The Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI has been awarded $50,000 towards assisting the Aboriginal Sport Circle with their efforts of building a healthy and strong Aboriginal population on PEI through sport and recreation enhancement. The Aboriginal Sport Circle is working to build the capacity of the First Nations’ community as well as increasing opportunities for involvement in grassroots sport and recreation. The Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, was pleased to meet with Ryan Knockwood, Sport and Recreation Coordinator for the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island, and show the Province’s support for the outstanding program.

The Aboriginal Sport Circle’s mandate is to increase grassroots participation in sport and recreation for Prince Edward Island’s aboriginal community and to help improve the health of this group through appropriate and effective health promotion activities. The program provides services and programming to Lennox Island First Nation, Abegweit First Nation and the off-reserve population of First Nations living on Prince Edward Island

“The Aboriginal Sport Circle provides a unique outlet to encourage our young people to engage in physical activities and healthy lifestyles,” said Minister Bertram. “Sport and recreation are great ways for our Aboriginal youth to be active, develop leadership skills, keep fit and most importantly have fun.”

Each community has a unique situation in terms of availability of facilities, equipment and human resources. For this reason, a generic approach to designing and delivering services or programs is not possible and, as a result, different programs are delivered to the various groups in different communities.

Funding to support the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI has been made possible through the Aboriginal Sport Bilateral Agreement between the Province of Prince Edward Island and the Federal Government of Canada.

For more information on the Aboriginal Sport Circle contact them at (902) 626-2882.

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