With the support of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Sask Sport has created the Future Sport Program, which works with Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) to reach out to various communities across Saskatchewan and boost accessibility.
The Future Sport Program is composed of three sections – Future Sport, Future Stars and Future Leaders – each with a particular focus within developing Indigenous sport.
Future Sport
Future Sport is geared toward the PSOs, Districts and Tribal Councils, as well as First Nations and Métis community leaders.
Interested communities and leaders are the base on which the Future Leaders program is built. Future Sport identifies the supporters who will help provide training and developmental opportunities to the youth in their community. It is the initial action that comes before the Future Stars camp and Future Leaders program.
Future Stars
The Future Stars program is a series of one-day camps, designed for youth ages 9-15 who will be eligible to compete at the next North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), which will be hosted in 2027 by Calgary. The program is offered at various Indigenous communities around the province and is held during the school year, to ensure it is accessible to interested participants.
The day camps help youth create relationships with other participants and foster a passion for physical activity. In addition, youth can explore what a future may look like as developing NAIG athletes.
In addition to the sport-specific training participants receive at the camps, further education is presented by professionals from the Sport Medicine & Science Council of Saskatchewan. Discussions have covered several topics ranging from goal setting, the effects of physical activity and motion as well as general information on NAIG.
Future Leaders
The Future Leaders program was developed to build the coaching and leadership capacity within Saskatchewan’s Indigenous sport system. The program aims to support, develop and mentor individuals so they can become future leaders and coaches in their local communities.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 NAIG, many athletes aged out of the 13 to 19 age group, leaving them unable to attend the 2027 Games. The Future Leaders program was established with those athletes in mind and offers them an opportunity to explore sport from another perspective, as coaches.
The program offers access and training in resources such as the National Coaching Certification Program, first aid, guidance on developing toolkits for programs, Respect in Sport and various other certifications. Participants leave the program with an accessible toolkit for themselves and their future community programs.
In addition to training, participants are encouraged to assess their current community’s resources, so they may establish a successful and accessible program for youth in the community.
