Truth and Reconciliation Day + Sport
This past weekend, I had the privilege of supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Day game at McMaster University. What stood out most wasn’t just what the crowd could see, but the care and thought that went into every detail.
Working with the Indigenous Student Athlete Council at McMaster University, I saw their passion and pride in community and culture bring the event to life. They worked closely with the artist who created the game logo to make sure it told the truth—of the harms Indigenous peoples have faced, including the legacy of residential schools, but also of the strength, resilience, and power found through culture and community. Their advocacy for Indigenous visibility and storytelling was intentional and inspiring.
During the halftime show, I witnessed a family’s dedication to allowing their children to see and be seen in how Indigenous culture shapes sport, arts, and community. The kids weren’t just performing—they were embodying resilience, values, and identity in action.
Later, at my first powwow, I felt honoured to witness the joy of movement, music, and traditions shared so freely within community and with the broader Kitchener-Waterloo region. To be invited into that space was humbling and unforgettable.
Residential schools often stripped away culture—sport was used as a tool to force assimilation, separating children from their languages, ceremonies, and traditions. And yet, even in those spaces, sport sometimes became a site of resilience and resistance. Today, sport has the capacity not only to celebrate Indigenous culture and community, but to actively honour it—a pathway to reconciliation where stories, identity, and belonging are restored and celebrated.
In post-secondary sport, reconciliation requires action. That action may look like:
Diversify Recruitment Pathways – Find talent where you haven’t looked before. Strong student-athletes exist in more places than you might have originally considered, and missed opportunities can become found when recruitment is intentional and inclusive.
Funding and Accessibility – Cover team fees, provide equipment funds, and create tuition bursaries so no athlete is left behind because of financial barriers.
Representation and Voice – Build real opportunities for Indigenous student-athletes to lead, shape programs, and be heard.
Community and Knowledge-Sharing – Create spaces for connection with peers, Elders, artists, and knowledge keepers.
Acknowledging History in Sport – Recognize colonial systems and actively work to change policies and practices.
Honouring Indigenous Athletes – Celebrate contributions past and present, ensuring visibility is lasting, not performative.
Be Ready to Do the Work – Student-athletes can tell you what they need, but it’s on us to show up. Create programs, provide support, and give time, attention, and energy to show that you truly care. Reconciliation and inclusion are not passive—they require action.
At Sport ExtendED, we believe sport can be a pathway to healing, visibility, and empowerment. On Truth and Reconciliation Day—and every day—we commit to building spaces where Indigenous athletes and communities are not only acknowledged but consulted and celebrated.
Every athlete deserves to play, to be seen, and to belong. 🧡