Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day: Hockey Alberta’s Partnership with Indigenous Sport Council Alberta
In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Hockey Alberta and Indigenous Sport Council Alberta (ISCA) are celebrating their successful partnership that has provided enhanced opportunities for Indigenous hockey participants across the province.
Since joining forces in 2019, Hockey Alberta and ISCA have worked together to support Indigenous youth in Alberta by offering funding, opportunities, and engagement with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. This collaboration has led to significant growth and development of hockey in Indigenous communities, with Alberta’s teams making a mark at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC).
Al Blackwater, a board member for ISCA, highlighted the positive impact of the partnership with Hockey Alberta, stating that it has allowed Indigenous youth to showcase their skills and compete at an elite level in hockey. The NAHC tournament, which brings together elite U18 Indigenous male and female youth from across the country, has seen improvements in Alberta’s teams, with the female team winning two medals in the past four years.
Blackwater emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for all Indigenous athletes, regardless of their background or financial situation. While challenges such as financial barriers still exist, initiatives like the ISCA Elite Athlete Grant Application aim to support Indigenous athletes in pursuing their athletic goals.
Looking ahead, selection camps for the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships are set to take place in Red Deer, with the championship tournament scheduled for May 2025 in Kamloops, British Columbia. The partnership between Hockey Alberta and ISCA continues to create pathways for Indigenous athletes to excel in hockey and beyond.
