The Mission of the Aboriginal Sport Circle is to provide the following:

The Yukon representatives with the Aboriginal Sport Circle are Brian Macdonald and Sonny Voyageur. As representatives these members go representing the Yukon and the interests of our athletes, but must also be impartial on decisions that affect the ASC as a whole, even though it may be against the wishes of Team Yukon. Their ultimate responsibility lies with the ASC and Canada as a whole. 

Programs:

The Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle annually participates in these Championships with Team British Columbia. YASC would like to think the Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Association of BC for their acceptance of our athletes to their program and allowing us to compete in the prestigious Championships. The Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle is the local sport agency for these athletes while they are at the championships, we offer support, chaperoning, practices, and guidance while preparing. YASC’s goal one day is to have its own male and female team to compete with Canada’s best Aboriginal Hockey athletes.

In 2009 the following Yukon atheletes were represernted on Team BC at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships:  Zack Moses and Darcey Carlick. On team Alberta the following Yukon althlete was represented: Jessica Trotter.

High Performance Camp:
The National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp provides an elite national forum for the top Bantam/Midget aged Aboriginal hockey players in Canada. The program promotes a philosophy of personal excellence through sport, which supports the holistic development of all participants. For this reason, the Camp program has been developed to offer a unique blend of high performance training in a culturally supportive environment.

The National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp operates under the leadership of some of the most respected hockey coaches in the country (inclusive of Major Jr. A, University and Olympic Team coaches). Under their direction, athletes selected to attend the Camp are immersed in an intensive one-week high performance training program. The on-ice training and off-ice technical sessions are complemented by daily sport science workshops as well as cultural teachings from local elders who participated in the delivery of the curriculum.

Coaching Development:

Coaching Certification:
The ASC views the role of community coaches as being agents of social change. Their expert guidance can have a direct and lasting impact on the healthy, active lifestyles of community members, with specific emphasis on the youth. With such immense responsibilities, it is of great concern to the ASC that there exists a significant under representation of Aboriginal coaches certified through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).

The professional development of Aboriginal coaches through certification has been identified by the ASC as a national priority. In order to educate and promote the value of the NCCP and to establish meaningful participation of Aboriginal peoples in this national program, the ASC has embarked on a multi-year process to develop supplemental training material for Aboriginal coaches taking NCCP courses.

The Aboriginal Coaching Manual responds to the desire to have a national training curriculum with content that reflects the uniqueness of Aboriginal cultures, values, and lifestyles.

The Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle tries to hold at least 1-2 of these clinics per year preferably in rural Yukon. If a clinic is held in Whitehorse or any other community accommodations and travel allowances are provided for coaches to attend. If your community is interested in hosting one of these clinics please give the office a call. The Aboriginal Sport Circle is looking for Facilitators of this course and are wanting to have one facilitator in each jurisdiction, if your are interested in this opportunity please call the office or the Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Mentorship Program:

Within the ASC’s long-term vision for Aboriginal coaching development a mentoring approach has been established, which annually provides a select group of Aboriginal coaches with the opportunity to advance their expertise through a “hands on”, interactive training experience.

The mentoring process involves national level coaches designing and delivering a weeklong program that offers both National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses and advanced practical training application beyond the textbook/classroom environment.

Each Jurisdiction is encouraged to send on coach per year to this event. Each year the gender of the coach changes thus allowing equal representation from the jurisdiction and allowing increased development of all coaches. If you are interested in attending this program please call the office.

Awards:

Tom Longboat Award:
Tom Longboat was one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in Canadian history. A member of the Onondaga Nation who resided in Six Nations of the Grand River, Tom Longboat was one of the most gifted long distance runners of his time. In just his third competitive race, he set the world record for the marathon, smashing the previous mark by over five and half minutes. In the years prior to the First World War, Tom Longboat won most of the major distance races in North America and Europe, including the Boston Marathon and the Powderhall Marathon in Edinburgh, Scotland. At a time when indoor marathon running attracted sell-out crowds, he was the world's professional champion. At one point or another, he held every Canadian record from one mile to the marathon.

Throughout his life, Tom Longboat spoke proudly of his First Nations heritage and held his head high in times of great adversity. He was the headline attraction wherever he raced, drawing huge crowds and a widespread following. In 1999, Maclean's Magazine voted him the #1 Canadian sports figure of the twentieth century.

Established in 1951, the Tom Longboat Award serves as a proud national symbol for all Aboriginal peoples in Canada.