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Comparing Canadian & American Native Sports “60
Minutes” Expose on Government Boarding Schools “60 Minutes” Expose on Government Boarding Schools The extreme abuses of the Government Boarding Schools to the Aboriginal People of Canada (mirrored in the US) were exposed on "60 Minutes" recently. (Put in perspective, 80% of women in prisons were sexually abused in their youth and might not be there if they were offered counseling early on.) Realizing these dynamics, the First Nations leaders partnered with enlightened Anglo lawyers and psychologists, aided by the precedents on abuse set by the US Women’s Movement, the Canadian Government and Church apologized in 1999, to their Indigenous Peoples. (The US Women’s Movement was pioneered by the Suffragettes who had been adopted by the equalitarian Iroquois Clan Mothers, therefore this was a team victory, in many ways, for both countries.) Counseling + Sports = Healing the Past To show some sincerity, the Canadian Government included a $350 million fund for counseling, etc, to start healing the generationally expanding abuse seeded at those schools. Realizing that counseling supplemented by sports opportunities, is the most effective way to help turn around the high suicide and depression-related health and alcohol challenges among their youth, the government also annually provides some funding of First Nations Sports programs. Their grass roots efforts in summer and winter sports have done wonders for the health and self esteem of their youth. North American Indigenous Games Government support also helped the First Nations pioneer the North American Indigenous Games in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990. Their programs have produced Theron Fleury, star of the NY Rangers, professional basketball, baseball, football, and many Olympic Cross Country stars. Only one of these Games has been in America for lack of funding, but the 5th one will be in Winnipeg, Manitoba in summer 2002 with 10,000 athletes and 3,000 cultural artists from US and Canada performing. It will be co-chaired by the former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Canada, Phil Fontaine. He is also exploring with NVF doing joint projects - like a First Nations skiing, skating, cross country Celebration where Native/Americans honor them for their pioneering efforts, including the first to be honored at an Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Calgary ‘76. (For info on the Indigenous Games toll free; 1-877-682-2002, E-mail: 2002naig@mb.aibn.com Native American Sports Programs Meanwhile, South of the Canadian Border, Native American Sport Programs pale by comparison. Beau Young, a Seminole recreation leader, is helping tribes in 20 states either start recreation programs or help them become competitive through his Indigenous Sports Circles. (byoung@semtribe.com).. Yet there are 13 regional leaders across America coordinating and training competitors for this summer’s Indigenous Games. That is why the Native American Sports Council of the USOC, headed by Gene Colucci and Mo Smith, applauds NVF for starting grass roots winter sports opportunities for Native youth through the gracious ski areas. (msmith@nascsports.org) Once talented summer or winter athletes are developed and identified through grass roots programs, NASC assists top Native athletes to make Olympic and World Championship Teams. They helped fund and train 10 track stars and a boxer to made it to the Olympic Trials, and Navajo Marathoner Jan Posey, made it to Sidney. That is why any spotlight on Native Americans this Winter Olympic year can do wonders to bolster all winter and summer Native sports opportunities. BIA Apology Following Canada’s enlightened leadership, the US Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on November 29, 2000, quietly apologized for the similar treatment of Native Americans in our Government Boarding schools, but have done little to provide a healing. (A billion dollars of the oil, gas and land monies held in “trust” by the US Government, that could be imporving their health and schools, has been stuck in accounting for the last decade.) Despite JFK’s suggestion 40 years ago, of healing and honoring our Native American history, the living Presidents of the United States turned down NVF’s historic opportunity last October to come to a “Presidential Summit” at Deer Mountain, South Dakota, to honor the contributions of First Americans this Olympic year. (Click “Reconciliation Press” for JFK text) Deer Mountain, who has a history of inviting Native youth to ski, is also the home to a new sculpture garden of all the U.S. Presidents. As a result, it behooves today’s leaders and the private sectors to do the right thing, perhaps with a “Native American Summit,” where they can also pass meaningful legislation, including counseling and sports opportunities. Fortunately, “many of today’s leaders are better educated about Indian culture and history,” said (Anglo) David Melmer, editor of “Indian Country Today.” As result, NVF has the support of great leaders, like Senators Daschle, Jeffords, and Patrick Kennedy who heads the Native American Congressional Caucus - all three of these wise men happen to be skiers. |
