Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle is the organization responsible for developing Team Yukon to attend the North American Indigenous Games. Team Yukon would like to thank the following two Platinum Sponsors for helping enable Team Yukon to attend the 2008 North American Indigenous Games in Cowichan, British Columbia.
NAIG Mission Statement
To improve the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples by supporting self-determined sports and cultural activities which encourage equal access to participation in the social/cultural fabric of the community in which they reside and which respects Indigenous distinctiveness.
History:
In the 1970s, a number of visionaries began to explore the idea of promoting Indigenous cultures and supporting Indigenous youth through sport. Leaders of various communities helped the concept evolve and eventually a plan for a large-scale, multi-sport North American Indigenous Games emerged. Vision was becoming reality.
The first-ever NAIG were held in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1990, with approximately 3,000 participants. In less than two decades, the number of sport and cultural participants has tripled, to over 9,000.
By encouraging Indigenous youth to participate in athletic competition, these Games have become a vehicle for promoting healthier lifestyles and strengthened relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of North America.
Previous hosts:
- 1990 - Edmonton, Alberta
- 1993 - Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
- 1995 - Blaine, Minnesota
- 1997 - Victoria, British Columbia
- 2002 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 2006 - Denver, Colorado
- 2008 - Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
The 2011 games will be taking place in Milwaukee Wisconsin July 8 - 17, 2011. Team Yukon will soon be starting the sports selection process in 2010.
Team Yukon:
For more information on Team Yukon please contact Executive Director, Greg Edgelow at
867-668-2840 or 867-334-2840, aboriginalsport@sportyukon.com, (fax) 867-667-4237 or you can contact the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle office at 867-668-2840.
NAIG Council
The North American Indigenous Games Coucil is comprised of thirteen representatives from Canada and thirteen representatives from the United States. The NAIG Council is responsible for determining the site for the future North American Indigenous Games through a bid process and is also the official governing body of the North American Indigenous Games.
The Yukon representative on the NAIG council is Brian Macdonald, Brian is the president of the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle. Brian represents the Yukon on this Council, but must be impartial on items that may affect the Yukon contingent. The outcomes and decisions made at this table determine the success of the Games and the Future of NAIG and must be in the best interest of the NAIG movement.