From early records and pictures, the underlying roots for the development of our organization goes as far back as the 1940's (and probably even a lot earlier) when individual Mi’kmaw athletes participated in Senior Provincial sporting championships in hockey, baseball and softball, swimming and running. Most of these athletes would have to join teams in large towns or cities to be exposed to this type of high caliber play. The likelihood of these athletes or coaches to make it on teams back then would naturally mean that they would have to be above average in talent.

(Aboriginal Sport Development document quotes & statistics)

" Much progress has been made over the past decade to mobilize a system that at present can be characterized as being in it’s transitional stage of development. What was once an informal, unstructured network of community sport leaders, has grown into a formal, structured network of Aboriginal sport bodies mandated by their communities such as the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Sports & Recreation Circle to oversee sport development at all levels.

These actions have laid the foundation for an effective, accountable infrastructure for Aboriginal Sport; a system that operates with a vision of building long term sport and recreation opportunities to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples.

Aboriginal Sport Circle Regional Bodies

The role of the National and Provincial / Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies is to establish partnerships with government and mainstream sport to collaborate on long term integrative solutions aimed at addressing the unique issues which face Aboriginal sport development. Additionally, they carry the responsibility for co-ordinating team selection, preparation and travel for the North American Indigenous Games. "

" These Aboriginal Sport Bodies are the delivery mechanism necessary for Aboriginal sport development in collaboration with mainstream sport at the national and provincial/territorial levels. At present, there is no consistent funding base to support the operation of most of these bodies.

Some of the immediate barriers include that of the thirteen (13) regions represented on the ASC, there are six (6) operational bodies with two (2) additional bodies being formed. Only three (3) Aboriginal sport bodies (British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta) receive core operating funds from their provincial governments and one (1) receives partial funding (Manitoba). Two of these Aboriginal Sport Bodies had to close it’s doors over the past year (Nova Scotia and Ontario) because of this lack of support."

The bottom line is that we have to pool our strengths and funding agencies together and come up with an agreement with funding, reporting and accountability mechanisms in place to make this process happen. Once again, we are faced with realizing just how much sports, recreation and culture is tied in to the every day life of each one of us.

There are so many ways all of us, especially our youth/children can benefit from the development of a sustained, organized Aboriginal Sport Body - healthy active living and an improved quality of life while providing opportunities for our people that suppress the everyday struggles against alcohol, drugs and solvent abuse. We have to begin building incentive to help shape our people’s goals in life and through recreation and sports, what other way has been proven to work better? Let us begin the journey.