Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
International sporting events have always been intertwined with politics. In the years that lead up to an event such as the Olympic games, billions of dollars are spent to transform host cities in a manner that best presents the host nation to the international community.[1] With any international game comes the international spotlight - often with a deep examination and corresponding dialogue on the host countries’ track-record on human rights issues and abuses.[2]
Over the next decade, as Indigenous peoples continue to gain recognition and legal authority as distinct nations, the spotlight of international sporting events will be a uniquely powerful tool in this process. This past summer, the Iroquois National Lacrosse team was not invited to the 2022 World Lacrosse Games, despite having qualified – and having invented the sport.[3] A current boycott petition has garnered over 55,000 signatures.[4]
The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team - Aiden Fearn
Call to Action 91 is slightly different than most calls, as it is specific to these international sporting events that do not happen often in Canada. Call to Action 91 is stated as:
- We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure that Indigenous peoples' territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.
In the executive summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the 2010 winter games that were hosted in Vancouver were praised for their proactive work to involve the four host nations in the decision-making process: the Squamish, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Lil’wat peoples.[5] The cultures of the four host nations were visibly displayed throughout the event with partnerships being made to ensure that territorial protocols were respected.[6] The Olympic Committee has called these actions an “example to future games.”[7]
Dancers at the Vancouver opening ceremonies - John Huet
Simultaneously, there were protests and demonstrations against the Vancouver Olympics, with many critics pointing out how much-needed services were being cut to fund the games – in an already existing economic downturn. Studies following the Olympics show that the finds diverted into hosting the Olympic games had disproportionate effects on unhoused Canadians.[8]
Following the Vancouver Olympics, it is difficult to assign a grade to Canada as there has been a limited sample size. The 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada did not seem to prioritize Indigenous relations, but was already facing unequal gender-based funding.[9] The next true test for Canada will be the 2026 FIFA world cup, several games which are to be hosted in Edmonton. To engage Indigenous communities in planning, the time would be now.
Until Tomorrow,
ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] See generally Own Gibson, "Sochi 2014: the costliest Olympics yet but where has all the money gone?" The Guardian (09 October 2013) online: <https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/oct/09/sochi-2014-olympics-money-corruption>.
[2] Human Rights Watch, "China: Repression Threatens Winter Olympics" (22 December 2020) online: <https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/22/china-repression-threatens-winter-olympics>.
[3] Allana McDougall, "Petition calls for boycott of world lacrosse games after Iroquois Nationals excluded" APTN News (24 July 2020) online: <https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/petition-calls-for-boycott-of-world-lacrosse-games-after-iroquois-nationals-excluded/>.
[4] Iroquois National Team Petition, online: <https://www.change.org/p/international-world-games-association-iwga-support-the-iroquois-nationals-lacrosse-team-inclusion-2022-world-games-birmingham-usa>.
[5] Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future: Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (Ottawa: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015) at 300.
[6] Ibid.
[7] The Olympic Games "First Nations Stand Tall As Shining Example of Vancouver 2010 Legacy" (19 June 2019) online: <https://www.olympic.org/news/first-nations-stand-tall-as-shining-example-of-vancouver-2010-legacy>.
[8] "Homeless youth pushed out for 2010 Games" CBC News (13 Feb 2011) online: <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/homeless-youth-pushed-out-for-2010-games-1.1015418>.
[9] Bob Mackin, "Is the Women's World Cup the Right Place to Talk about Missing Women?" TheTyee (30 January 2015) online: <https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/01/30/Missing-Women-World-Cup/>.
