$1.5M investment to expand access to Winnipeg Indigenous sport programs

Several Indigenous-led projects are getting some help to expand access to sport in the city.

The Government of Canada is investing $1.5 million to expand access to sport programs in Winnipeg’s Indigenous communities.

Federal Minister of Sport Terry Duguid announced the funding on Wednesday, saying the money will go to eight Indigenous-led projects in the city that create community-designed programming for Indigenous people.

The funding is part of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) program, which prioritizes culturally relevant sport and physical activity opportunities.

“Sport has the power to drive meaningful social change. That’s why the Government of Canada is proud to invest in Indigenous-led initiatives that provide accessible sport activities for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada,” he said in a news release.

“Through the SSDIC program, we are working alongside Indigenous partners to build a future where everyone can learn, thrive and grow through sport.”

The SSDIC helps communities address participation barriers and create programs that best suit their needs.

Since 2019, the initiative, with the help of Indigenous-led organizations and governments, has worked with hundreds of communities across the country.