Aboriginal Sport Circle facts for kids
| Formation | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit |
|
Region
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Canada |
The Aboriginal Sport Circle (often called ASC) is a special group that started in 1995. It's a non-profit organization, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. The ASC is the main group in Canada that speaks for and helps Aboriginal sports across the country.
The ASC works to bring together the sports interests of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities. Their goal is to help these groups become more active and healthy. Each year, the ASC also gives out the national Tom Longboat Award. This award goes to the best male and female Aboriginal athletes in Canada.
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How the ASC Started
The ASC was created to give more chances for Aboriginal communities to get involved in sports. Many people across Canada agreed that this was important.
Over time, the ASC also started focusing on general physical activity, not just organized sports. The ASC works with many different sport groups from Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Some of the groups that are part of the ASC include:
- Aboriginal Sport & Wellness Council of Ontario
- Federations of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
- Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle
The ASC is run by a board of directors. This board helps make sure the organization works well.
What the ASC Aims To Do
The main goal of the Aboriginal Sport Circle is to "support the health and well-being of Aboriginal people and communities through participation in sport, physical activity and recreation."
This means the ASC wants to:
- Be a strong voice for Aboriginal sports.
- Create programs that fit the cultures of Aboriginal people.
- Help develop national programs to improve physical activity for Aboriginal peoples.
- Train people to become good leaders in sports.
Important Values
The ASC has three main values they try to follow:
- Respect: They want to be fair to everyone when making decisions.
- Accountability: They are open about their decisions and honest with everyone. They want people to trust them.
- Unity: They want all members to work together. This helps them have a strong, united voice.
The Tom Longboat Award
The Tom Longboat Award started in 1951. It was created to celebrate Aboriginal athletes in Canada who are active in sports.
Today, the ASC gives this award to two top Aboriginal athletes each year. One award goes to a female athlete, and one to a male athlete. These athletes must show great skill in their sport and also be good sports.
The award is named after Tom Longboat, who was a member of the Onondaga Nation. He was an amazing long-distance runner. Tom Longboat set world records and ran in famous races like the Boston Marathon. He cared a lot about his Aboriginal community.
Winners of the Tom Longboat Award receive:
- A $1500 bursary (money) to help with sports costs.
- A paid trip to Toronto to get their award at the Canada Sports Hall of Fame ceremony.
- A special Tom Longboat plaque.
Tom Longboat Award Winners
| Year | National Award Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Cameron Gayleard & Lyric Atchison |
| 2018 | Jocelyne Larocque & Michael Linklater |
| 2017 | James Lavallée & Joy Spear Chief-Morris |
| 2009 | Ammon Crowfoot & Brigette Lacquette |
Research and Learning
The ASC also works to learn more about physical activity in Indigenous communities. In December 2017, they started the National Aboriginal Research Agenda. This program helps them understand Aboriginal policies and create better programs.
Janice Forsyth, a former President of the ASC, said that this research is important. It helps improve sports, physical activity, and physical education for the health of Aboriginal people across Canada.
