Ottawa invests $22.8 million for sports in Indigenous communities

The Government of Canada has announced a two-year investment of $22.8 million (2026–2028) to fund Indigenous-led sports and physical activity programs across the country.

Unveiled by the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Adam van Koeverden, this funding is part of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) component.

According to Ottawa, the program’s objective is to leverage sport to improve health, education, and employability, while reducing at-risk behaviors among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

In Edmonton, approximately $1.23 million will be specifically allocated to three local projects.

On a national scale, priority will be given to culturally tailored initiatives aimed at youth, women, girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

Budget Allocation

The $22.8 million funding is divided into three distinct streams for the 2026–2028 period:

• $10.6 million distributed to the 12 Provincial and Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies and the Aboriginal Sport Circle to develop community programs;

• $7.2 million split among 51 national projects led by Indigenous governments, communities, and non-profit organizations;

• $5 million allocated to 34 projects specifically dedicated to Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTI+ individuals.

Response to National Commissions

The goals of this program stem directly from the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

While Shannon Dunfield, chair of the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, welcomes this “much-needed” investment for overall well-being, she points out that grassroots organizations continue to face major challenges, including staffing shortages, transportation issues, and high demand in rural and isolated areas.

The SSDIC program has been in place since 2019.

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