural development.

D.The game of lacrosse, commonly referred to as the Creator’s Game, is not only a medicine and healing game, it’s played for fun, joy and amusement and continues to inspire and motivate Indigenous children and youth to stay active.

E.The game is seeing unprecedented growth across First Nations and Indigenous communities instilling pride, confidence, and self-esteem, as well as providing educational opportunities to Indigenouschildren and youth who have the opportunity to access scholarships to universities in both Canada and the United States.

F.First Nations and Indigenous lacrosse teams continue to seek opportunities to build capacity, such as access to training, equipment, apparel, coaches, mentoring, officials, funding and education support at the local level.

G.Establishing an Indigenous Lacrosse Association (ILA) will promote and advocate for building capacity at the community level, while continuing to support First Nations and Indigenous Nation based teams to compete in national, provincial and international competitions. It will also support their teams when competing in Indigenous, provincial, national and international lacrosse events.

H.The ILA will be responsible for the rules of play and governance for First Nations and Indigenous communities who participate in the association.

I.The ILA will be accountable, transparent, listen and take direction from First Nations and Indigenous Nations who wish to play the game, regardless of their residency in Canada or the United States.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly:

1.Support the establishment of an Indigenous Lacrosse Association (ILA), which will foster the growth of Indigenous lacrosse across all First Nations and other Indigenous groups.

2.Direct the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to draft a letter of support to the Ministry of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, the Coaching Association of Canada, the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation, and any other appropriate organizations and individuals, for the establishment of an ILA, including financial resources to support its operations.